Hidden Hanoi walking tour or cooking class?
Mar 9th, 2010, 01:05 PM
#1
Hidden Hanoi walking tour or cooking class?
Has anyone taken one of Hidden Hanoi's walking tour (which one) and did you think it worthwhile? Same for their cooking class....was it enjoyable or did you take a different one you like better? Thanks for your comments.
Mar 9th, 2010, 04:54 PM
#2
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Frankly I've no idea what the 'hidden Hanoi' means in your case but found Hanoi to be easy to DIY. If there's something that is really less known than those in the city itself, I guess it must be the traditional handicraft villages in the outskirts, which, as far as I'm aware of, can't be accessed on foot.
Regarding the cooking class, I've heard good things about the one at the Sofitel Metropole. As you may see from our trip report, we really enjoyed the our time at the Red Bridge cooking class in Hoi an and it was great fun getting to know the herds in the garden, wandering about the market for some groceries and enjoying the food we'd just cooked. The class was arranged by Vietnamstay and I've also been notified of their new website with lots of cooking tours on offer. Hope this helps.
Regarding the cooking class, I've heard good things about the one at the Sofitel Metropole. As you may see from our trip report, we really enjoyed the our time at the Red Bridge cooking class in Hoi an and it was great fun getting to know the herds in the garden, wandering about the market for some groceries and enjoying the food we'd just cooked. The class was arranged by Vietnamstay and I've also been notified of their new website with lots of cooking tours on offer. Hope this helps.
Mar 10th, 2010, 07:34 AM
#6
dgnbug, No, it's not done by the Hanoi Kids. Hidden Hanoi is a small tour operator "hiddenhanoi.com.vn" who does a 2 hr walking tour of the Old Quarter $20 or a 1 1/2 tour of French Quarter 20. They also do a daily cooking class for $40 pp from 11-2, with a market tour beforehand 10-11. Since this is our first time to Hanoi, I thought it might be helpful to learn something about the area from a native.
sheps, I'm also looking at the Sofitel Metropole class which looks wonderful...however, it is more expensive ( I think $90?) and it's more of a demonstration class rather than hands-on...which is OK too and you get to eat lunch in their Secret Spices (?) restaurant.
I also am going to take the Red Bridge class in Hoi An, so glad to hear you liked it.
Will probably sign up for one of the walking tours but wanted to hear from someone that it was a good experience...maybe the cooking class too.
sheps, I'm also looking at the Sofitel Metropole class which looks wonderful...however, it is more expensive ( I think $90?) and it's more of a demonstration class rather than hands-on...which is OK too and you get to eat lunch in their Secret Spices (?) restaurant.
I also am going to take the Red Bridge class in Hoi An, so glad to hear you liked it.
Will probably sign up for one of the walking tours but wanted to hear from someone that it was a good experience...maybe the cooking class too.
Mar 11th, 2010, 06:57 AM
#10
dgunbug, I don't think we'll spend time with the Hanoi Kids...I'm scheduling both the cooking class and the Old Town walking tour, so want to leave a day free to explore on our own. But, I've heard they're delightful.
Feb 10th, 2011, 04:58 AM
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Curious to know if anyone has done the Hidden Hanoi street food walking tour. I've contacted them and they are avaiable to do the tour on the date I requested. I've checked out some of the reviews on trip advisors and it seems to be a mixed bag of positive and negative reviews for the street food walking tour. Any Fodorites comments on this experience is much appreciated!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Feb 10th, 2011, 03:32 PM
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The Hidden Hanoi cooking class I took in 2009 emphasized cooking and eating as a vital part of Vietnamese culture -- not just a set of recipes to try out. I didn't take the market tour there, but at another school in Ho Chi Minh City the excursion through the market was an eye-opener and set me up to create a stir at the Vietnamese store back home. In both cities you can Google several schools with assorted programs. By their nature these programs tend to draw a very cheerful sort of tourist.
Feb 10th, 2011, 06:25 PM
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In mid-January, I took the market tour and a cooking class with Hidden Hanoi. It was not the street food tour that you are asking about -- it was a leisurely market tour followed by a cooking class. We made their "Monsoon Menu" dishes suitable for winter dining. I loved it and would go back in a heartbeat.
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