Most tourists only scratch the surface of Hoi An’s food traditions; our 15+ taster tour dives into the culinary underbelly of the Ancient Town and the local village of Tra Que.

Morning starts in the bustle of the market, hunting down the food heroes once championed by Anthony Bourdain – tossing chewy bánh bot loc dumplings in a flavorful broth. Next, we stop by Mr. Ly’s stall, he’s been up since the early hours crafting Vietnamese “wedding dumplings,” delicately bundled in green banana leaves.

From herby clam salad to steamy wonton soup, we’re uncovering the bowls that have fed hungry locals for decades. Try the Hoi An original cao lâu noodles, whose ingredients were forged in the pestle and mortar of history, migrating here alongside the ambition of Chinese and Japanese mercantile trade.

Beyond the bridges, we escape to the nearby village of Tra Que, a 400-year-old community that breathes through its fresh herb and vegetable gardens. We’ve secured an exclusive invite to an organic farm for a hands-on masterclass in the disappearing art of traditional rice-paper making. Our hosts will fire up a farm-to-fork feast that includes sizzling bánh xèo pancakes and crispy watercress-prawn salads, among many more surprises.

Back in town, you’ll stand witness as the masters prepare the “White Rose”—delicate, flower-shaped dumplings that are the nod to a bygone era. This recipe has been a family secret for over a century; even now, generational chefs trek to the 1,000-year-old Bà Lê well to fetch the specific water required for the dough.

Every tasting is a bite of the city’s DNA. Forget the guidebooks and navigate the backstreets with a guide who lives for the next great meal that celebrates Hoi An’s culinary legacy.