Review Author: Tonya

Review Date: 26 Apr. 2026

Review Body: Booked this for our first real day exploring Hanoi. My husband and I had a great time seeing a part of Hanoi by bike and with a local. Lyon helped us navigate riding through the streets and round the lake with other cyclists, Vespa riders and cars. Pretty views, hidden alleyways and lots of stops for photos and local snacks like ice cream, shrimp cakes, spring rolls and Hanoi beer, and even made Vietnamese egg coffee - all of it delish! Lyon was knowledgeable, fun and kind. Definitely recommend!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ruth

Review Date: 27 Aug. 2026

Review Body: Thanks for the great cooking class and egg coffee workshop! Also thanks for the flexibility during the cycling tour!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: JL

Review Date: 22 Juni 2026

Review Body: We came as a family (me, my partner and my parents) and this was actually my parents' favourite thing we did in the whole week in Hanoi. We knew nothing about agarwood going in and left completely fascinated. It's a private experience with free pick-up from the Old Quarter (about a 30-minute drive), runs around five hours, and it's almost all seated and indoors, so it's gentle and easy - really good if you're travelling with older family. It's very well paced paced. We started with agarwood coffee and tea, then a little intro and museum, a meditation, trimming the wood by hand ourselves, then an AMAZING lunch, more tea, and finished by smelling the different grades of agarwood. The team clearly know their stuff and their English is excellent - they explain how the resin only forms when the tree is damaged, and why that's made it worth more than gold by weight. The vegan lunch was our highlight! It was so yummy!! What made the experience meaningful to us was the mission of this agarwood centre. Wild agarwood trees have been hunted almost to extinction, because you can't tell from the outside which trees hold resin - so people end up cutting down loads of them just to find the few that do. This centre does it differently: they grow their own trees and trigger the resin naturally (drilling and introducing bacteria, no chemicals), so the vast majority of their trees produce it, and far fewer wild trees get cut down as a result. They even grow coffee under the trees so the farmers can earn a living in the years before the wood is ready. It was really interesting learning all of this! A few useful things: There's a chance to buy agarwood at the end if you want something scented for meditation, good energy etc. There's no hard sell, but some people may not be comfy with this so just know in advance. And wear longer sleeves and trousers if you can as it's a Buddhist centre (if you don't it's ok but we couldn't do one of the activities because we were wearing shorts). Recommended if you want to learn something very different and new! Worth half a day in Hanoi just for the food and the learnings!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: JL

Review Date: 22 Juni 2026

Review Body: We came as a family — me, my partner and my parents — and this ended up being our fave thing we did all week in Hanoi! The banh mi & coffee we made was the best we had all week as well (and we had ALOT of banh mi and coffee all week). The experience is about a 25–30 minute drive out of the Old Quarter, and Alex hosts it in her own home, which is what made it most special for us. Her family wandered through the kitchen while we cooked, and when we asked them what they were making, they just handed us some to try. It felt very wholesome! Their hospitality was top notch. We were welcomed with seasonal rambutans and also got to try a few of their homemade fruit wines - apricot, apple, mulberry - all super yummy! Alex is so heartfelt, and her English was some of the best of any host we had. She never once rushed us. We spent the first 20 minutes just chatting and it really felt like going to a friend's home. During the session, we made our own coffee first (we each got to choose between salted, coconut or egg coffee), then got into the baking. Between the four of us we made 32 little bánh mì, and while they baked we made the pickles. Everything else, the pâté, sauces and meats, is prepped for you. Two of us were vegetarian and she prepped vegetarian pate and ham for us which were delicious Alex is such a warm, encouraging teacher that we left genuinely believing we could make it at home - even my dad who never bakes! And she sent us off with every recipe she has, not just the ones we used which was super generous. Come hungry, because it's a LOT of food — and you can take back whatever you can't finish (they freeze the rest and give it to local families, which I loved). If you want a homey, heartfelt cooking class rather than a slick commercial one, this is the one.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jessica Bajao

Review Date: 02 Apr. 2026

Review Body: Had such a fun and memorable cooking class with Dining with Locals here in Hanoi! Our chef, Jessie, was an absolute gem—super knowledgeable, engaging, and effortlessly funny, which made the whole experience feel relaxed and welcoming from start to finish. We kicked things off with a mini market tour where Jessie walked us through how to choose the freshest and best ingredients. Honestly, I learned so many practical tips I wouldn’t have picked up on my own. Then back in the kitchen, he guided us step by step in making some Vietnamese classics: pho, green papaya salad, fresh spring rolls, and even authentic Vietnamese coffee. What really stood out was how considerate he was—he made sure our vegetarian classmates were fully included by preparing thoughtful alternative options for them, which we really appreciated Everything was hands-on, easy to follow, and incredibly rewarding (plus, the food turned out amazing!). If you’re in Hanoi and looking for an experience that’s both fun and genuinely enriching, I’d highly recommend this. Definitely one of the highlights of my trip!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Riley

Review Date: 09 März 2024

Review Body: Our group had a fantastic interactive experience with Lyon - it was a well-paced, enjoyable, and intriguing evening. We decided to book this for a party of 12 as a refreshing change from the usual restaurant dinner, and it exceeded our expectations. The location was intimate and cozy, and we felt warmly welcomed upon arrival. Once we began the dinner preparation, we found the pace to be just right. We had a delightful time creating starters and the main course together while listening to Lyon explaining the stories behind each dish. There was always something to do, and everyone had the chance to contribute without feeling rushed. Lyon and Ethan, our hosts, were outstanding - they made the experience both educational and fun, guiding us through the cooking process with humor and expertise. Despite our involvement in the preparation, the food turned out to be incredibly tasty!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Eshton

Review Date: 12 Dez. 2024

Review Body: I’ve always heard about agarwood, but experiencing it firsthand was such a unique and eye-opening experience! It was fascinating to learn about the complex process of harvesting agarwood and to hear about the differences between ethical practices and the bad ones in the market. The guides were knowledgeable and passionate, which made the learning process even more engaging. There was so much packed into this experience—from the tour itself where we got to carve some agarwood for ourselves, to the tea tasting using leaves from the agarwood tree and even the vegan lunch. Overall, it was a well-organised and memorable day that gave me a much deeper appreciation for agarwood and the craftsmanship behind it. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone curious about this rare and fascinating product!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Kyra and Family

Review Date: 05 Feb. 2025

Review Body: This was a delightful afternoon and evening experience for our family of four. Ethan is an exceptional teacher. He was a delight to speak to about any and everything connected to Vietnam, food, and more. As he was fluent in English we were so grateful to be able to speak at such length and learn so much--a real bonus for us who know no Vietnamese. The food we created was delicious, and Ethan made the experience interactive from start to finish. Above and beyond was the way he engaged our two children, age 10 and 13. They felt so comfortable with him and were provided with tasks that fit their skill level and taught them new cooking techniques.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Rob

Review Date: 16 Juli 2026

Review Body: Lots of thought has been put into this experience, to show how the valuable agarwood can be sustainably developed in dedicated forest areas in Vietnam. Our experience included explanations of the methods to create agarwood and increase yields from trees to reduce the volume of tree harvesting, tree carvings to maximise the utility of the remaining soft wood which is not processed to make scents, a meditation session using agarwood scents, and a workshop to identify and isolate agarwood. Lunch was an unexpected bonus: some of the best vegetarian food I’ve tasted in the region, served communally alongside the staff working at the site.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Kim P

Review Date: 30 März 2026

Review Body: Worth every dollar - a private tour with a driver plus tour guide, both speak excellent English and had extensive local knowledge of Hai Phong, the sites, the history and most importantly the food. We were picked up from our hotel right on time, clear WhatsApp communications leading up to pick up, driven to our destination city with stops along the way if needed. We stopped at historical sites with time to wander around ourselves and snacked the whole way on local delicacies (cha muc, coconut coffee, bun da). The Cat Bi market was the highlight with a heavenly food court with so much choice and quality. Highly recommend!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Rob

Review Date: 16 Juli 2026

Review Body: A standout highlight from my trip to North Vietnam! We made drip coffee and authentic banh mi (from scratch!) in a tranquil, homely atmosphere just outside the centre of Hanoi. It felt like we were given an insight into daily Hanoi life at the same time as learning to make some of the most traditional local foods. Our host, Alex, was excellent: informative and patient; and under her supervision our banh mi even turned out to be some of the best I’ve had (and I am a big fan!). Absolutely loved this experience and would recommend to everyone, of all ages and cooking abilities.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Camille

Review Date: 05 Mai 2026

Review Body: It was a great experience! We had Jesse bring us around and he was so full of knowledge that he was happy to share with us. He was also very knowledgeable about the food that he was teaching us about. Because it was a small group, we were able to choose what food we wanted to make for the class, but were also told this wasn’t common and for the bigger groups, there’ll be a set menu. The market can be quite warm, so just be in shorts and tshirt for it. The cooking area has a fan and is airy, so you won’t feel too stuffy. Overall, I would highly recommend this experience!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Laura

Review Date: 28 Mai 2024

Review Body: If you're looking for more than just a simple meal at a restaurant, this tour is the way to go. The market tour was a fantastic introduction to Vietnamese laypeople's lives, the cooking class was held in a beautiful setting, and the quality of the food we prepared was exceptional. The free wines were also great. We tried out apricot and silkworm wines, which we had never seen before and it was great and made the night even more special.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Thammika

Review Date: 17 Jan. 2026

Review Body: It's a deep-dive into agarwood! For those really curious about it, you will leave satisfied. Also, the vegan lunch was divine. I prefer not to eat meat, and in a place like Vietnam where it seemed like every dish had meat defaulted in it, I really appreciated having the lunch that came with this experience. It was vegan and delicious, and I loved that we had it with the staff of the premise, as part of their normal lunch.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Katy Wade

Review Date: 23 Okt. 2024

Review Body: I liked that the cooking class started with a market tour and explain action of some ingredients. The class was in a nice setting and the food was tasty served with samples of rice wine if you want. Make sure you eat before it starts because it’s a few hours before you actually eat any food and you’ll get hungry preparing everything. great communication from the seek Sophie team from the start. preparing everything.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ali Mccoll

Review Date: 15 Jan. 2026

Review Body: We loved this cooking class. Highly recommend it not only for cooking but learning more anout Vietnamese life. Our chef took us to the market and talked to us about all the ingredients. She was so knowledgeable, cheerful and professional. We learnt how to make 4 dishes and sat down together at the end pf the class to enjoy them. They were delicious. We will definitely be trying them out at home.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Lori McDonald

Review Date: 19 Apr. 2026

Review Body: I was looking for a unique experience near Hanoi and this workshop fit the bill. It was a mellow experience and interesting to see this group of artisans all passionate about Agarwood. It was fun to spend a few minutes carving and the lunch was excellent. The staff eat together everyday and that was fun to observe. Cherry Vu was wonderful escorting me to the workshop and back to the Old Quarter.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jaymie Wade

Review Date: 20 Aug. 2025

Review Body: Very very fun afternoon spent with Jesse as our guide! Started with a tour around a local market and then a short car ride to the cooking studio. Once there we were shown how to cook a range of traditional Vietnamese dishes! Honestly such a worthwhile experience and very happy with all the knowledge we gained from Jesse! The egg coffee demonstration was amazing with an eggscelent end result

Review rating: 5

Review Author: George H.

Review Date: 20 Apr. 2024

Review Body: Both of our hosts, Lyon and Ethan, were exceptionally professional and accommodating. The food they prepared was out of this world. Other guests were thoroughly impressed with the unique concept of Dine with locals, the delicious food, the stories and the connection made through your meals. Once again thank you for making our vacation in Hanoi an incredibly enjoyable trip.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Johnny Vineyard

Review Date: 27 Mai 2026

Review Body: Sourcing fresh ingredients at the local street market followed by cooking in a beautiful, high-ambience home was a brilliant experience. The scratch-made Pho and spring rolls were top-tier, and the papaya salad was incredibly refreshing in the heat. Huge shoutout to Chef Mango, who was deeply knowledgeable, fun, and kept a big group perfectly on track. A great day out!

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Peaceful cycling tour around West Lake: pagodas, local snacks, sunset beer, egg coffee

Itinerary Description: This tour is available at multiple timeslots throughout the day. The schedule below is an example for a 3-hour itinerary starting at 3:00 PM. Exact timings may vary depending on your chosen starting time — but rest assured, the route and experiences remain the same. 3:00 PM: Meet our guide at 25 Nguyen Dinh Thi Street (if you use the mountain bike) or 99 Le Hong Phong Street (if you use the e-bike). Pick up your bike and get ready to start the journey. 3:15 PM: Begin cycling along the lake and stop at Van Nien Pagoda for a visit. A serene haven of classical Eastern architecture, home to a one-of-a-kind jade Buddha carved from a single stone. 3:30 PM: Bike to and explore the West Lake Flower Valley, a colorful paradise. 3:45 PM: Cycle to Trinh Cong Son Walking Street and take a walk to experience the local vibe. 4:00 PM: Continue cycling to Phu Tay Ho, one of Hanoi’s most sacred spiritual landmarks. This is a central place of worship for the Mother Goddess Lieu Hanh, one of the Four Immortals in Vietnamese folk religion. Also, stop here to taste the famous West Lake shrimp cakes. 4:30 PM: Stop at Dao Ngoc - Ngu Xa to visit and take photos with the retro tram car. Try the local Pho cuon (spring rolls) and West Lake ice cream before moving on. 4:45 PM: Pause for a break. Enjoy a local fresh beer while taking in the stunning sunset views over the lake. 5:00 - 6:00 PM: Join a Egg Coffee Workshop to conclude the tour with a sweet note.