Tung’s Melbourne Diary: Meetings by Day, Miles by Night

What changes when work takes you off the screen and into the room?

For Tung Nguyen, Digital Marketing Services Manager at Niteco, a week in Melbourne offered a chance to experience that difference firsthand. With three onsite workshops, the trip was primarily about understanding a new client’s needs and working together to shape the right way forward. But being there in person also brought a different kind of experience - one shaped by conversations, small interactions, late-night runs, and the everyday rhythm of Melbourne.

Here’s a glimpse into Tung’s Melbourne trip: the work, the city, and everything in between.

This trip to Melbourne was bout getting the discovery phase off to a good start with a new client. We had three on-site workshops planned, along with follow-up sessions to help us understand the project better and work towards the right solution.

So naturally, most of the preparation went into the workshops. The focus was simply on being well prepared and making the time on-site count, while continuing to manage department responsibilities remotely. 

Packing was the easy part for me :) A few formal outfits for client meetings, running gear, a travel adapter (a lesson learned from the last trip), and, of course, my non-negotiable coffee kit.

I had been to Australia before, but this trip gave me a chance to experience it quite differently. On my previous trip, I was hopping between cities and only had two days in Melbourne. This time, even though work kept me on the go, staying in one city for the whole trip allowed me to absorb much more of Melbourne's local vibe.

What I still enjoy most about Australia is the atmosphere and its strong connection to nature. Aussies make great use of their waterfronts, and outdoor activities like walking and running seem to be a natural part of everyday life.

Does being in the same room change the way we work? In some ways, yes, and in some ways, no. 

Technically, the way we work doesn’t change much. We still have the same goals, the same tools, and the same conversations we would have online.

What does change is the human connection. When you’re in the room together, you can pick up on the small things that are easy to miss through a screen: how someone reacts to an idea, when a conversation needs more discussion, or when a simple comment sparks a bigger one. Those real-time interactions make it easier to build trust and rapport, and often much faster.

For me, that’s one of the biggest values of being onsite. It’s not necessarily about doing different work, but about connecting with people differently while doing it.

For me, one of the biggest values of being onsite is the opportunity to sharpen your interpersonal skills. The fundamentals remain the same whether you’re working online or onsite: communicating clearly, listening carefully, and adapting to the conversation. What changes onsite is that, you can read the room better. You’re paying attention not just to what someone says, but also to their reactions, body language, side comments, and the overall dynamic in the room. It takes a little more concentration and awareness, but it can also help you understand people and situations more quickly. These are the essential skills that stay relevant across different roles, jobs, and situations in life.

This trip also pushed me to take on more ownership with fewer supporting resources around me. There were plenty of long hours spent preparing alone back at the hotel, but seeing the sessions run smoothly made all that preparation worthwhile. It wasn’t a big, defining moment, but it was certainly rewarding to know the work had paid off. 

Outside work, my routine was pretty simple: eat, sleep, call home, and make time for a walk or a run whenever I could. I didn’t really have a particular favourite dish, although I did discover some Mediterranean olives at Coles that were good enough to bring a few packs home. So I guess that counts as my food highlight of the trip.

The Yarra Riverbank was probably my favourite spot in the city. I liked being able to walk right by the water while still taking in the energy of Melbourne around me.

One of the most memorable experiences was a late-night 10K run from the hotel to Albert Park and back. It was dark and a little spooky, but crossing paths with other runners made the whole thing feel strangely enjoyable. I also got to catch up over dinner with a high school friend who now lives in Melbourne. After years apart, it was a great opportunity to reconnect and catch up.