When you’re out exploring the charms of Hoi An, one of the many foodie experiences that you’ll come across is a cooking class. They are everywhere, and yes, many are well worth doing!
We’re going to tell you about a cooking class with a difference, Tra Que Basil. This place is actually just a quick bike ride out of the Old Town in Hoi An, and on the way to An Bang beach. And it’s not just a cooking class – it’s also a cute restaurant!
What’s great about Tra Que Basil is that they’ll also take you out into the fields (which are part of the same village, the Tra Que Vegetable Village) just down the road from their restaurant, and show you how the locals farm their land, without the need for chemicals and fertilizers. You can then choose to take a class, where you’ll prepare a number of great Vietnamese dishes, including spring rolls, and some amazing salads (but I think you can customize the class according to your requirements). Alternatively, just go straight for the tables and order yourselves some superbly prepared food, all sourced locally.
The owner, Van (Miss Cloudy), we originally met back in 2022, when Vietnam was recovering from the 2-year closure due to Covid. She had rented a small restaurant in the center of Hoi An, and we came across her on our first morning. We soon fell in love with her food (and her!), and stopped by every day (we were there for a week).
We visited again in 2024, but this time headed to her restaurant in Tra Que Vegetable Village, where we once again savoured her amazing Cao Lau noodle dish and spring rolls…
Ahhhh, Cao Lau…..Cao Lau is the food you HAVE to try in Hoi An. You can find it absolutely everywhere in Hoi An, but when it’s done well, it really is up there with the best of Vietnamese dishes.
Cao Lau is unique to Hoi An (although we fell soooo in love with it we also uncovered a couple of decent spots to eat it in Saigon). Those unique rice noodles (read more about them here) with just the right amount of broth at the bottom of your bowl…absolutely delish!
Check out the map below for directions to Tra Que Basil – just be aware that there are a number of similar sounding restaurants in the area, and they are all part of the same village, the Tra Que Vegetable Village…and here’s their Facebook page where you can contact them directly.
