Intriguingly enough, while many foreign tourists are absorbed in visiting famous tourist sites, a large number of Japanese youth opt to learn how to make Vietnamese foods.

Terao Takashi, 25, put it frankly, saying that his biggest aim when arriving in Vietnam is to learn the recipes for several of his favorite Vietnamese dishes.

“I like to cook exotic foods. So learning to make Vietnamese food is a must, a sure way to earn compliments when I return Japan,” Terao said.

For that reason, once arriving in central city of Da Nang, Terao immediately registered for a tour that included cooking lessons.

Terao has so far acquired recipes for several typical dishes like cha gio (spring roll) and banh xeo (rice pancake folded in half and filled with a shrimp, meat and soybean sprouts).

Yamanaka Natsuko also exhibited a determination to learn to make spring rolls, which she considered her favorite food when eating out with friends in Japan.

“It’s impossible to make this food in Japan. But thanks to my Vietnamese teachers, it is a piece of cake for me”, Yamanaka said.

Vietnamese instructors also showed a positive attitude towards their inquisitive learners.

“I was really impressed by how courteous they are, bowing to greet me as their instructor”, recalled Ngo Thi Xuan Dieu, an experienced cook in the city.

“Moreover, their skillfulness in cooking, particularly in making spring rolls, really came as a big surprise to me”, Dieu added.

Several Japanese cooking enthusiasts even want to open Vietnamese restaurants in Japan, according to Vietnamese instructors.

Vietnamese cuisine is a significant part of promoting the country’s tourism globally, a tourism official said.

Reported by Dieu Hien – Translated by An Dien