Eventful’s senior event manager Kerry Coburn shares her highlights from a memorable fam trip to Vietnam with DMC Realm and InterContinental Danang…
It was while face down staring at a bowl of scented grains decorated with tiny bright petals during a massage, my leg bent in ways I didn’t know it could, that I remembered our core job as event and incentive planners: to spark awe.
A petite but formidable masseuse was cracking me back into shape when it struck me: this wasn’t just tiredness from travel and desk life. It was a limitation. One I had placed on myself.
Just days earlier, in Tra Que Herb Village, I’d watched an 80-year-old woman crouched low in a Malasana squat, knees bent deeply, plucking citronella and lemongrass under the hot Vietnamese sun. I can’t crouch without an “oof” or a hand to help me up, thanks to my ‘bad knees’, and yet there she was, rooted and graceful.
This was her job: picking herbs for flavour and protection, while my job is picking experiences to create wonder and reward. And in that moment, I realised both the connection and the difference.
And that’s the point, isn’t it? Incentives should be luxurious, yes. But more than that, they should be transformational, providing moments that shift how we see ourselves. Like watching that 80-year-old in Tra Que Herb Village, moving with quiet purpose while I marvelled at her ease.
Luxury rewards the senses; transformation rewards the soul. Vietnam delivered both beautifully.
From the moment our fam group arrived in a rainstorm, the journey was woven with colour and care. Our proud guide reassured us the sun would shine. And it did. But even the rain couldn’t obscure the welcome at InterContinental Danang. Flowers, drinks, and smiles greeted us, a weary bunch of event pros still thinking of contracts and commissions.
Then came the panoramic sea-view rooms, and everything softened. The power of that view, the swell of the ocean below, the breath inspired by our rooms, elegant, colourful, exceptional.
Dinner at Citron was a family-style feast of colour and flavour. My noodle soup slurped more than sipped, I failed to ingratiate myself into the culture with sub-par chopstick skills but was most thankful that due to the quality and energy around us, people were engaged in their own feasting, every detail reviving.
The next morning’s beachfront yoga continued the revival. The harmony of the setting – a white room fronted by windows from floor to ceiling overlooking the beach was idyllic – even when my legs were shaking in Warrior Two position.
A hotel tour with GM Saif (a man who knows and loves every cushion and carving) revealed just how deeply considered the design and guest journey were. Every detail, every monkey (yes, monkeys), infused with thought and soul. Meeting spaces were as sophisticated as they were inspiring – luxury not just for luxury’s sake, but to elevate experience.
After a game of foosball and a swift Vietnamese lunch in the beach front Long Bar later, we journeyed to Hoi An’s Moire Hotel. The river views, fresh design, and peaceful terrace made for a serene pause.
But the real challenge came next: tailoring. I’m not a shopper. The idea of being measured for bespoke clothing triggered a comical spiral of indecision. Yet with champagne in hand and skilled tailors ready to assist, I gave in.
What followed was a moment of pure magic. We were in the hands of experts. A one-of-a-kind experience that left me with a rather fetching matching skirt and top combo that I would never usually have chosen. They allowed creativity and encouraged a challenge to the norm. It’s an incredible experience to offer to delegates or incentive winners – so unique and personal!
Later, as we rode golf buggies through the countryside, past buffalos, waving farmers and mopeds, I took a breath. Vietnam felt so alive, so vibrantly real. That authenticity peaked in Tra Que, where Thom guided us through generations of herb farming and then hosted us for wine, cooking, and laughter under a flower-decked canopy. This wasn’t just luxurious. It was meaningful.
Our journey continued to sparkle. From the dreamlike rooftop views of Morning Glory to the surreal beauty of Ba Na Hills’ cable cars and golden bridge.
A beach dinner back at Danang closed one night with flickering candles, exquisite food, all protected within the exclusive peninsular of the resort. There isn’t room to mention every detail—the Jeep drive to Ban Co Peak, the Lady Buddha’s quiet strength, the Terrace sunset drinks at La Maison 1888 and chefs table dinner at Tingara prepared by two Michelin-starred chefs who left us mesmerised (possibly in love), well fed and entertained.
Vietnam was special. So special that even through the tense stretch of my tough Vietnamese massage, I was able to reflect, to feel spoiled and whole.
From the seamlessly curated programme by Realm (represented in the UK by DMC Advantage) to the exceptional care of the Intercontinental Danang team, every detail celebrated beauty, culture, and grace. I came home with an inspired heart, relaxed shoulders, and legs a little more determined to move forward. This was more than a fam trip; it was a reminder of why we do what we do.