From Malaysia to Flor Saigon: A Private Lotus Workshop

Some workshops begin with flowers. This one began with a name.

When Chooilin travelled from Malaysia to Flor Saigon for a private floral experience, she already knew which flower she wanted to work with. In Chinese, her name carries the meaning of lotus - making the choice feel deeply personal long before the workshop began.

To honour that connection, we designed an experience that explored not only the flower itself, but also the culture surrounding it.

Our morning started with a visit to Lăng Ông Bà Chiểu, one of Ho Chi Minh City's historic landmarks, before wandering through the lively aisles of Bà Chiểu Market. There, among local vendors and the unmistakable fragrance of fresh flowers, Chooilin chose the lotus blooms that would become the heart of her arrangement.

Back at the studio, a glass of chilled herbal tea offered a refreshing pause before we began designing. As traditional Huế royal court music quietly filled the space, the morning settled into a gentle rhythm, inviting us to slow down and appreciate every stem, every leaf and every thoughtful decision.

Rather than following a fixed formula, the workshop encouraged Chooilin to observe how each lotus stem naturally moved and interacted with the space around it. Through balance, rhythm and negative space, the arrangement gradually unfolded, allowing the beauty of the flower to guide the design.

More than learning a floral technique, the experience became a way of understanding Vietnam through its flowers, sounds and everyday rituals. Sometimes, the most memorable part of a workshop isn't the arrangement you bring home, but the stories that become part of it.

We are grateful to have shared a small piece of Vietnamese floral culture with Chooilin and hope the memories of lotus flowers, local markets and a peaceful morning in Saigon will remain with her long after the blooms have faded.

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