Sep 7, 2025
Incredible Walking Tour + Cooking Class in Saigon - Kevin gave my family of four (senior citizens and 30 year olds) a tour of Ben Thanh market and the surrounding sights. He was prompt, professional, and extremely accommodating to our groups particular needs and interests. Most of all, Kevin was open about his city and country so that we were not afraid to ask him anything about Vietnam.
At night, we went to his Aunties house where we cooked a first class dinner with his lovely aunt after shopping for some ingredients at the local market. Kevin’s family and colleague (Alex) are truly lovely and inviting. They made us feel like family and even taught us some Vietnamese language and cultural habits/norms.
Kevin was great with letting us direct the tour while providing information and support where ever necessary. It is obvious that tour guiding is his passion and I highly recommend spending time in his care as a way of connecting with this wonderful city!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 10, 2025
Awesome - This is an amazing experience where you are fully immersed in the local food. Auntie number 4 is the best. She has you tossing and cutting the food in her own kitchen. Kevin is an amazing host who takes great care of you
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 15, 2023
Behind the laneways, cooking and shopping with locals. Wonderful people, wonderful tour! - Cain, Rick and Ang picked us up from our accomodation by motor scooter and we took to the streets of the city before we had time to feel apprehensive. Starting with a cold coffee made in the wet market by one of the earliest street stalls (1940's and still going) we walked through the crowded laneways and picked up some ingredients for our lunch. Back on the mopeds and off to Miss Hoa's. Tucked away in the less chaotic side streets of the district 4, Miss Hoa and her family reside together in the family home that doubles as a corner street eatery. In a tight corner she runs 2 gas burners for her wok cookery. Upon arrival our ingredients were mostly prepped and ready to go, she gave a demo with us helping along- using her own stirring rod made by her! Our lunch was delicious, pork mince in omlette, sour soup with tammarind, chicken and garlic, snake head fish flavoured with lemon grass and fried and fresh greens in garlic- all so fresh and tangy.
These young local lads, and Cain the main guide particularly, are charming and helpful in every way. Having studied tourism, Cain was able to talk in depth about everything from ancient history and geography, communism, the war, culture and local religions, he was very well read. We thoroughly enjoyed our day out and would never have gone behind the scenes without the guides and this tour to
Review provided by Tripadvisor
May 18, 2023
Qualitative local experience, highly recommend it - I took two classes with Ms Tu and loved it !
David, his nephew, was an amazing guide who taught me a lot about Vietnamese daily life, culture and cuisine and Ms Tu is a lovely lady and very skilled cook.
I had a lot of fun spending time with them both in their family home.
The food we prepared was of course delicious. A variety of every-day life dishes which you would not usually find in restaurants.
Would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to step out of the traditional tourist map.
Many thanks to Kevin from Saigon Wow Tours for managing the whole thing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 10, 2023
Great authentic experience - It was a great experience to be invited into a local household for cooking lessons in an original vietnamese kitchen. Great to buy the ingredients on the local market. The guides know all the ins and outs of the neigbourhood which only adds to the authenticity of the experience!! We had a great day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 19, 2022
The best experience of all my travels - It was an memorable experience. I highly recommend that every visitor do this experience. You get to truly experience the daily local eating ritual from shopping, prepping, cooking, and enjoying informative conversations. Everyone is so friendly. The best experience of all my travels.
Review provided by Viator
Nov 7, 2022
Ho Chi Minh cooking class - Loved seeing the market and grabbing our food to cook! Good show all around. Most enjoyable. Friendly people. Fun!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 7, 2022
Authentic Experience! - Wonderful Time! We had a lovely time cooking with Ms. Hoa! From the time we booked, there was wonderful communication. When we were picked up, the fellows were great conversationalists…telling us all about the areas of Ho Chi Minh City and the differences between them. Off to Chinatown and the market! What an experience that was…smells, sights and sounds. Then to Ms. Hoa’s for class. Very authentic menu, in a very traditional kitchen. It was an amazing experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 5, 2022
True Local Vietnamese Cooking - Do it! - Kevin and crew were exceptional in their planning, humor, English language skills and willingness to share their culture and traditions of 3 generations. We shopped at the wet and dry street market for the cooking ingredients. The 4 of us were prompted to request in Vietnamese the different quantities and goods to buy. Great immersion into the local market and people. Cooking, slicing and dicing with Ms Hoa and aunties was fun and I will bring home techniques to try in my kitchen. We feel honored that they opened their home and life to us. This is a true cultural experience. Don’t pass it up!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 29, 2022
Great authentic experience - This was a great experience that my partner and I really enjoyed. It was an awesome way of getting to eat local food and experience a day in the life of a local in Ho Chi Minh City.
We learnt the authentic cooking techniques that the family have been using for generations. The food was outstanding and the guides Hannah and Kevin were fantastic!
All in all great experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
