Farm tour & Cooking in Hanoi with local family

• Private Experience
• Family Friendly
• Carbon Neutral

Enjoy this half day experience wich includes a visit to a local market & a cooking class together with me. Let's visit my local village & take a look at Vietnamese farmers while they are working. Are you ready for a hands-on experience?

Destination

Hanoi, Vietnam

Category

Cooking Classes

Duration

4.5 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Cuisine

Vietnamese

Available languages

English

Included

• Entrance tickets
• Private guide
• Meals
• This experience has a duration of 4 hours

What you can expect

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with Manh.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at approximately Đình làng Phương Viên to start your culinary journey.

   View on Maps

2. Example menu

   This is what our dinner could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. First course

   Traditional Vietnamese food

4. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the menu? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

I can personalize this tour for you

• Tell me your preferred date and group size
• Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
• Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!

Contact me

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

James🇺🇸 United States

25 February 2025

This trip is great if you want to step outside of Hanoi and experience the culture and food of a more rural Vietnam. The farms and market were very interesting to see, Manh was kind, and an amazing chef!Great truely local experience

Piet🇧🇪 Belgium

19 February 2025

It was a very nice tour, very relaxed, no stress. We got a good idea how people live in Vietnam and were very glad to be invited in her house, where we had lunch. Thanks again. Perfect

Dagmara

12 January 2025

The workshop was so great! Manh ist a lovely person, we’ve learnt so much not only about food, but also vietnamese culture. And the food was delicious! I recommend it to everyone, don’t hesitate :)Best experience!

Abbie🇬🇧 United Kingdom

21 December 2024

We spent a beautiful afternoon wandering the peaceful farms and then helping prepare and cook food in Mandy’s lovely home. The food was delicious. This was a great activity with kids aged 4 & 12 Lovely afternoon activity

Mia🇦🇺 Australia

8 December 2024

We loved getting away from the big city and having a private tour with Manh who was very calm, friendly and taught us a lot. It was amazing to be welcomed into her home and learn to cook some traditional Vietnamese dishes. Would definitely do if you’re in Hanoi, and bring any gardening questions you might have! A beautiful taste of the village life

William🇦🇺 Australia

3 October 2024

Meeting Mandy and having her show us around the farms, was very enlightening and educational. I was completely blown away when we arrived at her house for cooking class. A warm welcome from all of her family and being included in all of the cooking processes leading to the eating of a lovely meal. Best seafood soup ever!Fantastic !!

Tyson🇦🇺 Australia

10 September 2024

Getting to the village commune was longer than I expected on a motorbike, but Manh was patient. We toured the market and she taught me about how the market and village functions, including how land is parceled in sao to people who live in the village. After touring the land, we visited Manh's home where we cooked together from a menu which I was able to choose from, and she shared her cooking experience from hospitality, and her knowledge of how vegetable export functions in the villiage. Manh was very patient despite the very hot weather on the day. She was a lovely guide and I enjoyed every part of my tour with her.Beautiful village and market tour

Maarten🇱🇺 Luxembourg

4 September 2024

1

Lovely experience being out of the city for a moment! Manh is a very kind and knowledgeable host and lunch in her homely environment was great. When we were there it was not a ‘full’ market day (cattle etc.), but there was still a sizeable market that was fun to see, along with local farms.Lovely little break from the city

Romain🇦🇺 Australia

27 August 2024

It was an amazing experience getting to see another side of Vietnam outside of busy Hanoi. The meals we made were delicious but we got a lot more out of the experience. It was a great look into everyday life for Vietnamese people outside of the city, learning a bit more about culture, practices and living off the land. Sunday with Manh

Nicholas🇬🇧 United Kingdom

18 August 2024

Anyone who visits Hanoi should do this trip. You are in proper Vietnam with locals in their village, away from the noise of the city. Manh is a lovely woman who will show you around the market and farm and then take you into her home to teach you how to cook. We had a wonderful experience and met her children who helped on the day. I cannot recommend high enough. Wnderful Experience

Simone🇳🇱 Netherlands

2 August 2024

Mandy is a smart, friendly and openhearted woman. She can tell you everything you’d like to know about Vietnam and she’s a very good and experienced cook. She’s so patient with and interested in her guests! We really had a wonderful time with her and the menu tasted delicious. Thank you very much Manh/Mandy! Super Manh / Mandy ❤️

Peggy

24 July 2024

Thank you Manh, for showing us around the local wholesale/wet markets. We appreciate loaning your raincoats and sandals. We learned the importance of eating healthily. The food you taught us was delicious because we had freshly harvested ingredients. It's pleasant to watch you going about the work with good hygiene and so efficiently.Eye-opening local experience

Evelyn🇺🇸 United States

23 July 2024

My mom and I had a great time visiting Manh and her family in the countryside of Hanoi. It was very interesting to see her farm and all of the different vegetable and fruit produce, and to learn about the wholesale market. Manh cooked the best meal for us that we had during our entire time in Vietnam. Every part of the meal was local and from her gardens or a local farm. Thanks so much to Manh for her hospitality!Incredible farm grown meal!

Anthony🇺🇸 United States

3 July 2024

We picked this farm and cooking tour was because there are no other tours like this, particularly from Old Quarters. We wanted an authentic local experience and that is exactly what we received. We were able to walk the local farm market and I am confident to say that there were no other tourists within miles of us. Everything is just how the locals live. The cooking was hands on but Manh did most of the work. The food was awesome. We are grateful to spend time with Manh and her family. A truly unique experience if you want to get away from the crowd. A fabulous experience

MELINDA🇺🇸 United States

2 June 2024

This is hands down the best tour possible! You really get a feel for what life is like for a local outside of the big city. Manh did an excellent job guiding, teaching & relating personally to us. She took great care in helping us understand what life in rural Hanoi is like. Explaining the cultural, the market, farming, housing, marriage & so much more. The best part was going back to her personal home to teach my husband & I how to make four amazing dishes She actually went a step above by granting my request to teach us how to make my favorite Vietnamese dish! The food was amazing & even won me over to become a pho lover! I’ve always thought pho was fine, but nothing that exciting. Manh’s homemade pho was literally the best I’ve ever had and now I’m excited to go home and make it for my family & friends! I seriously think this was the highlight of our three week trip to Thailand and Vietnam & we saw/did a lot of incredible things!! Such an incredible experience!

Justin🇳🇿 New Zealand

26 April 2024

We had a great morning with Manh/Mandy, learning about her community, her dishes and her country. She helped us to locate her at the meeting point, and then we walked around her local market, and family market gardens before going back to her house to help prepare the meals. Manh was able to answer all of our questions and it wasa very informative morning, both from a food and culture perspective. Cannot recommend this local guide enough.Fantastic local experience

Angela🇦🇺 Australia

5 April 2024

Thankyou Mahn for a wonderful, authentic and warm experience. It was incredible to see the family farms, colourful markets, walk the village and be invited into your home. The kids saw food growning, farm to table approach. They loved getting involved in cooking delicious meals and seeing how Vietnamese kids live, even meeting some local kids. Mahn is an incredible host, warm, kind, an amazing cook. Thank you for sharing your daily life with us and having us in your beautiful home.!

Andrew 🇦🇺 Australia

4 April 2024

We enjoyed a lovely morning with Manh. Before our tour she provided us with a variety of options to eat, details of where to meet her and the best means of getting there. It is about 40 minutes by car. We then enjoyed a stroll around the local market and the different fields, where she explained the various crops and how each might be used in different dishes. Preparing the meals was fun and certainly made me as a non cook realise how much more preparation goes into Vietnamese cooking. Everything was beautiful. I have never had pineapple in my soup before but like everything else it tasted perfect. Manh was a most gentle and very gracious host. We highly recommend for anyone wanting a genuine experience.Perfection

Ramesh🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 April 2024

We had a fabulous morning with Manh. It was a sharp contrast to the busy, noisy streets of Hanoi. The walk through the farmers market was great with Manh as our guide, we learnt a lot about the produce and how the market works. Then we walked back to Manh’s village and house through the fields and orchards. Manh explained about how the farmers managed the land and produce the vegetables and fruit. Manh’s house was lovely and we prepared and cooked four dishes. Manh explained about each ingredient and the food was the best we had in Hanoi as the ingredients were so fresh. Overall this was one of the best experience in Vietnam so far. Both my wife and I would highly recommend this tour and cooking experience. A memorable time with Manh

Brandon🇦🇺 Australia

28 March 2024

Great experience! We got a tour of the farmers markets, where Manh explained what goes on in a day to day in Vietnam, and we also got a tour of her vegetable farm by her home. She got us to help her cook some delicious traditional vietnamese food which was so fresh and tasted amazing! Would recommend to anyone wanting to immerse themselves in vietnamese culture! We also originally booked for 4 people, one of our group couldnt make it last minute and Manh was kind enough to refund her :) Great experience!

Julie🇳🇿 New Zealand

15 March 2024

We met Manh in her village in the afternoon (we travelled by grab about 40mins from Hanoi). Manh showed us around the vegetable market and the vegetable fields and explained what they were growing and why. We saw fruits and vegetables that we had never seen before and learned alot about what they use for cooking. Then we went to Manh's house which is lovely, and we had a mint tea and chatted. Then the cooking class began. Manh showed us how to prepare the vegetables and we made fried spring rolls, caramelized pork belly with quail eggs, stirfry veges with rice, fried tofu with spices, and then we had delicious guava and mini donut type cakes for dessert. Manh was so kind and patient with us, and the food was all delicious. Her kids are adorable and we enjoyed interacting with them and speaking english with them. We felt very welcome and comfortable in Manh's home and we loved the experience. Highly recommend doing this tour with Manh.Amazing afternoon with Manh and her family

Calum🇬🇧 United Kingdom

21 February 2024

Mandy was really great, both on the trip and before when we were setting it up. Loads of info, great tour around the market and farms and then the food was delicious!Fantastic!

Silca🇩🇪 Germany

11 February 2024

It was such a unique experience to first visit the farm and then cook and dine with Manh and her family! It is very interesting to hear about private farming, to see all the veggies, fruits and herbs, taste and smell them, get info about how they are being used, and then prepare a whole 5 course dinner under her experienced tutoring (her mother was actually a chef in HCM). If you have any food allergies, she kindly takes care of you, and her English is perfect! At the end we had dinner together with her lovely family, and by the way, they are living in a nice and very clean and modern house (with an additional outside kitchen). Everything was already well prepared, and after the class you get a 30 page cooking manual! I thing you could not do it better! Wonderful afternoon cooking with Mandy!

Corianton🇺🇸 United States

8 February 2024

Getting your own cab to Song Phương might seem daunting, since many tours will pick you up at your hotel and spare you the effort, but this tour is different and WELL worth the additional step. In retrospect, I am embarrassed I hesitated because it was very cheap/easy with the Grab app. We had such an incredible time with Manh, experiencing the real, everyday life of her village, Song Phương. She was so kind and generous as she guided us through the bustling market full of gorgeous produce, handmade home goods (knives, brooms, baskets), and freshly butchered meats, and so many friendly people she knew from her small community. Then we walked through plots of farm/garden areas that were part of a government allotment, and we learned about some unfamiliar fruits including sapodilla (hồng xiêm) and a little red berry she picked from a tree that was sweet and delicious. At her home we met her husband (also named Manh) and started prepping the ingredients for nem rán and peeling eggs for the thịt kho tàu. After rolling some egg rolls, we made the caramel and began the pork belly braising, then prepped the broccoli and she steamed them with some oyster sauce and garlic. Lunch was a mountain of fresh herbs, rolls, broccoli, pork belly, and rice. And finally a warm, crunchewy, mochi-style donut. After lunch, Manh walked us to a corner store so I could buy some of the yellow-tinted wrappers she used, to take them home. We can't recommend this enough, it's wonderful to see the rural side of real life in Northern Vietnam. Don't think twice, book this tour now!

Tarika🇦🇺 Australia

6 February 2024

We are so grateful for this incredible experience, where we got to see the farm life plus story behind and the method. We also got the honour to learn the traditional Vietnamese cuisine at Mandy's own home. She open her house to us and we started cooking with a lot of help from her guiding us. It's was an amazing experience and full of love and laughter. We then enjoyed the food that we all prepared on the table. This is a must 💕The full experience

Alban🇦🇹 Austria

20 January 2024

We had an amazing time at Manh’s place yesterday. We first went through the market & the vegetable fields. When you enter the market & go through the fields, you enter another world; you’ll discover products you've never seen before: fruit, vegetables and fish from the river But above all, a world of unfamiliar scents that awaken all your senses. After visiting the village, we cooked with Manh, at her place. We learnt a lot about Vietnamese Cuisine; especially about the combination of ingredients, flowers, and cooking techniques. What a great experience! An unforgettable moment with Manh

Anne🇩🇰 Denmark

19 January 2024

The experience with Manh and her family we will never forget! Manh inspired the whole family, including our children of 8 and 11. Thank you 🙏 Fantastic inspirering experience!

Caroline🇺🇸 United States

8 January 2024

This tour got us out of the city (30min by car) and showed us a whole other side of Hanoi. Mandy couldn’t have given us a better experience. We explored her local market, the farms, then went back to her home and made lunch. She taught us so much about her village while teaching us how to make delicious traditional Vietnamese dishes. If you are looking to get a unique experience outside of the city and enjoy cooking and culture I could not recommend this tour enough! Mandy is simply amazing!Unique and unforgettable experience

Mike

30 December 2023

We had a great time and will never forget the experience walking through the market, farms, and preparing lunch at the house! I would highly recommend Mahn as your host!True local experience

Rogan🇳🇿 New Zealand

21 December 2023

You can tell Manh truly loves what she does. It felt like we got to spend the day with a local rural Vietnamese mother. Because that is EXACTLY what we got to do haha. The whole experience of going through her local market was so nice, you can tell the entire community is very close and care for each other. everyone was smiling and laughing as we took photos, we learned a lot from Mahn about the vendors and their produce. Then actually cooking in her home was lovely. One of her daughters also helped us cook and learned some things herself which was heart warming to see. The food was all SO delicious. Manh also gave us all the recipes after which we were very appreciative of. I cannot recommend this experience enough. Truly local. 10/10Incredibly fun and loving experience

Anett🇭🇺 Hungary

19 December 2023

Manh is a great person and a great host! We didn’t know what to expect but she was friendly, she shared very interesting details about farming and even about vietnamese customs and she warmly welcomed us in her home. She and her family were very nice with us the whole time. We just want to thank her for everything, it was one of the best experiences for us during our visit in Vietnam!

Helen🇶🇦 Qatar

17 December 2023

Manh was waiting for me when I arrived in the Grab taxi. We wandered around the market, and Manh explained about the food and spoke to the people selling the fruit, vegetables, and flowers. We then walked at the side of the plots of growing products, seeing the owners working in the fields. We went to Manh's family home to make the chosen menu. She is quite the chef, and I loved seeing how the salads, soup, and spring rolls came together with my input. It was an amazing experience with a very kind and interesting lady. I really felt like I'd experienced a taste of the local life! Thank you!Most authentic experience

Noah🇨🇭 Switzerland

15 December 2023

We had an amazing day with Manh. She showed us a local market and her village where all the herbs, fruits, and vegetables are grown. We learned a lot, and she explained everything to us. The cooking class afterward was perfect. Once again, she was really helpful, explaining everything, and the prepared food was delicious. We definitely recommend this tour!Authentic day and lots of learnings

Michael🇩🇪 Germany

21 November 2023

The afternoon with Mandy was a great experience. She showed us the local market and the plantages for vegetables and fruits.and could explain everything. Later, as guest/cooking Student in her House, she shiwed that she ist a excellent Cook and showed/told us a lot about cooking, family Life and (agri-) culture. Wonderful experience

Youp🇳🇱 Netherlands

10 September 2023

With this tour you’ll get to see how food is cultivated, sold at local markets, and get to prepare it yourself afterwards. Manh is a knowledgeable and hospitable host, and can tell you anything about local food production. She provides a cooking class with proper materials and share the recipes and more with you afterwards. Unique farm to table experience near Hanoi

Jan🇧🇪 Belgium

25 July 2023

Manh took us for a tour around the local market and farms and welcomed us at her home for making lunch together. We talked and learned a lot about Vietnamese cuisine and culture. A lovely experience, highly recommended!Lovely look behind the scene

2kjgydtsss🇬🇧 United Kingdom

15 May 2023

Really enjoyed my afternoon with manh. Visited the farm and she showed me all the herbs and vegetables we later cooked with in her house. Felt like a really authentic experience and her family are all so lovely. manh’s English is great and the food was delicious. Thank you! Fabulous afternoon - highly recommwnd

Bára🇳🇿 New Zealand

10 May 2023

I had my cooking class with Manh last Sunday. Manh showed me all seasonal veg and fruit which grow on her farm then we walked to her place and started cooking. Thank you for nice afternoon and yummy recipes Manh, it was lovely to meet you! Highly recommended

Clare🇬🇧 United Kingdom

7 May 2023

I took a taxi out 40 mins of Hanoi not knowing what to expect. What I found was the lovely Manh in her village who showed me the local markets and farm where a lot of the fruit and veg for the city come from. We sampled straight from the plants/ tress delights such and fresh thai basil, spinach, guava, cucumbers, grapefruits, gourds. Manh told me all about the greens that I didn’t know and how they are prepared and for what dishes. It was amazing. Then we went back to her house in the village and where I met her delightful daughter and we cooked and prepared 4 stunning dishes. I would say a cultural and foodies dream. Much better than the standard city cooking classes as you’re standing right where the stuff is grown!An afternoon on the farm.

Jodi🇦🇺 Australia

23 April 2023

We absolutely loved learning to cook with Manh (Mandy). A half hour taxi ride outside the old quarter of Hanoi was such a welcome peaceful experience from the intensity of Hanoi. She took us to a local market and then through some of the farms that stretch for 5 km, explaining all the plants and farming practices, her knowledge is amazing. Her English is great, and she included all of the people in our family of 5 from 14 year old up. We went to her home where she had prepared some of the longer cook time items (eg the pho broth), and then we cooked 4 different amazing dishes!! All of it delicious. We loved every minute of it. Thank you so much Manh! Earthy and real

Derek🇩🇪 Germany

20 April 2023

Our experience with Manh was incredible! Manh was very flexible and accommodated my brother an I by changing the meal to a vegan / vegetarian option. We had one of the best home cooked meals with all fresh ingredients and comprised of 5 dishes and a wide variety of fruit. We enjoyed wonderful conversation with Manh while learning cool cooking techniques. Prior to cooking Manh took us on a wonderful walk thru the local garden and showed us a wide variety of vegetables, fruits and herbs being grown locally for the market. For anyone looking for a unique and authentic experience while in Vietnam I can highly recommend this one. Thank you Manh for sharing your house and showing us a wonderful time! The best home cooked meal!!

Denise🇺🇸 United States

21 July 2020

We had a great time with Manh at her home outside of Hanoi. She showed us around the farm where a variety of crops are grown, which was very neat to see. After that, we went to her home and prepared a delicious multi-course meal with with her help. It was great to learn how to make some Vietnamese dishes from a local, and to hear about her life experiences. She was a great host and we had a very memorable experience!Wonderful Experience with Manh

Caroline🇫🇷 France

21 February 2020

Manh est très sympathique et m'a fait une présentation très complète de la ferme, elle a répondu à toutes mes questions. Elle est aussi une excellente cuisinière, et c'est un des meilleurs repas que j'ai mangé au Vietnam ! Elle a eu la gentillesse d'envoyer les recettes ensuite. Je recommande si vous voulez un aperçu authentique de l'agriculture vietnamienne. Une super journée à la ferme

Brynn🇨🇦 Canada

9 January 2020

Manh’s tour was such a great experience! It was incredible to hear the local history of the market and the village. The farms were beautiful, and we learned a lot about where vietnamese food comes from. Manh was very informative, and fun to spend the morning with, and a great cooking instructor. The food was amazing; we will take home everything we learned. We would highly recommend this tour if you want a personal and in depth overview of traditional vietnamese food!

Shubham🇮🇳 India

8 January 2020

This must be one thing everyone must do while they are visiting Hanoi! Manh was really friendly and was very informative about the farms, vegetables around her place. We were two vegetarians and Manh was very accommodating to tweak her menu for us. It's the best and the freshest food I've had in many years. You should book this trip without blinking an eye! Lovely experience!

Brenda🇨🇦 Canada

4 January 2020

Thank you Manh for the absolutely wonderful time my husband and I shared with you in your cooking class! After a short ride out of the busy city of Hanoi it was a treat to experience the authenticity of Manh’s village and see firsthand how the vegetable, herb and fruit farming trade works in Vietnam. The freshness of the ingredients enhanced the taste of Manh’s delicious recipes, and we thoroughly enjoyed our prep, cooking, meal and exchanging of cultural lifestyles. A delightful host - best wishes! Brenda

Ranen🇸🇬 Singapore

28 December 2019

Manh is a very hospitable and friendly host who went out of her way to welcome us. She was very knowledgable about the different vegetables and herbs, also sharing many fun facts about them with us while we walked around her farm. She had already prepared the kitchen before we arrived (well-sharpened knives, aprons and towels, etc.), allowing us a pleasant and smooth experience learning in the kitchen. The kitchen was also very clean and spacious. The ingredients we used were all fresh from the market, something Manh finds important in a meal, which we really appreciated and agreed with! The meal that we cooked together was filling and more importantly, really delicious! Manh is also really fun and shared many of her stories with us, making us feel right at home with her. We had a really enjoyable time at her place, and we highly recommend everybody to take part in this experience too! Thank you Manh! :)Best experience ever!!

yance🇭🇰 Hong Kong

28 December 2019

Lovely host, my main reason to join the tour was to learn Manh's family dishes that she gave the best tips. She was also patient to teach the skills to the cooking beginners from the same group. Dont worry about the transportation, it is safe to order from Grab, call her and give driver's number to her and she will guide the driver to the out town meeting point. Lovely. Excellent and Unique Village Experience

Joelle🇺🇸 United States

22 December 2019

Minh was great! She was a great teacher and the food was really good. We got to pick from many options and made 6 dishes. We toured her town and saw the market and farms and learned a lot. It was great to chat with her to share stories and understand each other’s culture. Great way to see real life in Hanoi

Isobel🇪🇸 Spain

10 December 2019

We took a taxi to the meeting point and Manh showed us around the village meeting house explaining local customs and showed us photos of the festivals. We then walked around the market where we shown a wide diversity of goods on offer! We walked around the farm area and she answered all our many questions knowledgeably and graciously. A short walk through the village with explanations on the way on the history and growth of the village, we arrived at her beautiful house. Our menu was interesting and we had a great time together preparing everything. It was a relaxed and enjoyable morning. Our lunch was delicious and Manh’s professionalism throughout our tour was matched by her warm welcome. Don’t miss this wonderful tour, it has everything! Thank you Manh.A must do treasure tour!