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VIEW PHOTOS
VIEW PHOTOS

Host: Bun Hong (Ben)

Siem Reap, Cambodia

USD
$26-$58 per person

Learn to cook an authentic Cambodian meal in the countryside

Host offerings
  • Rural farmhouse
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Bun Hong (Ben)

Ben has come a long way - from driving a tourist scooter to kitchen helper at a restaurant, from being a receptionist at a hotel to now owning his own cooking school. He is truly an inspiration and continues to work very hard dedicating himself to supporting orphan children in rural areas. He is passionate about introducing people to Cambodian culture and way of life through food. He conducts his cooking class in a countryside village, a 15 minute drive from Siem Reap city center. An experience with Ben is filled with the simplicity and joy that emanates from the locals living in the village, eager to cook and share an everyday Khmer meal with you!

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-6 guests) Your experience will take place in a traditional kitchen outdoors in the village, surrounded by the rice paddy fields. Ben helps translate as Mrs. Phat La, (the village chief) who will conduct your cooking class does not speak English. Mrs. Phat La learned to cook from her mother and has been cooking for years now. She is renowned for her cooking skills in the village and is often called to prepare traditional wedding feasts. After you learn about local ingredients and traditional cooking techniques, you will sit down to share a meal together that may include dishes such as fresh spring rolls or banana blossom salad, fish/chicken amok (Cambodia’s national dish of a herbed fish mousse) or beef lok lak (beef stir fry) and pumpkin custard or banana rice cake for dessert.

Cooking experience: (1-6 guests) You will learn how to cook three dishes from scratch in a hands-on cooking class, that will last for 1-2 hours. The cooking area is simple, modest and very traditional. A wood-fired cooking stove is used to prepare all the meals, just like how it is traditionally done in the village. You will leave learning a great deal about Cambodian cuisine, ingredients, cooking styles and traditional culinary secrets!

Market visit: (1-6 guests) Ben will pick you up from your hotel and drive you 15 minutes to a local market. Tour the market with Ben, hear about the vendors and see where the locals shop. You will stop at each stand to learn about ingredients, how it is used in Khmer cooking and culinary stories of Cambodia. You will spend about 30 to 45 minutes in the market and may even purchase fresh ingredients for your cooking class, if booked.

Notes: Pick up and drop-off from your hotel in Siem Reap is included in the price of your booking. Please write your hotel name and address when creating your booking. Ben can also prepare a vegan meal.

Languages spoken: English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • 1 Starter (fried spring roll or fresh spring roll or banana blossom salad)
  • 1 Main Course (fish/chicken amok or banana blossom soup or beef lok lak)
  • 1 Dessert (pumpkin custard, banana rice cake, banana coconut milk)
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

It was a great experience, better than what I expected - Ben was adorable, funny and a very interesting person. We learnt in the most traditional way to cook some Khmer dishes with local people and in a countryside kitchen. Moreover, Ben explains a lot about the culture, the story of Cambodia, why they cook this way, everything about the orphanage he runs as well. There is no better way to learn to cook and also learn more about the beautiful culture of Cambodia. My favorite thing was to make the Amok paste by myself, we cooked it in the traditional way and even got to cut all the ingredients. Ben answered all our questions and at the end of the cooking class we all ate together, shared stories, it was like a dinner with family!

Morgane and Valentins, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (1)
One of the more unique experiences on our trip!! It was a last minute decision that made our vacation so memorable!
- Makobe November 02, 2022

Bun Hong (Ben)

$26-$58 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • No waiting! Booking confirmed instantly
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour + Meal
 $54 $36 $26
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $58 $44 $28
Alcohol
 $4 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour + Meal
 $54 $36 $26
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $58 $44 $28
Alcohol
 $4 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Market Tour+ Meal
 9:30am-12:30pm 4:30pm-7:30pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 7:30am-11:30am 1:30pm-5:30pm

Meet Bun Hong (Ben)

Ben has come a long way - from driving a tourist scooter to kitchen helper at a restaurant, from being a receptionist at a hotel to now owning his own cooking school. He is truly an inspiration and continues to work very hard dedicating himself to supporting orphan children in rural areas. He is passionate about introducing people to Cambodian culture and way of life through food. He conducts his cooking class in a countryside village, a 15 minute drive from Siem Reap city center. An experience with Ben is filled with the simplicity and joy that emanates from the locals living in the village, eager to cook and share an everyday Khmer meal with you!

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-6 guests) Your experience will take place in a traditional kitchen outdoors in the village, surrounded by the rice paddy fields. Ben helps translate as Mrs. Phat La, (the village chief) who will conduct your cooking class does not speak English. Mrs. Phat La learned to cook from her mother and has been cooking for years now. She is renowned for her cooking skills in the village and is often called to prepare traditional wedding feasts. After you learn about local ingredients and traditional cooking techniques, you will sit down to share a meal together that may include dishes such as fresh spring rolls or banana blossom salad, fish/chicken amok (Cambodia’s national dish of a herbed fish mousse) or beef lok lak (beef stir fry) and pumpkin custard or banana rice cake for dessert.

Cooking experience: (1-6 guests) You will learn how to cook three dishes from scratch in a hands-on cooking class, that will last for 1-2 hours. The cooking area is simple, modest and very traditional. A wood-fired cooking stove is used to prepare all the meals, just like how it is traditionally done in the village. You will leave learning a great deal about Cambodian cuisine, ingredients, cooking styles and traditional culinary secrets!

Market visit: (1-6 guests) Ben will pick you up from your hotel and drive you 15 minutes to a local market. Tour the market with Ben, hear about the vendors and see where the locals shop. You will stop at each stand to learn about ingredients, how it is used in Khmer cooking and culinary stories of Cambodia. You will spend about 30 to 45 minutes in the market and may even purchase fresh ingredients for your cooking class, if booked.

Notes: Pick up and drop-off from your hotel in Siem Reap is included in the price of your booking. Please write your hotel name and address when creating your booking. Ben can also prepare a vegan meal.

Languages spoken: English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • 1 Starter (fried spring roll or fresh spring roll or banana blossom salad)
  • 1 Main Course (fish/chicken amok or banana blossom soup or beef lok lak)
  • 1 Dessert (pumpkin custard, banana rice cake, banana coconut milk)
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

It was a great experience, better than what I expected - Ben was adorable, funny and a very interesting person. We learnt in the most traditional way to cook some Khmer dishes with local people and in a countryside kitchen. Moreover, Ben explains a lot about the culture, the story of Cambodia, why they cook this way, everything about the orphanage he runs as well. There is no better way to learn to cook and also learn more about the beautiful culture of Cambodia. My favorite thing was to make the Amok paste by myself, we cooked it in the traditional way and even got to cut all the ingredients. Ben answered all our questions and at the end of the cooking class we all ate together, shared stories, it was like a dinner with family!

Morgane and Valentins, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (1)
One of the more unique experiences on our trip!! It was a last minute decision that made our vacation so memorable!
- Makobe November 02, 2022
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour + Meal
 $54 $36 $26
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $58 $44 $28
Alcohol
 $4 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour + Meal
 $54 $36 $26
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $58 $44 $28
Alcohol
 $4 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Market Tour+ Meal
 9:30am-12:30pm 4:30pm-7:30pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 7:30am-11:30am 1:30pm-5:30pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 4% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can't make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host's profile doesn't work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host's family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the "Notes" section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.