A perfume workshop in Thao Dien is now just a 10-minute walk from the new metro station. At R Space (34 Nguyen Duy Hieu), NOTE – The Scent Lab offers a 90-minute hands-on experience where you create your own signature scent — rated ★4.9 by 500+ travelers on TripAdvisor.
If you’ve been searching for things to do near the Thao Dien metro station, or wondering what makes this corner of District 2 worth the trip, here’s your answer: a creative afternoon blending your own custom perfume, browsing a curated fragrance showroom, and sipping specialty coffee — all at a single address on Nguyen Duy Hieu street.
This guide covers what the perfume workshop experience is like, how to get there from the new metro, what else to explore at R Space, and why Thao Dien has become one of Saigon’s most compelling creative neighborhoods.
Where Is the Perfume Workshop in Thao Dien?
The workshop is held at R Space, 34 Nguyen Duy Hieu, Thao Dien, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City. It’s operated by NOTE – The Scent Lab, the same studio behind Vietnam’s most-reviewed perfume workshop experience (4.9 stars, 500+ reviews on TripAdvisor and Google).
R Space is a multi-concept venue that houses three things under one roof:
- NOTE – The Scent Lab workshop studio — hands-on perfume creation
- R Parfums showroom — a curated collection of artisan fragrances
- R Flower & Café — specialty coffee, fresh flowers, and a courtyard garden
The building itself is a converted villa — whitewashed walls, natural light, tropical plants spilling into the courtyard. It feels nothing like a shopping mall or a tourist trap. It feels like stumbling into a friend’s impossibly beautiful house.
How to Get to R Space from Thao Dien Metro Station
The Thao Dien Metro Station on Ho Chi Minh City’s new Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien) is a game-changer for this part of the city. Previously, getting to Thao Dien from District 1 meant a taxi ride across the Saigon Bridge — sometimes 15 minutes, sometimes 45, depending on traffic. Now it’s a predictable, air-conditioned metro ride.
From Ben Thanh Station (District 1)
- Board Metro Line 1 at Ben Thanh Station (direction: Suoi Tien)
- Exit at Thao Dien Station — approximately 15 minutes
- Walk south on Thao Dien street, turn left onto Nguyen Duy Hieu
- R Space is on your left — look for the white villa with green courtyard
- Total walking time from station: about 10-12 minutes
By Taxi or Grab
From District 1: 15-30 minutes depending on traffic. Tell your driver “34 Nguyen Duy Hieu, Thao Dien” — most drivers know the area well. Grab (Vietnam’s ride-hailing app) works reliably here.
By Motorbike
If you’re feeling adventurous and have rented a motorbike, Thao Dien is an easy ride from central Saigon. Cross the Saigon Bridge or Thu Thiem Bridge, follow Xa Lo Ha Noi, and turn into Thao Dien. Street parking is available near R Space.
What Happens During the Perfume Workshop
The workshop at R Space follows the same format as NOTE’s other locations — a 90-minute, guided, hands-on experience where you create a custom perfume from scratch. No experience required. Here’s how it unfolds:
Scent Education (15 minutes)
Your scent artist introduces you to the building blocks of perfumery: top notes (bright, immediate — citrus, herbs), heart notes (the personality — florals, spices), and base notes (the anchor — woods, resins, musks). You smell raw ingredients individually and start discovering what pulls you in. This is where surprises happen — people who “hate florals” often fall for jasmine absolute, and people who think they want something light end up drawn to smoky vetiver.
Concept Design (15 minutes)
What story do you want your perfume to tell? A memory of this trip? The feeling of Saigon at night? The scent of rain on tropical leaves? Your scent artist helps you translate an abstract idea into a concrete fragrance direction. This is the creative core of the experience — and the reason no two perfumes are ever the same.
Blending (30 minutes)
Using professional-grade essential oils and aromatic compounds — the same materials used by the fragrance industry — you build your perfume drop by drop. Your scent artist guides proportions, suggests unexpected pairings, but every final decision is yours. The room gets quiet during this phase. People lean in, focus, lose track of time. It’s meditative in a way that catches most people off guard.
“I have visited an amazing place where I could create my own parfume. Helen explained us everything.”
Naming, Bottling & Packaging (30 minutes)
You name your creation — after a person, a place, a feeling, a private joke — and write the label by hand. Your perfume is sealed and packaged. The formula is saved permanently: you can reorder anytime, from anywhere, even years later.
Why Thao Dien Is Perfect for a Perfume Workshop
Thao Dien isn’t just a convenient location. It’s the right location for this kind of experience. Here’s why:
The Neighborhood Sets the Mood
Thao Dien is Saigon’s most walkable, tree-lined neighborhood. Unlike the sensory overload of District 1 — which is thrilling but exhausting — Thao Dien has a calmer, more curated energy. Boutique shops, independent cafés, art studios, and yoga spaces line quiet streets shaded by old-growth trees. It’s the kind of neighborhood where you slow down, pay attention, and notice details. That’s exactly the mindset you want before spending 90 minutes working with scent.
The Metro Makes It Effortless
Before the metro, visiting Thao Dien from District 1 meant committing to a taxi ride and hoping traffic cooperated. Now you can be there in 15 minutes, no traffic anxiety, no price negotiation. This matters especially if you’re planning the workshop as part of a broader day — you can do morning sightseeing in District 1, metro to Thao Dien for an afternoon workshop, and metro back for dinner. The logistics are finally frictionless.
There’s More to Explore Before and After
A perfume workshop is a 90-minute commitment, which means you’ll have time to explore. Thao Dien offers some of Saigon’s best independent businesses:
- R Flower & Café (at R Space itself) — start with a Vietnamese coffee in the courtyard before your workshop
- The Deck Saigon — riverside dining with views of the Saigon skyline
- Thao Dien Pearl — modern mall with international dining options
- Saigon Outcast — art space and climbing wall
- An Phu Market — local produce market, great for food photography
- The Deck Saigon — contemporary Vietnamese fine dining
Many visitors arrive early for coffee at R Flower & Café, do the workshop, browse the R Parfums showroom afterward, and then walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner. It becomes a half-day creative excursion rather than a single activity.
R Parfums Showroom: What You’ll Find
After your workshop — or even if you visit without booking one — the R Parfums showroom at R Space is worth exploring. R Parfums is an artisan fragrance house that creates ready-to-wear perfumes using many of the same Vietnamese ingredients you encounter in the workshop.
The showroom is intimate and unhurried. No aggressive sales floor, no overwhelming wall of 200 bottles. Instead, you’ll find a curated selection of fragrances organized by mood and ingredient story, with tester stations where you can take your time. The staff are knowledgeable and genuinely passionate — they’ll walk you through the collection at whatever pace you prefer.
If you’ve just completed the workshop, browsing the showroom hits differently. You’ve spent 90 minutes learning about notes and accords, so you’ll smell the finished perfumes with educated appreciation. You might recognize ingredients you just worked with — the vetiver from your blend showing up in a polished, professional composition. It bridges the gap between the raw-material world of the workshop and the finished-product world of perfumery.
Explore the collection at r-parfums.com.
R Flower & Café: Coffee Before (or After) Your Workshop
R Space isn’t just a workshop venue — it’s a destination. R Flower & Café occupies the courtyard and ground floor, serving specialty coffee, fresh-pressed juices, and light bites in a garden setting.
The café doubles as a florist. Seasonal arrangements and dried flower installations create an atmosphere that’s equal parts coffee shop and botanical gallery. It’s Instagram-ready without trying too hard — the beauty comes from real plants and natural light, not forced aesthetics.
Most workshop participants arrive 15-20 minutes early and start with a coffee. It’s a smart move: the café’s calm, green atmosphere is the perfect transition from Saigon’s street energy to the focused, sensory world of perfume creation.
Who Is the Workshop For?
The short answer: everyone. But different visitors get different things from it.
- Tourists exploring Thao Dien: The metro makes this an easy add to any itinerary. It’s hands-on, memorable, and produces a souvenir you’ll actually use.
- Couples: Create perfumes for each other. It’s romantic without being cliché — and you’ll learn things about your partner’s preferences you never knew.
- Solo travelers: A grounding, introspective 90 minutes. Your scent artist is your companion, not a crowd. Many solo reviewers call it a highlight of their trip.
- Expats in HCMC: You live here but haven’t done this yet? Many expats bring visiting friends and family to the workshop as a “show them the real Saigon” activity.
- Corporate groups: Team-building that doesn’t involve trust falls. Contact NOTE for group packages.
“Great experience, learnt a lot about scents. Sarah was friendly, patient and engaging.”
Making the Most of Your Visit: A Sample Half-Day Itinerary
Here’s how to turn a workshop booking into a full Thao Dien experience:
| Time | Activity | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1:30 PM | Metro to Thao Dien | Line 1 from Ben Thanh, 15 min ride |
| 1:45 PM | Walk to R Space | 10-12 min walk through tree-lined streets |
| 2:00 PM | Coffee at R Flower & Café | Vietnamese drip coffee in the courtyard |
| 2:30 PM | Perfume Workshop | 90 min hands-on creation with scent artist |
| 4:00 PM | Browse R Parfums Showroom | Explore finished fragrances with new knowledge |
| 4:30 PM | Explore Thao Dien | Walk the boutique streets, visit local shops |
| 5:30 PM | Dinner nearby | The Deck, The Deck Saigon, or a local Vietnamese spot |
| 7:00 PM | Metro back to District 1 | 15 min ride, no traffic stress |
Practical Information
Opening Hours
R Space is open daily. Workshop sessions are available by booking — check availability and book your preferred time slot online.
Pricing
All materials included, no hidden costs. The experience costs less than a bottle of niche perfume from a department store. Check current pricing.
What to Bring
Just yourself. All materials, tools, bottles, and packaging are provided. Wear something comfortable — you’ll be seated at a workstation for 90 minutes. Avoid wearing strong perfume so your nose is fresh for the experience.
Booking
Book online at workshop.thescentnote.com/book. Walk-ins are sometimes possible but booking guarantees your time slot and ensures a scent artist is available for your session.
Language
Workshops are conducted in English (and Vietnamese). The scent artists are fluent and experienced with international visitors.
Ready to create your own scent?
A hidden gem in Thao Dien — now just 10 minutes from the metro. 90 minutes, no experience needed.
R Space · 34 Nguyen Duy Hieu · Thao Dien · 4.9★
Follow us: @note.workshop on Instagram · TripAdvisor
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to the perfume workshop in Thao Dien?
Take Metro Line 1 to Thao Dien Station (15 min from Ben Thanh), then walk 10-12 minutes to R Space at 34 Nguyen Duy Hieu. You can also take a taxi or Grab — about 15-30 minutes from District 1 depending on traffic.
Do I need to book the workshop in advance?
Yes, booking online is recommended. Walk-ins are sometimes possible, but a reservation guarantees your time slot and a dedicated scent artist. Book at workshop.thescentnote.com/book.
How long is the perfume workshop?
90 minutes. Plan about 2 hours total if you want to enjoy coffee at R Flower & Cafe beforehand and browse the R Parfums showroom afterward.
Is the workshop suitable for beginners?
Absolutely. Designed for complete beginners — no fragrance knowledge needed. Your scent artist guides you through every step from understanding notes to blending and bottling.
What else is at R Space besides the workshop?
R Space houses three experiences: the NOTE perfume workshop, the R Parfums fragrance showroom, and R Flower & Cafe with specialty coffee and a courtyard garden. Most visitors make a half-day of it.
Is there parking at R Space?
Motorbike parking is available nearby. For cars, your Grab driver can drop you at the door. The metro is the easiest option — no parking needed.
Can I visit R Space without doing the workshop?
Yes. R Flower & Cafe and the R Parfums showroom are open to walk-in visitors. You’re welcome to browse, have coffee, and explore without booking a workshop.
