FIRM TRIP 2023 – THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY!

The beginning of 2023 was marked by our trip to the beautiful land of Taiwan. It has been such a valuable opportunity for us to go on this journey for tightening the bonds among the people of our firm.

From 7 to 11 March 2023, we traveled across three of Taiwan's most well-known cities: Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei. Along the way, we have not only paid visit to local attractions and experienced diverse cultural traits, but also dived in collective activities of the firm. Stay tuned for our Taiwan diary in the following parts!

Day 1 (7 March 2023):

We touched down in Kaohsiung at three-ish afternoon after a 3-hour flight. The weather in Taiwan was warm filled with sunbeams and cool breeze. Without further ado, our kick-off destination was Pier-2 Art Center which was once an abandoned and forgotten warehouse buried in history, but then it was renovated and re-born making the area a place where tourists and locals can come together to enjoy fine art.

Panorama of the riverside adjacent to the Art CenterPanorama of the riverside adjacent to the Art Center

We keep this memory in a photograph

Day 2 (8 March 2023):

Even on a foreign trip, the male members and the admin team did not forget to celebrate the International Women’s day. Every female member of the firm was surprisedly received heartfelt little gifts, flowers and wishes from their male peers that has made the smiles on the faces even brighter that day. We then quickly boarded the bus to go to the next cultural sites starting with Fo Guang Shan - one of the four largest Buddhist organizations in Taiwan.

At a tiny roadside eatery, we stopped for a quick meal. In this intimate and cozy space, our firm had a celebration for the members who have been with the firm for a long time with the milestones of 5, 10, and 15 years. Everyone had the chance to express gratitude for their work, and those who have achieved recognition shared their thoughts on the past years of dedication.

Thank you for your dedication, Tri Thanh, Giang Huong, Phuong Thao and Thu Tran!

We were taken right away to a high-quality oolong tea production facility and given instructions on how to enjoy the tea in the right way. Then we went on a cruise to see the scenery of the fresh water on Sun Moon Lake and visit Wen Wu Temple alongside it. At the end of the day, we visited a local Ganoderma store and were introduced to some of the varieties and their uses.

Day 3 (9 March 2023):

Right in the morning, from Taichung, we moved to Taipei to meet one of our Asean Plus Group firms - Lee and Li Attorneys-at-Law, with a warm welcome.

We spent the afternoon exploring Yangmingshan National Park - one of Taiwan's 8 major national parks, with its unique volcanic terrain interspersed with peaceful valleys. According to our tour guide, this was an unusual instance of a volcano that was sunny when it usually rains, so we took a photo to capture this moment.

The final destination of the day is Taipei 101, the highest tower of Taiwan.

Day 4 (10 March 2023):

Taiwan is known for a lot of old streets. Our next location was Jiufen Old Street. It is a small village in the mountains located an hour’s drive from Taipei. The village was built stretching along the mountains close to the coast in the northernmost part of Taiwan. The old village still retains the ancient architecture, with a unique living culture and cuisine.

From there, we went to a second one, Shifen Old Street. It is considered as a bustling hub for those eager to get a glimpse of an old railroad town which still retains the charm of yesteryear with local food, souvenir shops, and puffing trains. We have written wishes for family and loved ones about health and peace into the lanterns (the unique feature of this old street) and released them into the sky.

On the same day, we went to Yehliu Geopark, the largest natural geology museum in Taiwan - a place to show the masterpieces of nature with stone slabs worn in strange but artistic shapes. Back to the business center of Taipei, we took a round in Ever Rich Taipei Downtown Store for shopping duty-free items.

In the evening, we enjoyed the food at Raohe Street Night Market. This 600-metre path along Raohe Street in Songshan District is packed with fun and interesting night foods and snacks, quaint shops and stalls, and carnival games with prizes.

Day 5 (11 March 2023):

After long days exploring many different places, we ended the trip with a walk in Dadaocheng - the Taipei's Oldest District. It’s felt in the architecture, the goods spilling out of every shopfront, and the fascinating museums dedicated to specialist local subjects. The combination of the old and new in Dadaocheng is lovely. In this neighborhood, traditional products been sold for over century alongside trendy design shops, striking a balance between tradition and innovation.

In the end, each and every one of us, from both Hanoi Office and Ho Chi Minh Office, had a chance to get closer to each other. This trip is like a therapy that helped members blow off some steam and get refueled for the long journey ahead. The happiest thing is that we cherish and stand next to each other every step of the way, like a family.