Team building is no longer just a break from the office. For many companies today, it has become a way to reflect on how teams grow, connect, and support one another beyond their roles. The shift is not about doing more activities. It is about designing the right ones, with intention and care.
When PWC Vietnam came to Jackfruit, they were looking for more than entertainment. They wanted a meaningful team building experience in Ho Chi Minh City that could bring people together across departments. What followed was not just a day out, but a shared journey that blended movement, culture, and purpose in quiet but powerful ways.
What teams are really looking for today
Corporate team building in Vietnam is evolving. More companies are moving away from generic activities and looking for ways to help their people reconnect in a way that feels real. As teams grow across locations, departments, or cultures, leaders are asking deeper questions. How do we rebuild trust? How do we create space for people to listen, support one another, and move forward as a team?
For finance teams, where the pace is high and collaboration often happens under pressure, the need for quiet connection is especially important. Many are now choosing team building programs tailored for finance teams that focus on trust, shared focus, and communication across departments. Others, like hybrid or newly formed teams, need time to slow down and rediscover how they work best together.
This is where custom team building experiences make a difference. Ho Chi Minh City offers the perfect setting with its mix of energy, culture, and contrast. At Jackfruit, we design programs that respond to what each team needs in the moment. Whether it is clarity, collaboration, or simply a way to reconnect with purpose, we shape the journey around the people who take it.
The opportunity: A custom team building experience for PWC Vietnam
When PWC Vietnam approached Jackfruit, they were not looking for a typical corporate event. They wanted a team building day in Ho Chi Minh City that reflected their values as a team. With people from different departments and backgrounds, they were hoping for something that would bring everyone together in a way that felt meaningful and true to who they are.
Rather than selecting a pre-designed package, we worked with them to build a program from the ground up. Through early conversations, we learned the team wanted an experience that was active without being exhausting, structured without feeling rigid, and personal without being overly formal. We decided to combine two of our signature programs, the Saigon City Quest and the Impact Race, into one seamless journey. This was not just two tours placed side by side. Each element was redesigned to flow together, with tasks, locations, and pacing all tailored to match the team’s energy and goals.
What they received was not a product from a shelf. It was a program designed specifically for them. It gave the team a chance to move through the city, connect with local life, solve challenges together, and give back in a way that felt real. This kind of custom team building in Ho Chi Minh City offers more than just a shared schedule. It creates a shared story that people take with them long after the day ends.
The experience: What the day looked and felt like
From the very beginning, this felt different from a typical team activity. The streets of Saigon were not just where the day happened. They became part of it. The city turned into a shared space for discovery, quiet challenge, and small moments of connection. Every turn invited curiosity. Every stop became an opportunity to see something new or to see each other differently.
As the day unfolded, the pace changed. What began with laughter and movement gradually shifted into something softer. There were moments of teamwork, but also space for quiet observation and thought. Without needing to say much, teammates began to listen more, step in for each other, and share the lead in small but meaningful ways. The team found its rhythm not through rules, but through presence.
Later, when the group returned to the hotel, the energy settled. People sat together, shared food, and gently handed over what they had collected. The room grew quieter when the children arrived. There were gifts, conversations, and quiet smiles. It was not about ceremony. It was about being there fully. And long after the event ended, that quiet stayed with them.
The impact: What the PWC team took away
Some team building activities are remembered for the fun. This one stayed with the PWC team because of how it quietly changed the way people related to each other afterward.
In the following days, something shifted. People who rarely spoke outside of meetings started checking in more. Conversations flowed more easily. There was more patience, more awareness, and more willingness to listen. What began as a simple day outdoors had turned into something that shaped how the team moved together once they returned to work.
Many participants shared that it was their first time joining team building activities in Ho Chi Minh City that felt truly meaningful. There were no forced moments, no loud cheerleading. Just space to pay attention, to move together with purpose, and to see one another with a little more care. The day created something that lasted quietly, not through big results, but through how people chose to show up afterward.
What makes custom team building experiences actually work
Every team is different. Some are made up of long-time colleagues. Others are new, growing quickly, or still figuring out how to work together. That is why a one-size-fits-all team building program often falls short.
A custom team building experience is shaped around what the team actually needs. It considers their pace, their communication style, and the kind of connection they want to build. For some, that might mean getting outdoors and solving challenges together. For others, it might mean slowing down, reflecting, or giving back to the community. When designed with care, the experience becomes more than just a day out. It becomes part of how a team works and grows.
Over time, we have seen how the right team building activities can shift how people show up for each other. Not through pressure, but through shared experience. When a team has the chance to collaborate in a new setting, people begin to listen more, trust more, and contribute with more intention. These are the kinds of moments that remind us why team building is important for the health of a company, and why the impact often lasts long after the day itself ends.
How Jackfruit designs team building journeys that fit
Every program at Jackfruit starts with a conversation. Sometimes it happens over a short call. Other times through a written brief or a quiet coffee with a team lead. We ask about the team’s rhythm, recent changes, and the kind of energy they hope to create. These details guide how the journey takes shape.
Once we understand what matters, we begin designing. We walk the route ourselves, test out ideas, and adjust the pacing to match the group. We think not just about where teams will go, but how they will feel while moving through each part. Behind the scenes, our team handles logistics, props, bilingual facilitation, and all the quiet details that help the experience unfold smoothly.
After the day ends, we stay close. Some teams prefer a simple debrief. Others want structured feedback or follow-up reflection. Whatever the format, our goal stays the same. We want the experience to feel like a part of the team’s story, not a one-off event. The journey may be designed by us, but it only works because of the people who bring it to life.
If this sounds like the kind of team building day you need
Every team connects differently. Some respond to challenge and movement. Others open up during slower moments of reflection or shared giving. What matters most is that the day feels true to the people involved.
If your team is planning a team building day in Ho Chi Minh City and wants something more personal than a fixed package, we would love to help create it with you. At Jackfruit, we design custom team building experiences that focus on trust, connection, and lasting purpose.
We are always ready to start with a conversation. Just let us know what matters to your team, and we will take it from there.
