Chef Hai and the Seaweed Beds of Tra Que

This is the farming version, and the farming is real.

Tra Que is the organic vegetable village outside Hoi An, and part of what makes its produce taste the way it does is the seaweed: the beds are fertilised with it rather than with anything bought in. You do the sequence yourself: preparing the ground, raking it, spreading the seaweed, planting the seedlings, watering, and picking what is ready. It takes about as long as it sounds, and it is why the herbs from here end up in the good kitchens.

The market comes first, in the middle of Hoi An, with the guide translating and explaining what everything is for.

Then chef Hai and the class, which covers the differences between the ingredients as much as the recipes, and four Vietnamese dishes cooked from the beginning. Four more come prepared, so the meal is eight things.

You leave with the recipes, and the guide drops you at the hotel.

Twelve people at most, in English, with an air-conditioned vehicle, WiFi on board, a welcome drink, lunch or dinner and all fees.

Wheelchair accessible throughout, transport included.