For nearly a decade now, Virus has made it a tradition to take the whole team on trips, both locally and overseas. Is it an incentive? Yes. Is it solely for fun? Perhaps not entirely. Does it entail working during a vacation abroad? Absolutely not.

However, the trips aren’t just for fun—it’s more than that. Here’s why.

Culture by Design Forms the Foundation

From the very beginning, Virus has been intentional about building a culture grounded in creative freedom and respect for work-life boundaries. From applicant screening to nurturing talent, we’ve prioritized creating a healthy environment that supports growth in both career and life. The result? A team that works seamlessly together. Collaboration comes naturally, ideas flow more freely, and execution feels less like work and more like a shared passion.

Building a Stronger Team: More Than Just Reward

With every strong performance each year, Virus rewards the team with a trip, either locally or internationally to fully let every member know they’re appreciated. But most importantly, it’s one of the many ways Virus uses to keep the team's knit intact. Let’s admit it: we all know how workplace silos can form, departments growing distant, cliques forming over time. So Virus uses these trips as a way to break those barriers and bring everyone closer together.

Company cruise dinner aboard the Indochina Queen Cruise Ship

Vietnam 2023 as a Telling Example

Last 2023 for Virus' 15th year anniversary, the team got the chance to enjoy the beauty of culture paired with modernity in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. From the historically rich Central Post Office to the alive and bustling Diamond Plaza, mixed teams from different departments were able to:

• Spend quality time together outside of work pressures.

• Learn about each other's personalities in a relaxed setting.

• Discover shared interests and unexpected quirks. 

  
  

Every detail uncovered, the good and even the quirky ones, helped everyone understand one another more.

The entire trip facilitated a deeper understanding of each other’s personalities within the Virus team. Exploring new places, tasting foreign dishes, and trying new experiences definitely helped them understand each other better, especially after being in a semi-remote setup for three years as the pandemic and lockdowns happened. The shift in everyday work-life honestly shook the usual Virus. Thanks to the strong foundation pre-pandemic, even the new hires were able to adapt to the respectful and healthy culture that Virus promotes. However, the shift to primarily online communication had led to a noticeable gap in team members truly getting to know each other.

The Power of Shared Experience

See, after being dormant in their homes, there’s an undeniable distant feeling among the team members. But with these once-a-year special trips, people were given the chance to

• Reconnect on a personal level. 

• See each other outside their "screen and keyboard" persona. 

• Build stronger relationships that extend beyond work tasks.

  
  

From these joined trips, people click more, even after the outing. From the usual instructions and deadlines, chats also get filled with memories. The usual strictly work-related topics? Now sprinkled with personal stuff, humanizing the interactions and camaraderie within Virus.

The Bottom Line: Connection Drives Success

So, yes! Virus company trips are for fun, but they’re also for the purpose of improving the team’s connections with each other—which significantly helps in overall productivity and collaboration. It might sound purely strategic; however, Virus’ intentions are genuine and clear: to let its people enjoy life more through improved teamwork.

Curious to learn more about life at Virus and what makes us tick? Click here to discover our values and other initiatives.