The 6 Best Laos Cooking Classes

1.Evening Cooking Class & Local Baci Ceremony

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 151 reviews · 4 hours · from $51Our pick

Spend four hours with an English-speaking host such as Somsay or Si, starting at a local market before cooking five Lao dishes in a family setting. You will share dinner, receive a Baci blessing from local elders, hear traditional music, and return to your Luang Prabang hotel. Covered shoulders and knees are required.

“an experience really different from all the cooking classes I' been before... absolutely 10 out of 10”

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2.Bamboo Weaving Workshop & Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 96 reviews · 4 - 5 hours · from $44Top rated

Spend four to five hours learning bamboo’s role in Lao life at a traditional house outside Luang Prabang. With English-speaking guides such as John or Sia, you’ll weave a small mat, help cook bamboo shoot dishes, eat from a bamboo tray, and hear local instruments. Choose a morning session for photos or an evening session for dinner.

“What an amazing tour! Definitely recommend it! We enjoyed our dinner cooking class so much and all the information about the bamboo were so interesting! The guide was funny and explained us so many interesting facts about bamboo, rice, the Lao culture and cuisine. This was the best experience we had in Luang Prabang.”

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3.Cooking Class at the Former Royal Palace

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 51 reviews · 4 hours · from $45

Start near Wat Xiengthong with chef Noi, Noy, or another English-speaking local guide, then visit the morning market by bicycle or tuk tuk. After a break while ingredients are prepared, cook several Lao dishes at Alame Restaurant beside the Mekong and eat your meal on the terrace. Vegetarian options are available with advance notice.

“Amazing cooking lesson with an astonishing view !!! Everything were perfect from local market visit to the dishes, Noi and all the staff were nice, all the instructions were clear and the recipes are a good way to discover Lao culture. I highly recommend Noi cooking classes !!!”

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4.Day-time Bamboo weaving & Cooking Classes join-in

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 38 reviews · from $25Best value

Spend about four hours at The Bamboo Experience near Luang Prabang, where Somsay and local artisans explain bamboo’s place in Lao life. Weave a small mat or coaster, help prepare bamboo shoot dishes, enjoy lunch, and watch a Hmong musical performance. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, with groups limited to eight.

“The people running the tour were very knowledgeable and friendly. I really enjoyed the cooking class and would’ve liked to have done a little bit more of that.”

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5.Bamboo Forest Cooking-class & Farm Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 6 hours · from $100

Spend six hours with a local Khmu guide near Luang Prabang, starting at a vegetable farm before heading into the forest to forage, shape bamboo utensils, and cook rice, meat, or fish over natural heat. Pickup, ingredients, water, and a small-group setting for up to 10 people are included.

“Peng was awesome! This experience was so authentic and just a lovely time learning cooking techniques. This hands on experience was well worth the visit. I would highly recommend. Be prepared to get really into it as I never imagined I would be in a forest cutting down bamboo to use for my meal. Communication was excellent. I highly recommend!”

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6.Mekong River Cooking Class with Hotel Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 5 hours · from $65

Meet your chef at Luang Prabang’s morning market, select fresh ingredients, and cook four Lao dishes aboard a Mekong River boat. The menu includes fish, pork, tofu, mushrooms, and mango sticky rice, with vegetarian choices available. Chef Sing leads the class in English, French, Laothian, or Thai. Hotel pickup, lunch, and drop-off are included.

“loved the whole day....sing was an amazing guide very informative and a good cooking teacher, would recommend doing this!”

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