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Some team building days feel like a break from work. Others feel like a breakthrough. For Google Vietnam, the goal was never just to get outside the office. It was to design a shared experience that would shake off old habits, invite people to see each other differently, and create the kind of momentum that could carry back into Monday morning. What followed was a day of playful strategy, cultural storytelling, and unexpected shifts in how teams connect.
The challenge
Google Vietnam came to Jackfruit Adventure with a request that was both exciting and specific. After several quarters of rapid hiring, their Ho Chi Minh City team had grown significantly. While collaboration across departments was strong on paper, many team members had not yet met in person or had only interacted through virtual meetings. The company wanted an offsite that would break silos, spark genuine connection, and give people a reason to laugh, move, and think creatively together. At the same time, the experience had to reflect Google’s culture of innovation, encourage fresh perspectives, and stay true to local flavor. A traditional team building workshop would not cut it.
How we helped
We began by listening closely to what Google Vietnam truly needed. Rather than delivering a standard set of games, we co-created a custom team building experience that would mirror the dynamics of their workplace while breaking away from office formality. The goal was not just fun, but intentional disruption. We designed a full-day journey that asked teams to move, adapt, and think together in new ways, all while keeping the environment light, playful, and culturally grounded.
The day was structured in two distinct parts. Strike or Survive opened the program with fast-paced, physical collaboration that helped teams break through hesitation and build trust through action. It created the kind of shared momentum that loosens up group dynamics and opens the door for spontaneous interaction. Participants were encouraged to step outside of routine roles and engage with one another in real time.
In the second half, Saigon Survival Games introduced a more reflective tone. This phase shifted focus toward observation, creativity, and interpersonal awareness, bringing out different strengths within each group. Cultural references were woven subtly into the flow, offering a sense of place without being overly formal. From start to finish, the experience was built to reveal how teams communicate, adapt, and support one another when the rules are unfamiliar and the outcomes depend on shared insight.
The results
The combination of physical activity, storytelling, and creative play sparked something special among participants. During the archery battle, we saw people naturally step into leadership roles, shift strategies on the fly, and cheer each other on in moments of pressure. In the survival games, quieter team members found their voice, and teams bonded over shared wins and hilarious failures.
By the end of the day, teams were not just exchanging high fives but lingering over drinks, revisiting their favorite moments, and swapping stories across departments. Managers noted a visible shift in how people interacted, with more openness, encouragement, and cross-functional laughter. The event did more than just bring people outside the office. It helped Google Vietnam reconnect in a way that felt fresh, grounded, and deeply human.
