Cooking Class on Steroids

We left HCMC, (always reminds me of Hennepin County Medical Center), and headed North by plane via Da Nang to Hoi An. This is a very walkable, smaller but busy, town. The weather is much cooler and it sprinkles rain daily. I’m freezing so we bought puffer jackets for around 25$ as we will need them as we go further North and probably on the ships. It’s a little like California cold, damp, but doable.

When we signed up for this Hoi An cooking class, we expected we’d learn how to make Cao Lau, the local dish. We didn’t expect to have one of the most fun times we’ve had on a tour.

As with most cooking classes, we started at the local market, where we picked up our vegetables –

When we arrived, were we in for a surprise. We all got into bamboo boats they call “coracles.” Our rower took us through somewhat spooky mangrove swamps, singing and laughing all the way. She had us singing and shouting with her, as did all of the other tour member’s boats.

Before long, we entered a large body of water, full of similar boats. Music was blasting and the place was rocking –

Our navigator took us through a channel until we reached a spot where some of the skippers were spinning their boats at fairly high speeds. We chose not to do it, but many in our group did. It’s like an organic Tilt-a-Whirl.

We went past fisherman casting their nets, birds, and back to the next event –

Lantern-making of course –

Finally, the main event. We made fried rice paper spring rolls with corn and green onions, papaya salad with chicken, rice pancakes with bacon and shrimp, and the expected Cao Lau. Not too bad.

Very relaxing fun Day!