Review Author: Lina

Review Date: 29 Jul 2025

Review Body: Enjoyed this creative workshop which allowed for a few hours of quiet in a busy bustling city. It was also a very educational and culturally enlightening opportunity to learn about the tradition of lion dance which was brought to Vietnam by the Chinese and to this day is preserved by the local Chinese community. The artist comes from a proud line of lion dancers, his father still dancing even in his late 60s! We got to into it that my friend and I stopped by a nearby temple to "open up the eyes and mouths" of our mini lion heads to make sure that they bring us luck (which is what they do with the big dance costumes during CNY!).

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Mary

Review Date: 30 Jun 2025

Review Body: What an amazing experience! We were looking for something a little different to do in HCM and found the mini lion head painting workshop. The hosts were amazing and took us through some history of the lion dance before starting the crafting process. We had a great time and found the whole experience very relaxing. The class was in a small cafe on the top floor with an elevator available almost to the top floor. The space had great views of the city skyline and coffee and pastries on offer to buy.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Sophia

Review Date: 17 Jul 2025

Review Body: It was such a fun workshop! We learned about the cultural roots of lion dance and got to decorate our own lion heads. I’m not very artistic, so I was a little nervous about painting, but the artisan's guidance made it easy — he even helped touch it up so it looked great in the end. Hoa was the host and Huan was the artisan, both were friendly and passionate about their craft. Highly recommend if you're looking for a unique and meaningful cultural activity in Saigon!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Nicky

Review Date: 30 Apr 2025

Review Body: This was an amazing experience. We had an incredible time learning the history of the lion dance and lion dance masks. The whole class was so relaxing and fun. The cafe it is held in has beautiful views of the city skyline and it’s also close to the famous pink church. Highly recommend!

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Create a custom mini lion head & explore lion dance culture in Vietnam

Itinerary Description: Begin with a warm welcome from your host. Learn about the origins and cultural significance of lion dance in Vietnam. Explore various designs, patterns, and colors used in lion head decoration. Watch as the artisan demonstrates basic techniques for decorating the lion head — including brush handling, layering colors, and applying motifs. Begin decorating your own mini lion head. You can choose to follow traditional motifs or let your creativity run wild and design a version that reflects your personality. The artisan will be on hand to offer tips, guidance, and fine-tune details if needed, ensuring your final piece is both meaningful and beautiful. Take home your creation — a unique, hands-on souvenir infused with culture and personal flair.