Another rainy day, but we opted for some indoor activities. Most of our day consisted of a cooking class with a trip to the market to pick fresh produce.
We learned so much about the different vegetables here. So many vegetables and fruit that we don’t have back home. Lemongrass, Chuoi Hot (banana with seeds), winter melon, banana flower, chayote, bitter melon, sweet potato greens, morning glory, longan. Even the fruit is different. Mangos are yellow not red on the outside. Oranges are green/yellow on the outside rather than orange. We learned how to tell when these are ripe. Very informational. I was low key embarrassed by how much I didn’t know, but makes me want to buy more fresh produce like this.
Onto our class!
They cook everything with these jumbo chopsticks! Honestly, so genius, I need a pair! Also, everything has lots of soy sauce, fish sauce, and sugar! Vietnamese actually put sugar in everything. I was worried a lot of their food would be spicy, but I have had no issues! Things are actually sweet over spicy. But they add a little bit of chiles for some flavor and a little kick but nothing unbearable. I really enjoy the flavors!
They were also so accommodating for creating vegetarian versions for Kat!
This was both Kat and I’d favorite dish of the whole trip so far! Honestly couldn’t tell you the last time I’ve had an eggplant and I wouldn’t told you I don’t like eggplant. But THIS! OMG ! 🤌
At the beginning of class, we actually started the process of making our soup for pho. So at this point it has been cooking for 2 hours. IT’s recommended to cook closer to 5 hours for the most flavor, but this was all the time we had (still delicious tho)!
BEST MANGO OF MY LIFE! Kat picked this one when we were at the market in the morning. SO GOOD, it was unreal!
The class was such an amazing experience and maybe the best part of the trip so far! So delicious!
I grew up a very picky kid. I have always eaten within a my box and never tried new things, until I was maybe 21ish… then especially when I moved to New York! There has been such a learning curve with food for me. New York has so many foods that I never knew even existed and then to do this class, and even this trip and honestly enjoy every single thing I have eaten this far.. that blows my mind! Like it seems silly, but I’m so proud of myself! 5 years ago I wouldn’t have eaten any of those dishes.
We went back and chilled at the hotel for a little while it continued to rain and our stomachs could digest all the yummy food we ate! We went to a coffee shop near our hotel for a bit and read and relaxed… again while it was raining! Lots of rain today!
One of the other people in our cooking class said they has a dress custom tailored at this market and it was created in one hour. Then come to find out, Vietnam is very known for their tailoring as it’s very cheap compared to the states. So Kat has a pair of pants with her that she loves and wanted recreated. So we went back to Han Market to check our the tailoring. They were just about to close so tbd on the result until we pick up the pants tomorrow!
We continued on in the rain to visit a night market with food.
We should have guessed, but the market was shutting down as the rain was too much. So not too much to see here. There were a few booths sticking it out. So we walked around and picked up some Bahn Mi on our way back to the hotel.
I also had picked up some jelly candies at Han Market. Kat and I tried every flavor and chose our favorites!
Kat’s favorite : Taro
Shelby’s favorite : Mango
Honorable mention to Passion fruit
Shelby's Travels 
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