8 Onboarding Activities That Turn New Hires Into a Team

The first weeks in a new job decide a lot. New hires who feel welcome and know who to ask for help settle in faster, contribute sooner and are more likely to stay. Training sessions and handbooks explain the work. Team building helps people find their place in the team.

Whether you are welcoming a new graduate intake, a batch of sales staff or a whole team for a new office in Hanoi, these eight activities help new hires connect with each other and with the people they will work with.

Why onboarding needs more than training

New employees often meet their colleagues only through meetings and chat messages. They learn the processes but not the people. A structured team activity in the first month gives them a reason to talk, a shared story and a few names they will remember. For managers, it is also a chance to see how new people communicate and solve problems.

8 onboarding activities that work

1. Two truths and a lie, with a twist

Each person shares two true facts and one false one, and the group guesses the lie. To make it work for onboarding, mix new hires with existing staff and add one fact about their role or past experience. It takes 20 minutes and breaks the ice fast.

2. The company story challenge

Teams receive key moments from the company history, products and values on cards, and must put them in order and present them as a short story. New hires learn the background in a way they will remember, and existing staff often learn something too.

3. Old Quarter discovery race

Small teams explore Hanoi with a map, a set of tasks and a time limit. It works especially well for staff who have just moved to the city, or for international hires. A cyclo convoy or a street food trail can be built into the route.

4. Build it together

A construction challenge, such as building a bridge or a marble run from a kit, quickly shows how people plan, share ideas and divide tasks. It is a practical way to start conversations about how the team will work together.

5. Meet the departments

Set up stations where each department runs a short, fun task that shows what they do. New hires rotate in small groups. By the end of the session, they know who works in finance, IT or operations and how to reach them.

6. Buddy missions

Pair each new hire with a buddy from another team. Give the pairs simple missions to complete in the first two weeks, such as having lunch together, introducing one colleague or solving a small work problem. Finish with a short celebration where the best stories are shared.

7. Team values in action

Instead of reading the company values on a slide, teams act out short scenes showing each value in a real work situation. It is lively, it often gets a lot of laughter, and it makes the values easier to remember.

8. A shared CSR project

Building toys, bicycles or school kits for a local charity gives new hires an early experience of what the company stands for. It also creates a sense of pride from day one.

How to design an onboarding team day

• Keep it inclusive: not everyone is comfortable with physical or very loud activities in their first week
• Mix the groups: put new hires with experienced staff, not only with each other
• Keep it short: a half day is usually enough
• Add a clear finish: a few words from a leader and a group photo make the day feel official
• Follow up: repeat a smaller activity after three months to check how people have settled in

A sample half-day agenda

• 13:30 Welcome and two truths and a lie
• 14:00 Company story challenge
• 15:00 Break
• 15:15 Build it together
• 16:30 Leader welcome, buddy pairs announced
• 17:00 Drinks and informal time

All of these activities can run in your office, in a hotel meeting room or at a venue in Hanoi. See our full list of team building programs for more ideas.

Frequently asked questions

When should onboarding team building happen?

Ideally within the first month, after new hires have started but before they settle into working only with their own team.

How long should an onboarding team activity be?

A half day is usually enough. Shorter sessions of one to two hours also work well when run regularly.

Should existing staff join?

Yes. Mixing new hires with experienced colleagues is what makes the activity useful for building relationships.

Can onboarding activities be run in English?

Yes. Our facilitators run programs in English and Vietnamese, which suits international teams in Hanoi.