Our team members have been absolutely crushing it lately. They have gone above and beyond to make sure every guest who walks through our doors feels like they have found their tribe. To say thanks, we decided to return the favor. We packed our top-performing team members off on an all-expenses-paid, dust-in-your-teeth, soul-on-fire adventure through the Ha Giang Loop in Northern Vietnam.
Why We Invest in the Vibe
People often ask us why we spend so much energy on these kinds of trips. The answer is simple. At Mad Monkey, we know that if you want to give people the time of their lives, you have to start with a team that actually has a life worth talking about.
Sending our crew to the Ha Giang Loop was not just a reward. It was a strategic move to remind everyone that we are all part of the same wild story. When our team is inspired and connected, that energy naturally flows directly to our guests. You cannot pour from an empty cup, so we made sure their cups were overflowing with mountain air and adrenaline.
Real Connection Drives Real Experience
In our world, “Customer Experience” is not a corporate KPI. It is a feeling. It is the energy that ripples through a hostel when the team is genuinely connected and fired up. By bringing our team members together on the road, we are doing more than just sightseeing. We are building the engine that drives our brand.
“Just got back from the Ha Giang Loop with the Mad Monkey crew, and it was unreal. Riding through the mountains with Fiatz (Chiang Mai), Randy (Nusa Lembongan), Izzy (Gili T), Jessica (Phuket), Lin (Phnom Penh), and Alex, the founder, was an absolute laugh. Stunning views, endless “happy water,” and plenty of chaos along the way. Huge thanks to my driver (Mao) , who made the roads feel safe while letting us have a proper blast. By the end, we were all tight as a crew, making memories that’ll stick for years and the song ‘“just the way you are” is still stuck in my head.” – Harry Slynn, Guest Experience Manager of Mad Monkey Koh Sdach
“My Ha Giang Loop experience with Mad Monkey was nothing short of extraordinary. From the very beginning, the team created an environment that felt welcoming, led by Nicky and Chris, where we met our other Mad Monkey friends Izzy, Harry, Jessica, Randy, and Lin. As another surprise, Alex, our founder, joined us for an amazing time hanging out with the boss. The journey itself was breathtaking, with dramatic mountain passes, endless winding roads, and landscapes that felt almost surreal.
The Ha Giang Loop is already an iconic adventure, but Mad Monkey elevated it into something truly memorable. It wasn’t just a trip. It was an experience I’ll carry with me long after the ride ended.” – Fiatz, Guest Experience Manager of Mad Monkey Chiang Mai
- Forging the Tribe: When you have navigated 1,500-meter drop-offs and hairpin turns together, the bond becomes unbreakable. That level of trust translates directly into how our team members support each other and our guests back at the hostels.
- Living the Adventure: We sell the “time of your life.” To do that authentically, our team needs to live it and breathe it. You cannot fake that kind of passion.
- Breaking Down the Walls: On the Loop, there are no job titles. There is just one crew, one road, and a whole lot of “how the hell are we going to get up that mountain?” That shared history is what makes our service feel seamless and human.
The ROI of the Extra Mile
Some might look at an all-expense trip as a luxury, but we see it as an investment in our secret weapon: our people. Returning from the mountains, our team members aren’t just “refreshed”—they are inspired. That glint in their eyes says this crew is ready to take our guest experience to a level the big hotel chains haven’t even dreamed of yet.
They have shared the meals, the breakdowns, the sunsets, and the local rice wine. That is the energy they are bringing back to the floor. To our guests: Get ready. The crew is back, they are bonded, and they are more pumped than ever to show you the best time of your life.
The road was long, the views were mental, and our team is officially legendary. Now, let’s go make some more madness happen.
