What if your company retreat felt less like a checklist and more like a story worth remembering? When Savencia brought their international team to Da Nang, they were looking for more than a typical team building activity. In just half a day, we guided them into the heart of Hoi An, where vibrant markets, hidden courtyards, and centuries-old traditions became the backdrop for connection. This is how one cultural race turned a quick offsite into something far more lasting.
1. The challenge
Savencia brought together over 40 employees from across Asia and Europe for a regional company retreat in Da Nang – Hoi An. With many participants meeting for the first time, the goal was to create a team building experience that would go beyond typical icebreakers. The company wanted an activity that could encourage cross-cultural connection through meaningful interaction, while offering a taste of Central Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage. The experience needed to be engaging, logistically smooth, and fit within a half-day schedule from Da Nang.
2. How we helped
Jackfruit Adventure designed a custom Cultural Race set in Hoi An Ancient Town, tailored as a half-day experience for Savencia’s retreat. The format was inspired by our signature Saigon City Quest and adapted to highlight Hoi An’s unique blend of history, architecture, and living culture. The program was built to encourage teams to collaborate through exploration, storytelling, and local interaction.
After a morning pickup in Da Nang, the team traveled 45 minutes to Hoi An. Upon arrival, participants were welcomed with a short cultural orientation that introduced the town’s history as a bustling 16th-century trading port. Teams were then formed and given illustrated maps and bilingual clue booklets to guide their journey.
The Cultural Race led participants through key heritage sites. At Hoi An Central Market, teams completed a language challenge by interacting with vendors selling traditional herbs, betel leaves, and local snacks. At the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, they decoded symbolic architectural elements tied to the town’s Chinese-Vietnamese heritage. Each checkpoint required careful observation, creativity, and group decision-making.
The final stop was a lantern-making workshop with a local craftsman. Participants learned the cultural significance of Hoi An’s iconic silk lanterns and took part in assembling their own as a team. This hands-on activity offered a tactile and reflective close to the adventure.
This experience is part of our broader company retreat offering in Da Nang and Hoi An, which combines purpose-driven design with local insight. After completing the race, the group returned to Da Nang in time to continue their retreat activities.
3. The results
The Cultural Race left a lasting impression on the Savencia team. Participants described the experience as energizing, thoughtful, and genuinely connected to Vietnamese culture. The activities encouraged natural interaction and cross-team bonding, especially among colleagues who had never met in person. The lantern workshop was highlighted as a standout moment that brought creativity and cultural appreciation together. Organizers praised the smooth coordination and local storytelling that elevated the experience beyond a typical team building session, making it a memorable highlight of their company retreat in Vietnam.
