Brian Jeffrey
Cooking Adventure in Ninh Binh
Flo, a young man from Germany, was invited by his Vietnamese friend to join a cooking class at Trau Cave in the Ninh Hai commune, located in Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province.
This scenic spot is part of the UNESCO-recognized Tam Coc – Bich Dong tourism area, situated approximately 100 kilometers from Hanoi. It draws numerous international travelers keen on exploring agricultural traditions and the lifestyles of the local residents.
Flo discovered that the cooking classes offered a range of dishes to prepare, such as ‘cha la lot’ (beef or pork wrapped in betel leaves), ‘banh cuon’ (steamed rice pancakes), and ‘banh ran’ (fried glutinous rice balls). Ultimately, he chose to master the art of making spring rolls.
Throughout the 2-hour session, Flo attentively absorbed the chef’s instructions on the ingredients needed for traditional northern spring rolls and keenly watched the preparation methods.
It was Flo’s first attempt at rolling spring rolls, but he quickly picked it up, demonstrating impressive skill with his hands. In just a few minutes, he successfully wrapped small spring rolls, and then he learned how to fry them until the skin turned crispy and golden brown.
Other participants in the class were equally enthusiastic about their cooking experience.
Cantero Jim from Spain remarked, “I have a deep appreciation for Vietnamese cuisine, so I signed up for this class to gain insights into local culture and culinary practices and to learn how to create these tasty dishes myself.”
A representative from the travel company organizing the cooking tours in Trau Cave explained that each class lasts for two hours and accommodates a small number of participants.
“We have one chef guiding up to six attendees in each class. Participants can choose to learn to prepare one of the dishes offered, which includes banh cuon, banh ran, and banh xeo (crispy Vietnamese pancake). The most popular choices among international guests are nem and cha la lot,” he noted.
During the class, travelers engage in hands-on activities, from gathering ingredients such as betel leaves and herbs to learning about the spices used in Vietnamese cooking.
The cost of participation is $20 (approximately VND 500,000) per person, with classes available throughout the year.
