Private Tour
Private Cooking Class & Saigon Local Daily Life by Alleys
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Getting away from the crowded central area of Saigon, we will take you to District 6, where you will be surrounded by locals. Here, where you get the chance to walk through tiny back alleys until reach the most popular local wet market to buy food ingredients. By learning the Vietnamese language, you will understand what is the real grocery shopping on a daily basis in Vietnam. The most unique part of the experience is that you will have a chance to get into an authentic local house, which is Auntie Tu's house.
Standard Menu
#1 Poached meat with pepper
#2 Fried egg with minced meat
#3 Fried red tilapia
#4 Sauteed garlic spinach
#5 Sour Soup
The itinerary
#1 Back Alleys: Captivated by the vibrant sights and sounds of locals going about their daily lives
#2 Binh Tien Market: Enthralled by the vibrant colors, exotic produce, and lively exchanges between vendors and customers
#3 Cooking Class: Overwhelmed by the small local kitchen and amazed by the secret recipe of Auntie Tu
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Lunch
Snacks
Dinner
Coffee and/or Tea
Alcoholic Beverages
Souvenirs
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Arriving Auntie home located in the back alleys and experiencing the realest local daily life.
Visiting the biggest local wet market where hundred of people buying food ingredients everyday.
Options
Weekend Session
Duration: 4 hours
Lunch or Dinner with 5 courses
Pickup included
Weekday Session
Duration: 4 hours
Dinner with 5 courses
Pickup included
Reviews
14 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Very fun, unique dinner date!
Y5886KQamyh,
Oct 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband and I really enjoyed this experience! Walking the neighborhood to the local market, cooking in someone's home and learning the secret ingredient to all great cooking was so much fun. The food we cooked was really delicious. Kevin and his auntie were wonderful hosts!
Incredible Walking Tour + Cooking Class in Saigon
jamestH2891VR,
Sep 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Kevin gave my family of four (senior citizens and 30 year olds) a tour of Ben Thanh market and the surrounding sights. He was prompt, professional, and extremely accommodating to our groups particular needs and interests. Most of all, Kevin was open about his city and country so that we were not afraid to ask him anything about Vietnam. At night, we went to his Aunties house where we cooked a first class dinner with his lovely aunt after shopping for some ingredients at the local market. Kevin’s family and colleague (Alex) are truly lovely and inviting. They made us feel like family and even taught us some Vietnamese language and cultural habits/norms. Kevin was great with letting us direct the tour while providing information and support where ever necessary. It is obvious that tour guiding is his passion and I highly recommend spending time in his care as a way of connecting with this wonderful city!
Awesome
darwint633,
Mar 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is an amazing experience where you are fully immersed in the local food. Auntie number 4 is the best. She has you tossing and cutting the food in her own kitchen. Kevin is an amazing host who takes great care of you
Behind the laneways, cooking and shopping with locals. Wonderful people, wonderful tour!
wilsonschmidt,
Nov 15, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Cain, Rick and Ang picked us up from our accomodation by motor scooter and we took to the streets of the city before we had time to feel apprehensive. Starting with a cold coffee made in the wet market by one of the earliest street stalls (1940's and still going) we walked through the crowded laneways and picked up some ingredients for our lunch. Back on the mopeds and off to Miss Hoa's. Tucked away in the less chaotic side streets of the district 4, Miss Hoa and her family reside together in the family home that doubles as a corner street eatery. In a tight corner she runs 2 gas burners for her wok cookery. Upon arrival our ingredients were mostly prepped and ready to go, she gave a demo with us helping along- using her own stirring rod made by her! Our lunch was delicious, pork mince in omlette, sour soup with tammarind, chicken and garlic, snake head fish flavoured with lemon grass and fried and fresh greens in garlic- all so fresh and tangy. These young local lads, and Cain the main guide particularly, are charming and helpful in every way. Having studied tourism, Cain was able to talk in depth about everything from ancient history and geography, communism, the war, culture and local religions, he was very well read. We thoroughly enjoyed our day out and would never have gone behind the scenes without the guides and this tour to
Qualitative local experience, highly recommend it
Irislvt,
May 18, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I took two classes with Ms Tu and loved it ! David, his nephew, was an amazing guide who taught me a lot about Vietnamese daily life, culture and cuisine and Ms Tu is a lovely lady and very skilled cook. I had a lot of fun spending time with them both in their family home. The food we prepared was of course delicious. A variety of every-day life dishes which you would not usually find in restaurants. Would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to step out of the traditional tourist map. Many thanks to Kevin from Saigon Wow Tours for managing the whole thing.
Real Vietnamese life!
Brammati,
Feb 11, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very nice experience to walk with Kelvin and David on the market and then cook with aunt. And of course eat all the good food afterwards. Wonderful experience, nice to experience the real Vietnamese life.
Great authentic experience
ThijsLeemreize,
Feb 10, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a great experience to be invited into a local household for cooking lessons in an original vietnamese kitchen. Great to buy the ingredients on the local market. The guides know all the ins and outs of the neigbourhood which only adds to the authenticity of the experience!! We had a great day.
The best experience of all my travels
khateeta e,
Nov 19, 2022
- Review from Viator
5.00It was an memorable experience. I highly recommend that every visitor do this experience. You get to truly experience the daily local eating ritual from shopping, prepping, cooking, and enjoying informative conversations. Everyone is so friendly. The best experience of all my travels.
Ho Chi Minh cooking class
speevotz,
Nov 7, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Loved seeing the market and grabbing our food to cook! Good show all around. Most enjoyable. Friendly people. Fun!
Authentic Experience!
TishaH640,
Nov 7, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful Time! We had a lovely time cooking with Ms. Hoa! From the time we booked, there was wonderful communication. When we were picked up, the fellows were great conversationalists…telling us all about the areas of Ho Chi Minh City and the differences between them. Off to Chinatown and the market! What an experience that was…smells, sights and sounds. Then to Ms. Hoa’s for class. Very authentic menu, in a very traditional kitchen. It was an amazing experience!
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