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Ho Chi Minh City con Withlocals

"We had an amazing experience at the Vietnamese cooking workshop with Elise and her mother. Her mother was incredibly kind and, even though she didn’t speak English, she enthusiastically showed us how traditional Vietnamese dishes are prepared. Every ingredient was explained in detail, and the cooking process was demonstrated with great care and joy. The only surprise was that we expected to cook ourselves rather than just watch, but this didn’t take away from the experience at all. We truly appreciated the warm hospitality of Elise and her mother and, of course, the delicious food! To our delight, they had even prepared extra snacks for us, making this introduction to Vietnamese cuisine even more special. Highly recommended! "

"Very nice person, very punctual, looking to all details, highly recomand him. Very good experince for my family."

"I originally booked a personalized dinner experience with Tu, but due to last-minute issues I asked if we could change it to a customized city tour instead. He agreed without any hesitation and showed me the city in a truly original and special way. His excellent service encouraged me to ask him to design a full-day trip to the Mekong Delta for the last day of my stay in Vietnam. This was quite a challenge, as I needed to be at the airport by 4:30 pm, but everything worked like clockwork. Every activity he planned was a real pleasure, and I genuinely feel I got to experience so much in such a short amount of time. Tu helped me make the most of my limited time in Ho Chi Minh City in the best possible way. Beyond the experiences I booked, Tu also helped me with many other aspects of my trip that were not part of his services. He gave me very useful advice on how to move around the city, recommended the best times for different activities, and was always attentive to my needs. He truly went above and beyond what one would expect from a tour guide. At first, Tu may come across as a bit shy, but he is a very warm, welcoming, respectful person and, above all, engaging and joyful. He shared his culture and history with all their complexities and was always open and happy to answer my many questions. I am very happy I decided to hire his services. While it is certainly more expensive than non-personalized options, it is worth every cent. As a woman traveling solo, I highly recommend him without hesitation—I always felt safe and completely comfortable. Thank you, Tu!"

"Elise and her mom provided an unforgettable Vietnamese spring rolls class. Elise was amazing and took her time explaining the ingredients and sharing insights into Vietnamese food and culture during our grocery store tour. Her mom was equally wonderful and taught me valuable techniques that I will definitely use again. The spring rolls were fresh and delicious and the homemade sauces added the perfect touch. They even shared some unique fruits I had never tried before. This was a warm, educational, and truly delightful experience. Highly recommend!"

"It was truly a privilege to be hosted by Tu and his family for dinner in their family home. The 15km journey from our central hotel to the Nha Binh district during peak hour HCMC traffic was an experience in itself. We were greeted by Tu and his family and shared an unforgettable evening meal of seafood hotpot, a local specialty. Over the next two hours Tu shared stories of his life and te local culture. His family were so welcoming and generous. We leaned so much and will forever remember the experience. "

"What an amazing experience with Elise and her mum. They were both so welcoming, I felt like part of the family. The spring rolls we made are the best I’ve ever eaten and my only regrets is I couldn’t stay for longer to cook Pho. I highly recommend any experience with this awesome duo."

"We did the shopping and cooking tour with Elise and her Mum . It was absolutely amazing . Such a privilege to be welcomed into Elise’s home. Elise was such a wealth of knowledge on local food and cooking traditions. Her mother was warm and welcoming and the memories of our day together will last a lifetime. We learned how to shop and cook like locals ….and came home with an absolutely delicious recipe for traditional pancakes . "

"My husband and I love spring rolls, so when we stumbled across Elise’s private spring roll class and found ourselves with a few extra hours to spare, well…it was destiny! From the minute we signed up Elise was super friendly and helpful: she offered to answer any questions we might have about HCMC, make recommendations for food, and even book restaurant reservations if we needed help. So sweet! We met at a local supermarket in her neighborhood and as we shopped for ingredients she taught us about how food is integrated into the local culture. Very interesting. Then we walked a few short blocks to her family home where we were greeted warmly by her amazing mom and adorable dog. We sat at the dining table and started cooking right away, mostly chopping and grating, though I was “fired” from the latter because my grated radishes weren’t up to mom’s standards. That and she did it three times faster than me. LOL Once all the ingredients were assembled we rolled…and we rolled…and we rolled some more. There were only two of us but I swear we made 50 spring rolls! I was in heaven! Her mom then took them into the kitchen and showed us how to fry them. She made it look so easy, using chopsticks to fit far more in the fry pan than I thought possible. In no time at all we were stuffing our faces with the most delicious spring rolls you can imagine, wrapped in fresh lettuce and herbs with a homemade dipping sauce to impart even more flavor. We washed them down with local beer and somehow made room for fresh fruit for dessert. Oh, they also offered us some local sticky-rice desserts wrapped in banana leaves and stuffed with coconut, mung bean, etc. Heavenly! It was a fabulous few hours and we walked away fat and soooo happy! Elise, big thanks to you and your mom for one of the highlights of our time in HCMC! If you love spring rolls, you’d be crazy not to take this class!"

"We spent a great day with Elise in Saigon. We started our tour with a visit to a local grocery store where she explained all of the items there that were unique to Vietnam and identified several things that she felt we should bring home to the US. Following our trip to the store, Elise took us to her modest apartment where she and her mother cooked us an amazing meal while sharing with us the details of the recipes so that we can prepare the dishes back home. It was essentially an informal cooking class where we not only learned how to cook some delicious Vietnam dishes, but we also learned about Elise and her mom's life in Saigon. It was truly a special experience. "

"My cooking class experience with Elise and her mom was a delightful immersion into Vietnamese cuisine, filled with warmth, delicious flavors, and the joyful presence of their dog, Nou. It all started at the market, where Elise shared insights into the local foods and traditions of Vietnam. This wasn’t just any market visit; it was an engaging introduction to the ingredients that would later transform into our meal. In the comfort of Elise’s home kitchen, her mom took the lead, showing us how to prepare three traditional Vietnamese dishes. Her expertise and welcoming approach made the cooking process both educational and enjoyable. Each dish came together like a piece of art, simple yet wonderfully authentic. The aromas that filled the kitchen and the stories exchanged over the stove made the afternoon special. Adding to the charm was Nou, the playful and intelligent family dog. Her cheerful presence and our instant bond brought an extra layer of joy to the experience. Sitting down to eat the dishes we prepared, I felt a sense of accomplishment and connection, not just to the food, but to the culture, traditions, and the lovely companions, human and canine alike. I’m grateful for this lovely Friday afternoon spent with Elise, her mom, and of course, Nou. It was more than just a cooking class; it was a warm and inviting glimpse into the heart of Vietnamese cooking, enriched by the company of wonderful hosts and a delightful four-legged friend. Thank you, Elise, your mom, and Nou, for a memorable experience and for the delicious tastes that I will surely remember."