Experience the best of
Ho Chi Minh City with Withlocals

"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. "

"I cannot recommend this experience highly enough. Absolute 5 star ⭐️ day. From start to finish it was brilliant. Picking our own herbs from the garden and making 5 mouth watering dishes. Our ever patient Chef making it all so easy. Eating the products of our labour was even better. I have my certificate on the wall 😂😂😂and have repeated some of the recipes at home . Thank you 😊 "

"This is a must if you want to experience Viatnamese family life. Tu picked me up and we travelled in the mad Ho Chi Min traffic to his home in the suburbs where I met his wife, her mother and Tu's son Finn who was great fun. Mum in law is same age as me (61) so we had a good laugh. Apparently my hands are too soft - not worker's hands 🤣 The hot pot was delicious and plenty of it, followed by coconut milk jelly, equally yummy and I was given some to take home. All too soon the evening was over but I will treasure my time with Tu and his family 🥢🍵💜 10 star ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++"

"IT was a very good experience for adults and children learning how to do our own jewlery. Shin knows a lot about jewlery and is a tourist guide top. She knows a lot about everything and We could havr a really great time with her! "

"Our day with Thien was so great! She is such a lovely and generous person. We had great fun and learnt a lot too. We definitely recommend this special kind of thing to do in HCMC."

"I had a fantastic morning with Thien yesterday. From the moment she met me I was made to feel very welcome, and nothing was too much trouble. Thien was super organised and taught me everything there is to know about the tools and items needed to make your own jewellery. She even gave me tips on where to find items locally and online. I was able to make a beaded necklace with matching bracelet and earrings, another beaded bracelet and two necklaces. The range of beads, clasps and threads was great. I thoroughly enjoyed Thien’s hospitality, amazing knowledge and skill, and her wonderful personality. I can thoroughly recommend this class. I would definitely do another class or tour with Thien in my next visit to Ho Chi Mibh. "

"We were picked up by a van and taken to the farm which is located about an hour and a half outside the city. The class started with picking our own fresh ingredients from the farm, very educational and fun to do, I loved it! However, soon the strong and unpleasant smell of cow and pig manure became unbearable so I decided to go inside and wait for the others to come back. It took more than an hour before we finally got cooking. The chef often made jokes with a strong personal undertone which was not very well received by some of the other participants or myself. I expected more professionalism and focus on food and cooking. The food was simple but tasty. The first course were tasty spring rolls with a delicious dipping sauce. Afterwards we made a BBQ pork dish followed by a chicken dish that were all very tasty and quite simple to prepare. In the meantime, the ingredients that we picked earlier were cleaned and pre-cut and ready to be used. What I missed was the actual teaching/demonstrating of certain Asian cooking techniques. After the class we received a print out of the recipes that I will definitely reproduce at home. "

"Had a fantastic day with Tan’s cooking class. First class treatment & everything taken care of for us. Food was delicious & service amazing. Highly recommend! Thanks so much"

"We had an absolutely amazing time with Tu as our host! From the moment we arrived, Tu’s warm hospitality made us feel like part of the family. Cooking and enjoying Vietnamese hotpot together was such a special experience—everything was incredibly fresh, flavorful, and prepared with so much care. What made the evening even more special was the presence of Tu’s lovely wife and their two beautiful kids. Their warmth and kindness made us feel truly welcome, and it was such a joy to share this experience with them. It felt like an authentic glimpse into local family life, filled with laughter, great conversation, and, of course, delicious food! Tu’s passion for Vietnamese culture and cuisine truly shines through, and he made the whole experience both fun and educational. Not only did he share fantastic travel tips for Ho Chi Minh City, but he also gave us great insights on visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta, helping us plan for an unforgettable adventure beyond the city. A few highlights made this experience even more unforgettable. Tu went above and beyond by arranging a local ceramic BBQ from the Mekong Delta for me—a truly special gift that reflects the craftsmanship of the region. And for the adventurous food lovers, I even tried Hot Vit Lon, also known as Vietnamese balut, one of the most unique and polarizing street foods in Vietnam (and was optional for me to choose). This fertilized duck egg is a dish that combines deep cultural significance with bold flavors, often catching travelers by surprise. To top it all off, we also got to taste durian fruit, the famous "king of fruits" known for its strong aroma and creamy texture. It was an unforgettable culinary adventure! If you’re looking for an unforgettable, local experience in Ho Chi Minh City, we highly recommend this! Thank you, Tu, and your wonderful family, for an incredible evening—we’ll be dreaming of that delicious hotpot (and reminiscing about balut and durian!) for a long time!"

"My daughter's (8 & 10) and I had a great time doing the jewellery workshop. We learnt lots of techniques and produced some lovely pieces of jewellery. Then was great, she was really friendly and knowledgeable and made the experience alot of fun."