The Best Phu Quoc Cooking Class: Family Tried & Tested
Thompsons vs the World contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Affiliates Program. Making a booking via these links will mean that we receive a small fee but this is at absolutely no cost to you. The price you pay will always remain the same. For more information please see our Privacy Policy.
Phu Quoc might be known for its beaches and waterparks, but one of the very best things we did during our time on the island was completely unexpected: a Vietnamese cooking class. We signed up mainly because we love the food in Vietnam — but we ended up having one of our favourite family experiences of our entire gap year.
If you’re wondering whether a Phu Quoc cooking class is worth booking, what you actually learn to make, or whether it’s suitable for kids, this guide covers everything we discovered from our own hands-on experience. We’ve taken several cooking classes during our travels around South East Asia, but this one — run by the brilliant and endlessly patient Troc — stood out above the rest.
In this post we’ll walk you through:
- What you cook
- How the class works
- Whether it’s kid-friendly
- The exact costs
- What makes Troc’s Kitchen such a brilliant choice for families
And of course, plenty of personal stories — including why one of our kids ended up needing a lie down after the Vietnamese coffee tasting…
Table of Contents
- Why book a cooking class in Phu Quoc, Vietnam?
- The Exact Phu Quoc Cooking Class we loved (Troc’s Kitchen)
- What you learn to cook at Troc’s Kitchen cooking classes
- Our Experience: Why we loved this class in particular
- Is a Phu Quoc Cooking Class Suitable for Kids? (YES — Here’s What to Expect)
- How much does the cooking class cost?
- Conclusion: Why this was one of our favourite Phu Quoc experiences
- FAQ: Phu Quoc Cooking Classes With Kids
- 1. Are cooking classes in Phu Quoc suitable for children?
- 2. How long does a typical cooking class last?
- 3. Do you need any cooking experience?
- 4. What dishes can you learn to make?
- 5. Is the class safe for kids?
- 6. What should you wear?
- 7. Do you get to take the food home?
- 8. Is a cooking class worth it in Phu Quoc?
Why book a cooking class in Phu Quoc, Vietnam?
One of the biggest reasons people fall in love with Vietnam is the food. The flavours are bright, fresh and full of contrast — and it’s almost impossible not to want to recreate them once you get home. Booking a cooking class in Phu Quoc lets you do exactly that.
You’re not just eating incredible dishes; you’re learning how they’re made from scratch, using traditional methods and techniques you simply won’t come across elsewhere.
But for families, a cooking class is more than just a culinary experience. It’s a brilliant bonding activity that gets everyone involved and working together. Our boys learnt practical kitchen skills, but they also gained a deeper understanding of Vietnamese ingredients, flavours and food culture. It’s hands-on, educational and genuinely fun — and unlike many “family activities,” this is one adults enjoy just as much as the kids.
Whether you’re new to Vietnamese cooking or already obsessed with the country’s cuisine, a local cooking class is one of the most memorable things you can do on Phu Quoc.
The Exact Phu Quoc Cooking Class we loved (Troc’s Kitchen)
After a good chunk of research, we booked a class with Troc’s Kitchen, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of our time on the island. Troc runs classes every day, with both morning and afternoon sessions, so no matter when you’re visiting Phu Quoc you’ll almost certainly find a time that works.
The menus vary by session — mornings and afternoons each have a different set of dishes — and there are also specialist classes if you want to dive deep into making the iconic Vietnamese pho. Vegetarian options are available too, and all menus are clearly displayed so you can choose your favourite in advance.
Classes last around 3–4 hours and are kept deliberately small, with a maximum of eight people. Our family of four happened to be the only ones booked in on the day we visited, so it felt like having our own private workshop. The intimacy, the pace, and the ability to ask endless questions made it feel incredibly personal and great value.
What you learn to cook at Troc’s Kitchen cooking classes
We chose the morning class, which meant we got to cook an entire feast of Vietnamese dishes:
- Fresh spring rolls
- Vietnamese pancakes (banh xeo)
- Bún thịt nướng noodle salad
- Caramelised pork and fish
- Fried banana cake
Before any of the cooking began, Troc kicked things off with a mini masterclass on how to make Vietnamese coffee. The Vietnamese take coffee seriously, so learning the technique — and the reasoning behind it — was such a fun and unexpected addition (though maybe skip the tasting for younger kids unless you want them buzzing!).
Once we got started, the class moved through the dishes at a lovely pace. Because we were making so many recipes, the boys got to try out all sorts of cooking skills: chopping vegetables, rolling spring rolls, cooking skewers on the BBQ, whipping up pancakes and even using a giant meat cleaver — a moment they still talk about.
What we loved most was how hands-on everything was. We’d cook one dish, sit down together to eat it while it was still hot, take a breather, then move on to the next. This rhythm made it ideal for kids — no long waits or overwhelming marathon sessions.
The bún thịt nướng noodle salad was such a hit that it’s now a regular meal in our home. Every time we make it, I’m instantly transported back to our sunny little kitchen in Phu Quoc.
And the food? You will not go hungry. You get to take everything you cook home. We left with bags of leftovers — enough for dinner that night and lunch the next day. It genuinely felt like we were cooking for a banquet.
Our Experience: Why we loved this class in particular
The dishes themselves were delicious, but the real standout of this cooking class is Troc. He’s one of those rare guides who strikes the perfect balance between being knowledgeable, funny, patient and genuinely interested in the people he’s teaching. From the moment we arrived, he made us all feel completely at ease — the boys included.
He had them laughing, chopping, stirring and taste-testing with complete confidence. At no point did they feel talked down to or sidelined. In fact, it often felt like we were cooking with a long-time friend who happened to be an excellent chef.
By the end of the class we’d not only made a full spread of dishes, we’d also picked up clever tips on where to eat in Phu Quoc, learnt more about Vietnamese cooking techniques than we expected, and walked away with a proper understanding of why certain flavours and textures matter in Vietnamese food.
We left with armfuls of food, a head full of cooking knowledge and two very proud kids who couldn’t quite believe how many dishes they’d helped create. It was one of those rare activities that ticks every box: meaningful, fun, educational and genuinely delicious.
Is a Phu Quoc Cooking Class Suitable for Kids? (YES — Here’s What to Expect)
Absolutely — a cooking class on Phu Quoc can be a brilliant family activity, and ours with Troc’s Kitchen was one of the boys’ favourite days on the island. The key is choosing the right class and knowing what level of involvement your children are ready for.
We’ve taken several cooking workshops across South East Asia, and this one was by far the most child-friendly. Troc naturally adapts the pace and difficulty based on the children in the group, and he finds small, confidence-building tasks for younger chefs while still keeping older kids fully engaged.
Best Ages
- 6+ can get involved with chopping, rolling and mixing
- 8–12 is the perfect age — old enough to cook safely with supervision
- Teens will love learning “proper” Vietnamese cooking techniques
- Kids under 6 can attend, but they will need very close supervision
Our boys were 8 and 10, and they were able to participate in every single step — from using the giant cleaver to rolling the spring rolls and flipping the pancakes.
Activities Kids Loved Most
- Rolling spring rolls (they got competitive very quickly!)
- Cooking skewers over the BBQ
- Trying the different sauces and learning what each flavour “means”
- Watching the caramelised pork bubble away in the pan
- The fried banana dessert (a unanimous winner)
What Parents Should Know
- There are knives and hot surfaces, but everything is supervised closely
- The class is very well paced — bursts of cooking followed by short breaks
- Kids get plenty of hands-on time rather than just watching
- There’s a LOT of food, so no one gets “hangry”
Our eldest loves coffee and was thrilled to try Vietnamese coffee at the start… until the caffeine hit him like a truck and he needed a quick lie-down afterwards. Consider this your quiet warning: maybe skip the coffee tasting for younger kids!
How much does the cooking class cost?
The standard classes at Troc’s Kitchen cost US$45/£34 per adult and US$36/£27 for children under 12.
Conclusion: Why this was one of our favourite Phu Quoc experiences
After three hours of chopping, frying, rolling, tasting and laughing, we left Troc’s Kitchen with full bellies, a whole stack of leftovers and a genuine sense that we’d learnt something meaningful about Vietnamese cooking and culture. The boys still talk about the spring rolls and the giant meat cleaver moment — which, if you ask me, is the sign of a brilliant family activity.
If you’re heading to Phu Quoc and want an experience that’s hands-on, delicious and incredibly fun for both adults and kids, a cooking class is an easy yes. It’s a break from the beaches, a deeper taste of Vietnamese culture, and one of those rare activities where everyone gets involved.
And if you choose the same one we did — Troc’s Kitchen — you’re in truly excellent hands.
🍳 Book your cooking class with Troc here
If you’re planning your trip to Phu Quoc, you might also like:
👉 Our favourite things to do in Phu Quoc with kids
👉 Our Aquatopia Waterpark review
👉 Where to stay in Phu Quoc as a family
Or join our newsletter below for more family-friendly travel guides, tips, and honest stories from our gap year adventures.
👉 Sign up for our family travel newsletter
FAQ: Phu Quoc Cooking Classes With Kids
1. Are cooking classes in Phu Quoc suitable for children?
Yes — especially at Troc’s Kitchen, where the instructor adapts tasks for younger chefs and keeps things safe and fun.
2. How long does a typical cooking class last?
Most classes last 3–4 hours, including cooking time, breaks and eating the dishes as you make them.
3. Do you need any cooking experience?
Not at all. These classes are designed for beginners, families and travellers wanting a fun cultural experience.
4. What dishes can you learn to make?
This varies by class, but common dishes include spring rolls, Vietnamese pancakes, noodle salads, caramelised pork, fried banana cakes and Vietnamese coffee.
5. Is the class safe for kids?
Yes — with supervision. Children handle age-appropriate tasks, and hot surfaces are monitored closely by the instructor.
6. What should you wear?
Comfortable, breathable clothing you don’t mind getting splashed or splattered (though aprons are provided). Closed-toe shoes are recommended for younger kids.
7. Do you get to take the food home?
Yes — and there’s a LOT. We ate for almost two days straight from the leftovers!
8. Is a cooking class worth it in Phu Quoc?
Absolutely. It’s cultural, hands-on, delicious and one of the most memorable activities you can do as a family on the island.
