Our last full day in Hoi An; breakfast, running over to Kimmy’s and Tony’s to pick our clothing orders, and a quick lunch before meeting up with our cooking class. We booked an afternoon class with the Red Bridge Restaurant and Cooking School (http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g298082-d1061045-Reviews-Red_Bridge_Restaurant_and_Cooking_School-Hoi_An_Quang_Nam_Province.html). We chose the Red Bridge school because they offered more than a simple cooking class.

Fishing boats tied up in a canal off the Thu Bon River. Old Town, Hoi An.

Old Town from the other side of the canal, Hoi An.

We met up with our guide and the rest of the class at a restaurant in Old Town. From there, we walked through Old Town and into the central market. Our guide was very knowledgeable and was able to answer questions regarding various unfamiliar foodstuffs and other items new and wondrous to western eyes.

Fruit at the central market. Old Town, Hoi An.

Betel-fruit at the central market. Old Town, Hoi An.

It was quiet-time at the central market. Old Town, Hoi An.

It was quiet-time at the central market 02. Old Town, Hoi An.

Nap-wagon. Old Town, Hoi An.

Baskets of food at the central market. Old Town, Hoi An.

Radiant veggies at the central market. Old Town, Hoi An.

Napping with the chickens at the central market. Old Town, Hoi An.

We had a great time strolling through the central market. We bought some simple (but quite ingenious) kitchen gadgets and… of course, spices. Did you know that Chinese 5-Spice and Vietnamese 5-Spice are the, “Same, same but different“? According to one very earnest (and quite convincing) vendor, the Vietnamese version of the spice was “same, same but much better” than the Chinese one – apparently, this generalization was true for all other items as well. True or not, she did manage to sell us quite a load of spices… three years later and we’re still going through them. After finishing our market tour, we walked along the riverfront.

Red tendrils. Old Town, Hoi An.

Fresh from the farms. Old Town, Hoi An.

Waiting for the local ferry. Old Town, Hoi An.

We then boarded our ride up-river to the Red Bridge Restaurant and Cooking School.

Ferry to the Red Bridge Cooking School. Old Town, Hoi An.

River-taxi waiting for business. Old Town, Hoi An.

Coming along-side. Old Town. Hoi An.

Private river-tour on the Thu Bon River, Hoi An.

Our ferry “Captain”. Up-stream of Hoi An.

River traffic up-stream of Hoi An.

Once at the Red Bridge Restaurant and Cooking School, we had a guided tour of their extensive spice and herb gardens:

Touring the herb garden. Up-stream of Hoi An.

We were then ushered into a thatched-roof cooking demonstration kitchen – complete with individualized cooking stations for each member of the class. The class was very light-hearted and the chef-instructor was extremely personable… and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. We each made (or made a mess of) several traditional local dishes. Then we brought our still-steaming goodies into the restaurant part of the complex. Once we made ourselves comfortable, more food (prepared by the real chefs) was brought out and we had a great time eating and socializing before being ferried back to Old Town.

Roger and Eron at the Red Bridge Restaurant. Up-stream of Hoi An.

Leaving the Red Bridge dock. Up-stream of Hoi An.

Boat-full of happy tourists. Up-stream of Hoi An.

Lights along the Thu Bon River. Up-stream of Hoi An.

That evening, we decided to try the Miss Ly Cafeteria (http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g298082-d1090864-Reviews-Miss_Ly_Cafeteria-Hoi_An_Quang_Nam_Province.html) for a late dinner. This was our second time at Miss Ly’s; we had come in for lunch several days before. What can I say… the food was tasty and the prices were very reasonable.

Dinner at the Miss Ly Cafeteria. Old Town, Hoi An.

After-dinner drinks and cigars at Miss Ly’s. Old Town, Hoi An.