Cultures and Camaraderie: Songhong's Team Building Journey in Thailand

Thailand, with its vibrant culture, golden temples, and sun-kissed beaches, has long been a favorite destination for travelers seeking adventure and relaxation. For the employees of Huizhou Songhong Industry, this Southeast Asian gem became more than just a vacation spot—it was the setting for a team building trip that blended cultural exploration with opportunities to strengthen bonds, fostering a sense of unity that would resonate back in the workplace. From bustling Bangkok streets to serene beaches in Phuket, every moment was a chance to connect, collaborate, and create memories that would last a lifetime.​

Pre-Trip Excitement: Planning with Purpose​

Months before the departure date, the HR team at Songhong began brainstorming ideas for the annual team building trip. After surveying employees, Thailand emerged as the top choice, with its mix of urban energy, natural beauty, and rich cultural experiences. “We wanted a destination that would challenge us to step out of our comfort zones while still allowing for relaxation,” explained Ms. Liu, the HR manager. “Thailand offers that perfect balance—whether it’s navigating a new city together or working as a team to cook a local dish, there are endless opportunities for growth.”​

To ensure the trip was more than just sightseeing, the team divided employees into six groups, each consisting of members from different departments. “We mixed warehouse staff with sales representatives, delivery drivers with customer service agents—people who might not interact much in the office,” Ms. Liu said. Each group was assigned a “cultural ambassador” role, tasked with researching one aspect of Thai culture (from traditional dance to local crafts) and presenting it to the team during the trip. This not only encouraged learning but also gave everyone a chance to take ownership of part of the journey.​

As the departure date neared, excitement reached a fever pitch. Employees swapped tips on packing (sunscreen and lightweight clothing were must-haves), shared stories of previous trips to Thailand, and joked about who would be brave enough to try street food like durian. “I’ve spent years loading paper rolls onto trucks, but I’ve never haggled at a Thai market,” laughed Zhang Jun, the delivery driver. “This trip is going to be a whole new adventure.”​

Arrival in Bangkok: A Feast for the Senses​

After a short flight from Guangzhou, the team touched down in Bangkok, where the warm tropical air hit them as soon as they stepped off the plane. The drive from the airport to their hotel was a whirlwind of sights and sounds: street vendors shouting in Thai, tuk-tuks weaving through traffic, and ornate temples rising above the city skyline. “It’s so different from Huizhou—every corner feels like a new discovery,” said Chen Yu from customer service, leaning against the window to take photos.​

Their first activity was a guided tour of the Grand Palace, a sprawling complex of golden spires and intricate murals. As they wandered through the grounds, listening to their guide explain the history of each building, employees asked questions and pointed out details to one another. Zhao Gang, the warehouse manager, was particularly fascinated by the craftsmanship of the temple walls. “The attention to detail is incredible—reminds me of how we handle premium paper, making sure every edge is perfect,” he noted, drawing a parallel that made his colleagues chuckle.​

That evening, the team gathered for a traditional Thai dinner at a local restaurant, where they sampled dishes like pad thai, green curry, and mango sticky rice. The meal turned into a lively affair as everyone compared notes on their favorite flavors. Wang Fang, the packaging team lead, surprised everyone by trying a spicy tom yum soup without flinching. “You learn to handle heat when you pack paper in a warehouse during summer,” she joked, as others reached for glasses of iced tea to cool their tongues.​

Team Challenges in Phuket: Collaboration by the Beach​

After two days in Bangkok, the team traveled to Phuket, where palm-fringed beaches and crystal-clear waters awaited. Here, the focus shifted to structured team-building activities designed to encourage collaboration and problem-solving—all with a Thai twist.​

The first challenge was a “Thai cooking competition.” Each group was given a recipe for a classic dish (from massaman curry to spring rolls) and a basket of ingredients. The catch? They had to communicate with the local chef, who spoke limited English, using hand gestures and teamwork to clarify steps. “It was like trying to coordinate a bulk paper delivery with a new courier—you have to listen carefully and adapt,” said Li Wei from logistics, as his group struggled to figure out how much chili paste to add.​

Lin Mei’s group, which included members from sales and R&D, decided to assign roles: one person chopped ingredients, another handled the stove, and a third acted as the “translator,” using a translation app to check in with the chef. “We would never have thought to work this closely in the office, but here, we had no choice,” Lin Mei said later. In the end, every group served up a delicious (if slightly imperfect) dish, and the chef declared them all winners, emphasizing that “cooking, like teamwork, is about heart, not perfection.”​

The next day brought a more adventurous challenge: a boat trip to a nearby island, where teams had to work together to build a raft using bamboo poles and rope, then race to a small sandbar. “It was chaotic at first—everyone had different ideas about how to tie the knots,” recalled Zhao Gang. But after a quick huddle, his group decided to follow the lead of Wang Fang, who had watched her grandfather build bamboo rafts as a child. “I never thought my weekend hobby of helping my grandpa would come in handy at work,” she laughed, as their raft crossed the finish line first.​

Cultural Immersion: Learning and Laughing Together​

No trip to Thailand would be complete without diving into local traditions, and the team embraced every opportunity. They took a traditional dance class, where they struggled to mimic the fluid hand movements and rhythmic steps of Thai classical dance. Zhang Jun, known for his steady hands behind the wheel, found the dance steps tricky but kept trying, earning cheers from his colleagues. “If I can navigate a truck through a storm, I can learn a few dance moves,” he joked, though he admitted defeat when it came to the more complex sequences.​

They also visited a local paper-making village, where artisans create handmade paper from mulberry bark—a fitting stop for a paper trading company. The team watched in awe as the artisans soaked, pulped, and pressed the bark into sheets, then tried their hand at making their own. “This is where our products begin, in a way,” said Mr. Chen, the CEO, who joined in the activity. “Watching this process reminds us of the craftsmanship that goes into even the simplest paper—and the craftsmanship that goes into our team.”​

That evening, the group attended a beachside lantern release ceremony, a Thai tradition symbolizing letting go of worries. As they lit their lanterns and watched them float into the night sky, each employee was asked to share one goal they had for their team back at work. “I want the warehouse and sales teams to communicate more closely,” said Zhao Gang. “I want us to handle customer complaints even faster,” added Chen Yu. The lanterns, glowing against the stars, felt like a physical representation of their shared aspirations.​

Farewells and New Beginnings​

On the final day, as the team gathered at the airport to head home, there was a mix of sadness and excitement. “I can’t believe it’s over,” said Lin Mei, flipping through photos on her phone. “But I also can’t wait to get back to work and try out all the things we learned here.”​

The impact of the trip was evident in small ways: colleagues who had bonded over spicy curry now stopped to chat in the warehouse, groups that had built rafts together collaborated more smoothly on projects, and everyone seemed to move through their days with a little more laughter. Mr. Chen noticed the difference too, commenting in a team meeting, “Thailand taught us that when we embrace new experiences together, we don’t just become better travelers—we become a better team.”​

For Songhong Industry, the Thailand trip was more than a getaway—it was a reminder that the strongest teams are built not just in offices and warehouses, but in moments of shared adventure, cultural discovery, and genuine connection. As employees unpacked their suitcases and returned to their desks, they carried with them more than souvenirs—they brought back a deeper understanding that together, there’s no challenge too big, no goal too far, and no adventure too exciting.