Cooking lunch in Duong Lam means joining a village family in their own kitchen for about two hours: rolling spring rolls, helping with a pork dish and greens, then eating together at their table in an old house. It is a home kitchen, not a cooking school.
Expect warmth and good food rather than recipe cards and individual stations. Allergies and vegetarian diets are handled when you tell us in advance.
Lunch with a village family
Our full day puts a home-cooked lunch between the old houses and Thay Pagoda.
★Duong Lam & Thay Pagoda Day TourDuong Lam in depth, lunch cooked in an old house, then the pagoda where water puppetry began · About 9 hoursSee the tour →Duong Lam Half-Day Private TourThe laterite lanes, a 400-year-old house and a che lam kitchen, with your own guide · About 5.5 hoursSee the tour →What you cook
| Dish | Your part |
|---|---|
| Fried spring rolls | Fill and roll them yourself |
| A village pork dish | Help prepare and watch it cook |
| Stir-fried greens | Wash, cut and toss them in the wok |
| Rice and soup | Served family style |
| Che lam with green tea | To finish |
How it differs from a Hanoi cooking school
City cooking classes usually start with a market tour and give each guest a station and printed recipes. In Duong Lam you cook with one family around one stove, in a house that may be centuries old. It is slower and less structured, and most guests find it more memorable.
For the wider food picture, see what to eat in Duong Lam.
Lunch is part of the full day
Cook with a family, then drive to Thay Pagoda for the afternoon.
Duong Lam & Thay Pagoda Day TourAbout 9 hoursSee the tour →Duong Lam Half-Day Private TourAbout 5.5 hoursSee the tour →Practical points
Tell us about allergies and diets when you book. Children are welcome and usually love rolling spring rolls. Kitchens are simple and can be warm in summer.
Questions people ask
How long is the cooking session?
About two hours including eating.
Is it suitable for vegetarians?
Yes, with notice when you book.
Can children join in?
Yes, rolling spring rolls is a favourite with children.
Cook, eat, then see Thay Pagoda
Lunch, guide, car and every ticket in one group price, free to cancel until 3 days before.
★Duong Lam & Thay Pagoda Day TourDuong Lam in depth, lunch cooked in an old house, then the pagoda where water puppetry began · About 9 hoursfrom$93/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$275BOOK →2 guests$305BOOK →3 guests$340BOOK →4 guests$370BOOK →See the full tour page →Duong Lam Half-Day Private TourThe laterite lanes, a 400-year-old house and a che lam kitchen, with your own guide · About 5.5 hoursfrom$45/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$165BOOK →2 guests$170BOOK →3 guests$175BOOK →4 guests$180BOOK →See the full tour page →Menu and format as arranged with host families in September 2026; dishes vary by season.