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Some experiences go beyond a typical team building event in Ho Chi Minh City. The Heart & Hands program with Sanofi became one of those rare moments where teamwork, purpose, and human connection came together naturally.
Sanofi, a global healthcare leader headquartered in France, joined this CSR initiative looking for a meaningful team building experience in Ho Chi Minh City. Instead of a standard indoor activity, the team chose something more immersive, more real, and more connected to the local community.
From local market exploration to cooking and playground renovation at a children’s shelter, every step of this team building in Ho Chi Minh City was designed and carried with full of heart and care by both the Sanofi team and Jackfruit team.
Challenge
Delivering this CSR team building event in Ho Chi Minh city required careful planning and coordination to ensure a smooth and meaningful experience for the Sanofi team.
We needed to design a program that was easy to follow for an international group while still keeping the experience authentic, from local market shopping to on site cooking and shelter activities. As the kitchen at the shelter was quite small, we also had to design an alternative setup so other Sanofi participants could still contribute meaningfully and stay engaged.
The main challenge was creating a seamless team building experience in Ho Chi Minh City that combined CSR impact, cultural immersion, and teamwork in one flow. But at the end of the day, we came up with an idea that Sanofi team could hardly say anything but yes.
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How We Helped
The journey began with the entire group visiting a local market together, where they carefully selected fresh ingredients while experiencing Vietnamese daily life firsthand. After returning to the shelter, the team was divided into two groups based on different activity focuses.
The first group focused on the culinary experience. They prepared a shared meal for the children, featuring stir fried beef noodles and passion fruit juice. Even under the intense heat of the day, and with a fast paced and busy kitchen environment, they worked with great care and attention to detail. Sweat and tiredness never slowed them down, as laughter, collaboration, and genuine enthusiasm filled the space throughout the process.
The second group focused on the CSR renovation activity. As part of this team building event in Ho Chi Minh City, they carefully repainted old playground equipment, removed weeds, and added colorful stones to brighten the garden. Despite the strong heat outdoors, they continued working happily and energetically. Handmade paper pinwheels were created and hung around the yard, adding a playful and cheerful atmosphere to the space.
Throughout the day, the presence of the children made the experience even more meaningful. Their energy naturally became part of the activity, turning this into a true shared team building experience in Ho Chi Minh City. The team also took time to care for and interact with the children, checking that the food was suitable for them and happily preparing more when the kids genuinely asked for it.
In the end, the children enjoyed a freshly prepared meal and stayed close to the Sanofi team throughout the experience. There was a fun time getting to know each other before a memorable goodbye between us with the Sanofi team and these lovely kids in the dawn.
The Results
At one point, I remember thinking, “Wow, it really turned out like this.” Even under such intense heat, there wasn’t a single moment where the Sanofi team looked drained in spirit. Instead, what shined was how naturally everyone, the team and the children, fell into a moment like one small community coming together for the day.
Participants didn’t just serve food, they checked in, asked if the kids liked it, and prepared more whenever the children asked in their own honest and simple way. Those small exchanges made the whole experience feel very human.
Outside, the playground slowly came to life again. What was once a worn-out space became brighter and more welcoming, filled with color, small details, and playful decorations. You could really see how much attention the team put into every corner, even in the heat.
And this Heart & Hands team building event in Ho Chi Minh City with Sanofi left a strong feeling in us, Jackfruit Adventure. It felt like a shared journey of care and community impact that we want to make happen more in life. If these heartfelt CSR events like this one are what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to contact us today as we will work together for sincere moments like this.
