Team building – activities designed to strengthen team cohesion – has become an indispensable part of human resource development strategies for companies worldwide. In Vietnam, the concept of team building began to develop after the 1990s, when the government opened the economy, attracted foreign investment, and many international companies started implementing modern management models in the country. Since then, team building, initially focused on scout-style group activities, has evolved into a powerful tool to strengthen team spirit, develop individual skills, and promote corporate culture.

However, team building in Vietnamese companies has developed its own distinctive features, reflecting workplace culture, community values, and local characteristics. Programs in Vietnam often combine playfulness, creativity, cooperative spirit, and respect for local culture, creating a style that is both approachable and effective. This article will explore these key features and compare them with international team building practices to highlight the differences.

Focusing on Team Spirit

One of the most distinctive features of team building in Vietnamese companies is the emphasis on unity and collaboration. Vietnamese workplace culture values the principle that “unity is strength,” which is clearly reflected in team building programs. Activities are often designed so that all team members must work together to complete challenges, fostering a sense of cohesion similar to a large family.

Traditional games such as obstacle courses, tug-of-war, or challenges using inflatable equipment not only encourage physical activity but also promote interaction, idea exchange, and mutual support. These programs often highlight the value of each individual while keeping the team’s common goal as the top priority.

Alongside these activities, Vietnamese companies frequently use familiar slogans to inspire team spirit and emphasize shared objectives, such as: Together We Win, One Team – One Dream, We Are One, Unity Is Strength, Collaborate To Innovate, and more.

Combining Entertainment and Skill Development

Today, team building in Vietnam goes beyond mere recreational games; it has become an educational and skill-development activity. Programs are designed to cultivate essential soft skills such as leadership, communication, problem-solving, time management, and creativity. This reflects a growing trend among Vietnamese companies toward purposeful team building that combines entertainment with professional and personal development.

In each challenge, employees practice specific skills: leadership through task delegation and team guidance, communication via interactive activities, problem-solving through tasks requiring collaborative solutions, time management in time-bound missions, and creativity through challenges that inspire innovation.

Modern team building serves a dual purpose: it provides opportunities for relaxation and team bonding while delivering meaningful real-world experiences. These activities help create a positive and cohesive work environment, where employees understand and support one another, while simultaneously promoting the holistic development of every individual within the company.

Connecting with Nature and Local Culture

Another distinctive feature of team building in Vietnam is its close connection with nature and local culture, reflecting the country’s rich cultural and regional diversity. Companies often select locations close to nature, such as beaches in Central Vietnam, the mountains of the Northeast and Northwest, urban areas in the Central Highlands, or eco-tourism sites. These locations not only provide a relaxing environment but also allow employees to experience and connect with the surrounding natural environment.

Team building programs also integrate local cultural values and regional characteristics, including traditional games, performing arts, local cuisine, and community life experiences. Sampling regional specialties is an important part of the experience, enabling employees to enjoy the authentic flavors of Vietnam while immersing themselves in local culture. These activities not only enrich the experience but also help employees gain a deeper appreciation of Vietnam’s cultural diversity, foster pride in national identity, and respect regional differences, from the Red River Delta and the Central Coastal Plains to the Mekong Delta,… At the same time, programs encourage awareness of cultural preservation and environmental protection.

As a result, team building becomes an activity that is simultaneously entertaining, educational, and culturally immersive, connecting people with nature and local traditions, and creating meaningful, spiritually enriching, and sustainable experiences for all participants.

Aligning with Communication Culture and Respecting Hierarchy

Team building creates a safe environment where employees can freely express ideas, try new roles, and develop soft skills without fear of judgment or conflict. These activities help enhance team spirit, encourage collective progress, and establish the foundation for a “win-win” culture within the company.

Vietnamese cultural characteristics are also reflected in the management of leadership roles. In many traditional companies, leaders maintain an important position and a certain level of distance in interactions with employees. Team building programs often skillfully incorporate leaders, but primarily in roles of guidance, support, or participation as regular members, allowing employees to demonstrate their abilities and creativity.

This approach balances the relationship between leaders and staff while maintaining a space for individual creativity and initiative. As a result, employees feel respected, encouraged to challenge themselves, and at the same time remain closely connected to the team.

Comparing Vietnamese Team Building with International Practices

To clearly understand the distinctive characteristics of Vietnamese team building, we can compare it with the styles of team building in international companies:

Criteria	Vietnamese Companies	International Companies
Main Objective	Strengthen team spirit, foster employee bonding; emphasize collaboration over competition.	Increase work efficiency, develop individual skills, promote innovation and creativity.
Style of Activities	Fun and educational, featuring many group-coordination games with minimal direct competition.	Often emphasizes challenges, competition, problem-solving in real scenarios, and individual creativity.
Leadership Role	Leaders participate but mainly guide and support, allowing employees to showcase their abilities.	Leaders rarely participate directly; employees usually have independent space to tackle challenges.
Culture and Location	Closely linked to local culture: beaches, mountains, hot springs; incorporating traditional games, local cuisine, and community experiences.	Locations may be international or within the company; focus is more on program efficiency than local cultural experiences.
Flexibility	Programs are often customized for each company, tailored to goals and staff numbers.	Can be pre-packaged or customized; emphasizes ROI (Return on Investment) and measurable outcomes.
Communication Style	Avoids direct conflict, encourages support, collaboration, and a win-win approach.	Direct challenges, high-pressure competition to test problem-solving skills and response under pressure.
Duration	Typically 1–2 days, often combined with short retreats or trips.	Ranges from a few hours to several days, sometimes combined with conferences, workshops, or incentive trips.

From the comparison, it is evident that Vietnamese team building emphasizes team spirit, cultural integration, and flexibility, whereas international team building often focuses on performance, challenges, and individual creativity. Both approaches have their own value, but the Vietnamese style fosters a friendly, approachable, and community-oriented environment, which is particularly suitable for companies with strong collective cultures.

Exotic Vietnam – Your Partner for Corporate Team Building in Vietnam

In Vietnam, team building is not merely a recreational activity but a strategic tool for developing human resources, building corporate culture, and strengthening team cohesion. Exotic Vietnam understands these unique characteristics and designs distinctive team building programs that stand out from international styles, featuring elements such as: team spirit, a blend of entertainment and education, connection with nature and local culture, alignment with communication norms and respect for hierarchy, and flexible design tailored to each company’s specific goals.

With extensive experience and creativity, Exotic Vietnam not only delivers team building programs rich in Vietnamese identity but also incorporates the best practices from international formats. Every program is personalized and highly experiential, helping employees relax and develop skills while fostering collaboration, creativity, and a dynamic, cohesive, and human-centered corporate culture. As a result, team building becomes an essential part of the long-term development strategy of Vietnamese companies, with Exotic Vietnam always alongside to deliver meaningful and sustainable experiences.