My day of experiencing baking begins when Mrs. Ngoc Ha welcomes me to her charming Ha Anh bakery in a small alley off Truong Chinh street, Hanoi. The bakery air immediately fills me with the sweet scent of chocolate, sugar, and vanilla and makes me more than curious to know how such beautiful edible works of art are made. With a person who doesn’t have any experience of baking cakes like me, everything is an adventure. Today’s lesson is “Butter cream cake” in a Korean style, which is a new trend with colorful and beautiful floral designs covering the whole surface of the cake. This course is open for anyone interested in the theme and no prior knowledge is required. In just 4 to 5 hours, the teacher tries to carefully instruct students to give them the maximum knowledge and skills on how to color and flavor butter cream, how to hold and use a piping bag properly, and how to work with different nozzles to create different kinds of flowers and leaves.

Today’s lesson is “Butter cream cake” in a Korean style, which is a new trend with colorful and beautiful floral designs covering the whole surface of the cake  (Source: Mrs Ha's official FB)

 After a demo, all students now are hands-on and ready to work on their own masterpiece while Mrs. Ha walks around giving each one help if needed. Talking about this model of baking class, Ha said: “Previously, I only provided long-term courses for aspiring bakers, who want to get a stable job in the food industry. Then, I decided to hold short-term baking classes like this as I realized that there’re many people who want to learn how to bake but don’t have enough time to join professional courses. It’s such a great feeling when you can bake and decorate a cake on your own after just one class. Moreover, here is your chance to wow your family and friends with some simple but impressive cake decorating techniques.”   

In such a short time, all the techniques taught in this class became interchangeable and can easily be transferred to a cake (Source: Mrs. Ha's official FB)

The baking lessons take place in either in the morning or in the afternoon, during the week and at weekends alike, depending on the course. In such a short time, all the techniques taught in this class became interchangeable and can easily be transferred to a cake.  Students will have time to practice their piping skills to perfect their flowers as well as get tutor support throughout the day. Courses for professionals are also available, where students can enhance their extensive experience with new, modern and advanced techniques including figurines and modeling. Student Nguyen Thu Thuy finds it interesting to attend the class. “I think it’s very beneficial for those whose don’t have much spare time like me. The cost for each course is reasonable and affordable. The main advantage of such courses is simple and the results can be seen in just 1 day. Watching one live demonstration is much more effective and easy to remember than practicing on your own. I will attend more classes like this when I have time.”

Students will have time to practice their piping skills to perfect their flowers as well as get tutor support throughout the day (Source: Mrs. Ha's official FB)

However, baking is considered an art, and the skills are only developed with practice and patience from students both in the class and at home. Ha again: “Baking is not easy at all and the baking techniques can’t be mastered in just one day, however, the knowledge you gain after one class is enough for you to bake a cake for your family and friends. A detailed step by step guide is provided to ensure that you can leave the class with your own finished cake and recreate the cake again at home. For special occasions like Christmas or Valentine’s day, I also have special courses with special decorative tips and tricks to beautify the cake following that day’s theme.” 

This model of one-day baking has something for everyone, for the home cook looking to just freshen up their skills, to the student who is serious about getting into the culinary world (Source: Mrs. Ha's official FB)

Courses for professionals are also available, where students can enhance their extensive experience with new, modern and advanced techniques including figurines and modeling (Source: Mrs. Ha's official FB)

 Since then Mrs. Ha has taught hundreds of students nationwide. She takes separate classes for each cuisine on weekdays and on weekends, and also video e-classes for students from afar. This model of one-day baking has something for everyone, for the home cook looking to just freshen up their skills, to the student who is serious about getting into the culinary world. Some take such courses because they are bored and others enroll just to surprise their families.  Hoang Trang, who attended to one of Ha’s baking and decorating classes, said: “At the weekend, I want to participate in classes like this. After 1 day, I have some of the basic skills to bake cakes for my children. I think the model of a baking class in 1 day like this suit to office workers like me. Frankly speaking, I can’t master all the baking and piping skills in just one day, but with the knowledge I learnt here plus some practice at home, baking is not an impossible task anymore.”   

This is a great place to make new friends who will share your love for food. Though the reasons for signing such short-term baking course like this may vary, what they have in common is the belief that there can be short cuts to becoming a good cook.