Op de valreep - Dutch Business Association Vietnam

Double Dutch
Dutch
Double
WATER
nr 3 double dutch 2007│oktober
Fresh drinking water with
Dutch technology
My COMPANY
Royal Haskoning
‘
en ’
boekbespreking
Breakfast with Harry & Boris
Op de valreep,
10 vragen aan de familie van Berlo
Cabaret & Kindervoorstelling
Vraag & aanbod
Dutch Business Association Vietnam
colofon
Double Dutch is a
magazine of the Dutch
Business Association
Vietnam.
It appears 3 times a
year.
Editors
Janneke Dufourquet
wildejanneke@yahoo.fr
Hilde Hoogwaerts
hoogwaerts@pacific.net.sg
Design
Margriet Kruse
Translation
Marleen Sprik
Advertisement
secretary@dbav.org
Deadline next issue:
January 15th 2008
Subscription for non
members
20 USD per year
working
working in Vietnam
3
From the NEW President
4
My company
Water Supply Holland Co
5
Crown Prince Willem Alexander
Water
6/7 My company
Royal Haskoning
8/9 Holland Days
Consulate General of the Netherlands
10
Bram Willems
11 International Business Research Vietnam
12 13 DBAV
New members can contact Mireille Kodden at
secretary@dbav.org
www.dbav.org
Nederlandse Vereniging
Marjo Vaessen
secretary@dbav.org
Netherlands Alumni
Network Vietnam
www.nanv.com.vn
Consulate General of
the Netherlands
www.mfa.nl/hcm-en
hcm@minbuza.nl
Postal address:
C/o Consulate General of
the Netherlands
Saigon Tower
29 Le Duan Boulevard,
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City
8/9
living in Vietnam
14
15 16
17
18
19
20
21
22 23 24
12
NANV
20
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Breakfast with ...
How do you like your egg Harry?
Dweilen met de kraan open in An Phu
Van de redaktie
Op de valreep
10 vragen vragen aan de familie van Berlo
Even voorstellen
Marjo & Jan Willem Vaessen en Petra & Sam Paenmoan
Boekverslag Ton van Zeeland
‘Leeuw en Draak’
New in Town, even voorstellen
Royal Dutch Open &
Nederlands Cabaret
Kids Pagina
Nederlandse pianiste in Vietnam
Vraag en Aanbod
Sinterklaas
Agenda oktober-november-december
19
DBAV BOARD
working
working
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Mark van den Assem
Chairman &
Eurocham representative
Mark v.d. Assem
Vice president &
Board of governers Eurocham
Tau van Ngo
Treasurer & Alumni
Peter Kerckhaert
Website & Board of
governers Eurocham
Marieke Nieuwaal
Nederlandse Vereniging
Marjo Vaessen
Source of life
Summer holidays are over. HCMC is crowded again
and even more crowded than before, because the last
months have been very fertile for the DBAV! Derk
Schep, parting Chairman of the DBAV, became the proud
father of Frederique (born on 25 July) and our Secretary
Mireille Kodden gave birth to a handsome little boy
named Ayden (born on 28 August). Congratulations
to you both! On behalf of the DBAV I wish the proud
parents and the newborns all the best.
Before I will discuss the theme of this Double Dutch
issue, I would like to welcome Bertus Postma who
will act as secretary of the DBAV while Mireille is on
maternity leave, and Marjo Vaessen as the contact
person for the NLV. Please join me in welcoming Bertus
and Marjo and providing them with your support and
cooperation. Not only the role of secretary is in other
hands at the moment. Derk will return to The Netherlands at the end of
September and therefore resigns as Chairman of the DBAV. Since March
this year, Derk has put a lot of effort and energy in the DBAV, initiating and
organizing several events and further professionalising the DBAV. On behalf
of the Dutch business community in Vietnam, I would like to thank Derk
for his enthusiasm and good work and wish him a very good new start in
Rotterdam! We are going to miss him.
In this issue of Double Dutch ‘water’ is the central theme. Without water,
there would be no life. More than 1,1 billion people don’t have access
to clean drinking water. This is 20% of the world population. The United
Nations want to reduce by half the proportion to 10% by 2015. Sustainable
access to safe drinking water is part of the 7th Millennium Development
Goal. A lot has been improved since 1990, especially in our region (SouthAsia). But that does not mean that water is not an topic anymore.
Water stays the source of life. Read about our Crown Prins Willem Alexander
known as Chair of the United Nations-General’s Advisory Board on Water &
Sanitation.
This year water will play the leading part during the Holland Days (from
17 October to 23 October). On the 19th of October the official opening
ceremony will take place. Not only of the Holland Days, but also of a photo
exhibition, which shows photo’s of famous Dutch waterworks and of other
typically Dutch aspects. On the 23rd of October a university contest will
be held. Top students from selected universities will compete to find the
best solution for a presented case study on ‘Water Management’. On pages
8 and 9 you will find the full program of these important days for the
Dutch business community in Vietnam. Bram Willems, intern at the Dutch
Consulate in HCMC, wrote an article about his academic research on water
supply in Vietnam (p. 10). Of all the people in the world the Dutch know that
water can be a lot of fun too.
I would like to thank and compliment the editors and contributors who made
this issue of Double Dutch possible. Have fun reading this new Double Dutch
issue and hope to see you at one of the upcoming events!
Secretary
Bertus Postma
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my company
water supply holland co.
Truong Ngo Fresh drinking water with
Dutch tecnnology
For 15 years I worked in
the water supply company
WMO, now called Vitens, in
the province of Overijssel,
The Netherlands. After
that, I worked with DHV, a
consultancy and engineering
company.
Nowadays I am founder and
advisor of Water Supply Holland
Co. Ltd. (WSH), a small water
supply company south of the
small city Can Giuoc in Long
An province, situated some 30
km southeast of Ho Chi Minh
City. Our purification plant has a
capacity of 1500 m³ per day. It
is true Dutch technology and was
built with assistance of my former
colleagues at Vitens. The purified
water has drinking-water quality
and is drinkable straight from the
tap, like in The Netherlands.
The local government doesn’t
have means to provide an
adequate infrastructure in this
particular service area. For
this reason experts have been
granted the right to produce
drinking-water and supply areas
where at present the water is not
drinkable. This area is popularly
known as an area with “brackish
and alum water”. Most people
who live in this area are farmers.
They are either not connected to
water mains or buy their water
off vendors, accepting high prices
and low water quality.
It is possible to have a private
enterprise delivering drinking
water to a local company because
Vietnam allows bulk deliveries
from ‘experts’ to vendors and
public water supply companies.
At present WSH delivers
drinking water to a few hundred
households, eight vendors and
the local public water supply
company. Together with the water
supply company, WSH ensures
the availability and reliability of
drinking water to the customers
in the city of Can Giuoc.
During my 25 years of study and
work in The Netherlands I built
up many relations. In Vietnam
I know the language and the
culture. Through several seminars
within the drinking water branch,
WSH is the local advisor and I act
as an expert for two Public Private
Partnership projects between
Vitens-Evides International bv on
the Dutch side and the Danang
water supply company and the
Saigon Water Corporation of Ho
Chi Minh City on the Vietnamese
side.
WSH is the consulting agency and
supervises the construction of a
5000 m³ per day surface water
purification plant in Coa Lanh in
Dong Thap province. This is the
so-called Perfector-R, that has
been developed by the provincial
water supply company NoordHolland. New in this technique is
the optimization of the system,
in order to use
less valves
and minimal
chemicals and
Since the beginning of the nineties, I’ve
had this dream to once return to my home
country and contribute to improving the
water supply. My dream came true in 2003.
I graduated in Delft on the subjects of
environment and water management.
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energy, during which the best
drinking water quality will be
produced. The construction of
this installation is done 100%
locally. Water Fund Holland has
commissioned this construction.
The project works on the basis of
‘Revolving Funds’.
The Stichting Water Opleiding is
establishing a training centre for
Vietnamese Water Supply and
Sewerage Association Southern
Branch, with my guidance. This
project is financed by Aqua for
All. Two pilot trainings were
organized in Vung Tau. Twentyfour future trainers of eighteen
southern water supply companies
have been trained to be a trainer
in the centre.
Next to above mentioned
activities, WSH is active in
consultancy and implementation
for local water supply companies
and industries in the field of
ground- and surface water
purification.
Nowadays, I’m still hoping
to realize my dream and I’m
definitely on my way. However,
there are still many steps to be
taken. One thing I know for sure,
though: with Dutch knowledge
and technology we will contribute
to a better water supply in
Vietnam and more people will
have access to drinking water.
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water
working
crown prince willem alexander
“Water fascinates me. It is typically
Dutch. In the course of the centuries
we have fought for and against water.
This considerable experience can well
be used in the Netherlands and abroad.
An important moment in Willem-Alexander’s
career was a television interview in
1997. Seated across from journalist Paul
Witteman, Willem-Alexander announced
that he was going to focus on water
management. Initially the commentators
didn’t take this idea, which was Prince
Claus’, too seriously, but gradually it turned
out to be just the thing.
“The fight against water is
typically Dutch, the technique
of water management is an
important export-product and the
subject is of great importance
worldwide without being politically
sensitive within the Netherlands.”
International positions in water
management piled up and in
1999 the Crown Prince became
adviser for the Ministry of
Transport and Public Works. His
baptism of fire was in 2000, when
Willem-Alexander presided in an
international water conference in
The Hague. He stood out because
of his rapidly acquired expertise.
Currently the Prince is in chair
of UNSGAB: the United NationsGeneral’s Advisory Board on
Water & Sanitation.
Willem-Alexander gave a speech
in Stockholm during the ‘World
Water Week’ last August in which
he warned against diverting water
resources from food production
to bio fuels, which reduce
greenhouse gas emissions from
vehicles and power plants.
“Ladies and gentlemen,
Among the greatest challenges
facing us today are rapid
urbanisation and increasing
poverty. Half of humanity already
live in cities. Projections indicate
that by 2030 that figure will rise to
two-thirds.
Global poverty is moving to the
cities, a process now recognised
as the ‘urbanisation of poverty’.
Almost 1 billion people – 32% of
the world’s urban population – live
in slums, most of them in the
developing world.
Slum dwellers often lack adequate
access to clean water and
sanitation facilities. Water supplies
may be unreliable, expensive or
contaminated.
Poor sanitation and drainage are
crucial factors in the spread of
malaria and waterborne diseases.
In such conditions, women and
children suffer the most. Women
spend long hours fetching and
hauling water. Young girls cannot
attend school regularly, as their
labour is required for fetching and
carrying water.
This has serious repercussions on
people’s health and well-being.
It undermines any investment in
health care, education and other
programmes that reduce poverty.
The international community
must focus more of its efforts
on improving the lives of the
urban poor if the Millennium
Development Goals are to be
achieved.
Bio fuels is a great way to support
our western way of life, but it’s
not a necessity for mankind to
survive. Food is.
The amount of water needed to
produce the bio fuels for a tank
of an SUV equals the amount of
water needed to feed one person
on grains for a whole year.
It’s fine to replace fossil fuels
with bio fuels, but first find an
alternative for food production,
like a new green revolution
reducing by half the amount of
water needed in agriculture.
The way we are going now with
sanitation, we are definitely not
on the right track. Water and
sanitation plans hardly feature in
any poverty reduction strategy
papers.
Pro-poor water and sanitation
governance is increasingly
being recognised as essential
in achieving the internationally
agreed goals for water, sanitation
and human settlements. We
urgently need to move from
debate to concrete actions on
the ground that ensure adequate
water and sanitation services for
the poor.
The convenors of today’s session
have set three challenging
objectives:
• assess challenges and
opportunities for providing water
and sanitation services to the
poor;
• share the experiences and
lessons of past and ongoing
initiatives for pro-poor water and
sanitation governance;
• explore practical steps and
workable strategies for achieving
pro-poor water and sanitation
governance.
By meeting these objectives, we
can take a step forward in facing
the enormous challenges in the
field of water and sanitation”
Bron informatie:
RVD, www.worldwaterweek.org
http://www.unsgab.org/chair.htm
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2007│3
5
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my company
royal haskoning
VIETNAMESE AND DUTCH WATERS
Harrie Laboyrie
Vietnam and water are associated with each other like the
cyclo and his driver, the noodle soup with the bowl and a Dutch
citizen with the wooden shoes. But there is also a very strong
link between water, special subject of this Double Dutch and the
Vietnamese- and Dutch people.
Both countries have been battling against water for ages and have
at the same time, also for ages, taken benefits and opportunities
that water is providing. For instance flooding, commonly
considered as a threat for people, cattle and properties on one
hand, however, providing the agriculture sector excellent ways
and means of a natural fertilizer.
Rivers, man-made canals and creeks
provide an excellent transport
infrastructure
for
waterway
transport and allow people living in
remote areas to travel and sell their
goods outside their own villages.
At the other hand it provides an
environmentally
friendly
way
of transport for construction
materials, bulk commodities such
as rice, sand, coal and containers
and linking commercial centre’s
with river- and sea ports, all in
one or the other way contributing
to the economic growth Vietnam is
now experiencing. Sea ports play a
vital role in this logistic chain since
they are the main gateways for
export, hence, creating commercial
links with other nations; a must for
further and sustainable economic
and
social
development
of
Vietnam.
In some areas the Dutch may
be further advanced then the
Vietnamese in dealing with aspects
of water, however, this is not
always the case as illustrated by
the following. In the Netherlands
the concept of giving back “nature
to nature” by allowing rivers again
to freely flow through the delta’s
is restored during the last decade.
Vietnam has never touched upon
this natural concept as can been
seen for example in the flood
plains of the Red River Delta in
the northern part of Vietnam; here
you still can see major parts of the
rivers flowing in a natural way to
the sea. Some times you believe
you are in the Netherlands whilst
standing on the embankments of
the Red River and enjoying a view
of a beautiful green horizon with
water, wind, low temperatures,
ships, power lines, brick factories
and cattle; just paint the picture
and you may understand.
All in all, water is an interesting
subject and we cannot live without
it; something the Vietnamese and
Dutch understand as nobody else
including Royal Haskoning from the
Netherlands.
Royal Haskoning is a consultancy
firm, active in the fields of amongst
others water, environment, ports
and architecture and building. RHA
is involved in Vietnam in many of
these aspects. To give you an idea
of what RHA does in Vietnam some
projects:
From top to bottom:
1) Irrigation channel
2) Transport on the Mekong
3) Design for Cai Lan Port Vietnam
4) River mouth
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my COMPANY
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ROYAL hASKONING
Cai Lan Port in Vietnam
Flood Management and
Mitigation Programme
Re-hydrating the earth in
Vietnam
The existing port of Hai Phong suffers
from limitations of ship’s draught.
Additional facilities are needed to
handle the predicted cargo flow in
the area. Cai Lan has been selected
as a site for a new deep sea port.
The development plan for the port
of Cai Lan includes the construction
of seven berths for container bulk
and general cargo handling. The
implementation of a comprehensive
waste treatment system was also a
key part of the plan and included the
commissioning of a multifunctional
waste treatment barge to collect
and process marine and vessel
borne pollutants. A critical element
of the project is the deepening of
the access channel (length 30 km),
which runs through Cua Luc Strait
and Ha Long Bay to the Gulf of
Tonking, an area of scenic beauty
and environmental importance.
Haskoning is setting up a Flood
Management
and
Mitigation
Program (FMMP) which enables the
four Lower Mekong Basin countries
Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and
Laos to better manage flood risk
and so reduce the socio-economic
costs of flooding whilst preserving
and enhancing the socio-economic
and environmental benefits of
flooding.
This project is part of the Partners
for Water project. Royal Haskoning
is setting up a concept for rehydrating.
The objectives of the project are to
reduce the vulnerability of people
living in the Mekong Delta to the
negative impacts of floods, and
establish flood risk management in
the authorities dealing with flooding
in these countries.
The project gives an innovative
approach for the design and
implementation of small water
resources.
This approach will give assistance to
local organisations and communities
in developing, implementing and
maintaining systems to re-hydrate
the earth. This way the impacts
of floods and droughts are being
mitigated.
Retaining structures such as sand
storage dams will slow down the
runoff water and make it percolated
into the earth (re-hydration). This
way water is stored from the rainy
season to the dry season, or even
from wet years to dry years. Subsurface water storage will amongst
others lead to socio-economical
development.
C o nc e p t
D efores tation c aus es floodings ,
eros ion, droughts (only therm od ynam ic
prec ipitation).
Im plem entation of w ater retaining
s truc tures (c ontour trenc hes and s and
s torage dam s ) enables s ubs urfac e
w ater perc olation and s torage.
T his w ill res ult in re-hydration of th e
earth and year rou nd grow th of
vegetation.
E vap oration of fores t c aus es h ydro
d ynam ic prec ipitation (regulated rainfall)
res ulting in a s us tainable s ys tem
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2007│3
7
working
Once again, we proudly
present the Consulate’s
biggest event of the year:
The Holland Days!
Subsequent to last year’s success,
the Consulate General of the
Netherlands will again organize the
Holland Days in Ho Chi Minh City.
This event is on the occasion of the
friendship and relations between
the Netherlands and Vietnam; not
only held for the Dutch community
in Vietnam, but also to make
the Vietnamese people more
acquainted with the Netherlands.
The Holland Days 2007 takes
place from the 17th until the 23rd of
October; for the duration of four
days business, educational and
cultural activities are organized in
the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. Given
the positive feedback we received
from participating companies, we
link the Holland Days 2007 to the
H2O fair 2007. Dutch companies
attending the H20 Fair 2007 will
participate in our Business Event.
Holland Days Program
Press Conference
When: Wednesday 17th of October
Venue: Park Hyatt Saigon
Time: 14.00 – 15.00 hrs.
Prior to the Holland Days 2007, a
press conference will be given to
the local media in the Park Hyatt
Saigon Hotel to give this event the
extra attention it deserves.
Additionally, there will be a brief
book presentation on “Dragon
and Lion, 400 years relations
between Holland and Vietnam”
(Dutch version). This historical
book was presented in Amsterdam
on September 26 in presence
of the Vietnamese ambassador
in The Netherlands. Next year
the Vietnamese version will be
presented in Vietnam.
Opening of Photo Exhibition
When: Friday 19th of October
Venue: Chi Lang Park, Dong Khoi
Street. Time: 8.30 – 9.00 hrs.
The official opening of the Holland
Days will take place at the Chi
Lang Park. The photo exhibition is
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opened and accessible for public
everyday 9.00 – 21.00 hrs, from
the 19th until the 23rd of October.
This extensive photo exhibition
includes photos of famous Dutch
waterworks and other well-known
Dutch facets. Also, a miniature
of the Maeslant Kering, one of
the country’s most renowned
barriers, is built and exposed in
the fountain.
After the Holland Days, the photo
exhibition will be moved to the
General Science Library for further
showing.
Children’s activity
When: Sunday 21st of October
Venue: Chi Lang Park, Dong Khoi
Time: 9.30 – 12.00 hrs.
Sunday morning will be all about
the kids! Young students from a
Vietnamese School are guided by
an Art Teacher to make graffiti
paintings on an extensive brick
wall that will be build in the park.
Additionally everyone is invited to
paint on a big canvas that will be
placed in the park. All drawings
have to be related to our theme
“Water”. The actual painting
will be hanged in the General
working working
october 17th untill
23
rd
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Science library after the Holland
Days, together with all the photo
exhibition boards.
Typically Dutch sweets will be
provided to the visitors and live
music will be played. Furthermore,
there will be stands in the park
where companies present their
products to all visitors. This will be
an informative event for visitors to
meet foreign companies.
Concert by Dutch conductor
networking opportunity for
everyone, as we expect many
guests to be present.
Tickets for this special and unique
performance can be collected at
the FSC and Consulate General as
well as at the office of the HBSO.
Business Match Making
Event
When: Monday 22nd of October
Venue: Park Hyatt Saigon
Time: 13.30 – 17.30 hrs
and HBSO
When: Sunday 21st of October
Venue: Ho Chi Minh City Opera
House.
Time: 20.00 – 22.30 hrs
The famous Dutch conductor
David Porcelijn will conduct the
Ho Chi Minh City Ballet and
Symphony-Orchestra in a special
short program with Dutch music
plays. The conductor will be
rehearsing with the orchestra
and this event will be unique for
South-East Asia; the plays have
never been performed before in
Vietnam.
To conclude the evening, a cocktail
reception will be organized on
location by hotel Park Hyatt.
This reception will be a good
This business event enables Dutch
and Vietnamese companies from
the Water sector to meet and
to intervene. The Netherlands
Water Partnership involves many
Dutch companies and Universities
from the Netherlands who will
presents themselves through
brief presentations. This Business
Match Making Event will enable
the attending Dutch companies to
meet their Vietnamese partners.
“H20” University Contest
When: Tuesday 23rd of October
Venue: Park Hyatt Saigon
Time: 8.30 – 12.00 hrs
Top students from selected
universities will compete to find
the best solution for the presented
case. This year’s case study will
be on ‘Urban water supply in
Vietnam’ and is already presented
to the contesters. Preceding the
Holland Days, students work on
a solution for the case study in
groups and will present their key
to a jury and audience on the final
day of the contest. Winners will
win a trip to Bangkok.
Piano Concert
When: Tuesday 23rd of October
Venue: HCMC Conservatory
Time: 20.00 – 22.00 hrs
To finish off the Holland Days,
another classic concert will be
executed at the conservatory,
by well-known pianist Monique
Copper from the Netherlands.
Following the concert, a small
reception will be organized.
Singer Dan Truong in Holland
The famous Vietnamese singer
Dan Truong and his team have
been in the Netherlands to record
his music DVD “Dan Truong in
Holland”. The first results of this
promotion-trip, which was cosponsored by TNT, will be shown
during the Holland Days.
Expected is that this teen idol will
assist in Holland promotion to a
younger public.
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9
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my research
internship at the consulate general
Bram Willems
Water Quality Awareness
During the writing of this little
contribution to the infamous
‘Double Dutch’ I am sitting
behind a desk in the biggest
village of the Netherlands,
Amsterdam. Although physically
present, my thoughts often
escape the rainy and stressful
reality of the Netherlands by
moving back in time, the time
that I was a trainee at the
Consulate-General in Vietnam.
Arriving in mid-March in HCMC, I
was assigned by Mister van Zeeland
to analyze the urban drinking water
sector and to see what opportunities
exists for Dutch companies to
enter the market. Knowing little
of drinking water and its business
characteristics, I thought is was
a tough assignment. However,
the problems, developments and
possibilities in the sector motivated
me to dive in deeper. Below a short
impression of the Vietnamese water
supply sector and its possibilities.
Water supply problems and
challenges
The problems in the Vietnamese
water supply sector are numerous.
Sure, if you compare Saigon’s tap
water with a ‘gemeentepils’ from the
Netherlands there is a huge quality
gap. Although a very important
problem, especially since it is a
direct threat to public health, water
quality is not the only concern of
the Vietnamese government. Other
serious problems are low coverage,
insufficient capacity of the supply
system, high loss rates, unskilled
management, and un-integrated
water supply and wastewater
systems.
The
Vietnamese
government
acknowledges these shortcomings
and is aware of the difficulties of
the future. They have adapted the
so-called Millennium Development
Goals to set the bar to focus on.
These MDGs aim to reduce by half
the proportion of people without
10 DOUBLE DUTCH 2007│3
access to save drinking water.
In order to meet these goals the
sector faces strong challenges. The
biggest problem is to bridge the
financing gap. Worldbank estimates
that total investment needs in both
rural and urban water supply and
sanitation are $600 million annually
(from which 85% ODA funds).
Compared to the annual investment
of the last 10 years this is four (!)
times as high.
Dutch private sector
contribution
The Dutch water supply sector has
a strong reputation both nationally
and internationally. With its own
water supply being the best in
Europe according to the European
committee
and
the
involved
companies having the reputation
of being ‘the innovators and early
adopters of new technologies’ (NWP)
the Dutch have a strong position in
and outside Europe.
So, on the one side you have the
Vietnamese water supply market.
This market consists of more than
150 urban water supply projects
that are underway who are worth
nearly USD $ 1 billion. On the other
side you have high quality and
knowledgeable Dutch companies
(consultancies/engineers, suppliers
and construction companies) who
could contribute to this market. All
ingredients for a happy marriage.
However, many difficulties arise. In
order to obtain such a project in most
cases companies have to attend
international competitive biddings.
In order to ‘win’ such a bidding the
impression is that a company has
to be present in Vietnam, build up
a solid network and in many cases
combine forces with a Vietnamese
counterpart.
These
processes
take time, especially in Vietnam,
and should never be taken lightly.
Furthermore, through competition
from neighboring countries such
as Thailand and China, it is very
difficult for Dutch companies to be
price competitive. Projects backed
up with large amounts of ODA funds
often demand international high
quality interference, so these are
most interesting.
If Dutch companies shift their scarce
resources to Asia, possibilities arise
in Vietnam. Hopefully, with strong
support of umbrella organizations
such as NWP and with support of the
Embassy and the Consulate-General
the road to Vietnam will be easier
and clearer. Support should also
come from the Dutch government
who are able to fund water supply
projects which help Vietnam to be
a healthier place and at the same
create better opportunities for Dutch
companies. Hopefully, with initiatives
like the upcoming H2O event and
the Holland days, combined with
the good reputation of the already
present /active Dutch companies
such as Royal Haskoning, DHV and
Vitens-Evides, Vietnamese drinking
water will turn slightly orange in the
future…
Goodbye Saigon
My kindest regards to all the Dutch
in Vietnam. Special thanks to Mr.
van Zeeland and Mr. Son and to
my hombres Rutger en Bertus. I
will definitely be back in Vietnam,
as tourist or expat, doesn’t really
matter, I will be back!! Hen gap
lai!!
working
working
my research
working
ng
working
international business research vietnam
SCHIPHOL AIRPORT AMSTERDAM � EXPATS ONLY
UNIQUE SERVICE � THE MOST ECONOMIC RATES
RUG looking for...
International Business Research conducts
research into emerging markets outside of
Europe. This year Vietnam has been chosen as
destination. We provide Dutch companies the
opportunity to conduct tailor-made research.
In our opinion the Vietnamese market provides
great potential for Dutch companies but
most potential is yet to be explored. After
approximately six months of desk research, a
group of 25 senior students will conduct five
weeks of field research for Dutch companies in
Vietnam. This will take place in May and June
2008.
WWW.BBLCARRENTAL.NL
We are interested in the experiences of the Dutch
who are presently living and working in Vietnam.
Furthermore, we would like to establish contact
with members of the DBAV to help us find local
offices where we could work on our research.
Rijnlanderweg 774, 2132 NM Hoofddorp
Tel + 31 20 6557900, Fax + 31 20 6557909
You can rest your relocation safely
upon Saigon Van’s shoulders.
Are you interested in our project? Or could you
provide us with helpful insights?
Please get in touch with:
Mr. Jasper Bosch
Email: vietnam@ibr-groningen.nl
Website: www.ibr-groningen.nl
31C Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1, HCM
t: 823 8851
f: 823 8852
: sales@saigonvan.com
www.saigonvan.com
DOUBLE DUTCH
2007│3
11
working
breakfast with Harry Laboyrie
working
BY Boris Dongelmans
BD: As a professional, you are
up to your knees involved in
water here in Vietnam. If we
compare water management
in Vietnam to that in the
Netherlands what are the big
differences?
HL: Both countries are for large
parts made up of extensive river
deltas and face a continuous
battle against water. The main
issues are not that different
because both countries face a
combination of flooding caused
by the rivers and waves and high
water levels from the sea.
The big difference is that
the Netherlands can afford to
tackle the threat of flooding. An
example is our response to the
flood disaster in Zeeland in 1953:
the budget of the Delta Plan was
huge to begin with but even then
ended up exceeding the budget
dramatically. Vietnam simply does
not have sufficient budget for
flood protection measures and, I
estimate, spends only a fraction of
our budget on flood protection.
BD: Why is this so much less
while Vietnam has many
areas suffering from regular
flooding.
HL: One of the reasons is that
flood protection does not always
have the highest priority with
planners in Vietnam. Building and
maintaining water defense works
demands significant amounts of
money with lower financial returns
then e.g. roads and ports. More
resources are made available
for building infrastructure like
12 DOUBLE DUTCH 2007│3
roads and bridges which, from a
development perspective, really
give a boost to the economy. A
good infrastructure earns money,
even if it is only used to transport
agricultural products.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Ir. Technical University
of Delft, The Netherlands,
Coastal Engineering and
Offshore Technology
Royal Netherlands Navy,
Hydrographic service
Dutch Public Works
Delft Hydraulics
Royal Haskoning since 1993
Over 10 year working
experience in Vietnam
Responsible for Government
Sector Projects in South East
Asia including China and
Mongolia
BD: If you look at An Phu
in HCM City with its many
compounds aimed at expats
where streets and houses get
flooded regularly, one could
easily think water is very low
on the agenda.
HL: Well, the issue in An Phu is
very limited and is perhaps so
visible because it is in HCM City.
But Vietnam is facing much bigger
flooding issues in its two deltas.
These are large areas that get
flooded very regularly, changing
streets into channels were people
paddle to work or school instead
of going by bike. All buildings are
up on pillars. In these areas they
just have to “live with floods” as
the size of the area and number
of people involved are so large
that flood protection is simply not
an option. In the Mekong Delta,
Royal Haskoning is involved
in the flooding program of the
Mekong River Commission. This
project focuses not only on
keeping the water out but also on
preparing for the water to come
by strengthening institutions and
preparing people.
BD: Is the Netherlands
really a leader in water
management, as we always
claim to be?
HL: Yes we are, together with
a few other countries we have
extensive experience. We have
been at this since the late middle
ages and basically we shaped the
western part of the Netherlands
which in many places is well
below sea level. You won’t find
this so much in Vietnam.
In the Netherlands we
are strong in research, teaching
and building water protection
measures. Dutch companies
have an advantage in being
very flexible in designing and
building water works. Although
good research and planning are
crucial, civil construction on this
scale are impossible to plan to
the last details as there are many
unknowns. Keeping an open
mind and being pro-active when
building dykes or when dredging
is perhaps the hallmark of Dutch
water engineering.
Besides this the current
government is looking ahead
and is aware that the Dutch
water protection measures are
not finished yet. If we want to
be safe behind the dykes in
about 100 years we have to start
planning and taking measures
now.
(During the interview Harry claimed
he could swim, but unfortunately we
did not get around to testing this.)
working
working
Nguyen Dai Viet
Ph.D student Hydraulic Engineering
From a VN’s Ph.D student’s perspective
Since July 2006 I study at
the TU Delft for my Ph.D. My
research is on breakwater
design and optimisation. There
are nearly 3 more years to
finish my study, and I have
really adapted to a new life.
Dutch culture
How to integrate into a society
that is very different from yours?
Getting yourself familiar with
cultural characteristics, learning
language and tasting food may be
some of the possible answers.
Although most of the Dutch
people I know so far are only
my teachers, colleagues and
neighbors, I could say Dutch are
friendly and always ready to help.
For example, a woman helped me
with my luggage at a train station.
A man guided me thoroughly how
to use the automatic photograph
machine. Another one took me to
my destination when I was lost in
Rotterdam. And they all did help
with kindness and smile.
It’s not easy but I am trying to
learn Dutch. The pronunciation of
some of its sounds is difficult to
master, for example the harsh “g”
and vocal like “ui” and “eu”. Luckily,
English is used very commonly,
so I hardly meet any difficulty in
communication.
In Vietnam, Holland is known for
its milk products. But “Hollandse
Nieuwe” - fresh salted herring - is
one of my favorites. Sometimes I
eat “Stamppot” at lunch. “Beschuit
met muisjes” is the thing I prepared
for celebrating my daughter’s
birth. But I still cook my dinner in
a very Vietnamese way!
Delft, where I live is
a small, quiet and old town. In
fact, there are many more under
that old exterior. Walking along old
streets of Delft in an early Sunday
morning, when the city is asleep, I
can feel the breath of history close
by. But I found that Delft is also
a modern city. Maybe the large
number of student inhabitants and
the appearance of technologyoriented companies make the life
in Delft youthful and lively.
TU Delft
is famous for its water-related
researches, ranging from hydraulic
engineering to water treatment and
management. Why are the waterrelated fields of great concern, not
only at TU Delft, but also at many
other Dutch institutes? Currently,
approximately two third of the
Dutch land area is lying below
the mean sea level. Therefore,
mastering the water resources is of
vital importance to the Netherlands.
Dams, dykes and dunes can easily
be seen in the Netherlands. The
Deltaworks, a giant complex of
many flood defence structures,
should be nominated for being a
new wonder of the world. Many
water researchers chose the
Netherlands, and particularly TU
Delft, as an ideal place for their
study.
We stay in our offices 5 days
a week, 8 or 9 hours per day,
burying our self in books, papers
and computer. We come home
late, have dinner and relax by
watching TV or listening to music.
Fortunately, there is a Vietnamese
community in Delft. More than
40 Vietnamese students are now
studying at TUD and Unesco-IHE
of which 70% are Ph.D students.
Activities are often organised
within the Vietnamese community
for relaxing. We play football in the
TUD Sport Center every Saturday
afternoon. We have parties on
the occasion of big events, either
barbeque or Vietnamese traditional
food. And sometimes, we invite
other football teams, Dutch or
Chinese, for friendly matches.
Every weekend, I pause my study
for a while and go downtown to
enjoy the vibrant atmosphere on
the streets and squares. Cultural
and social activities are everywhere.
At these moments, it seems that I
am studying another subject, the
subject of life observing, listening
and experiencing.
Being a Ph.D student at TU Delft,
I receive a favorable working
condition from my faculty and my
section. A supervisory committee
including one promotor and two
supervisors help me to do my
research. However most of my
study must be done on my own.
My professors only guide me how
to develop my ideas, how to bring
the ideas into reality and how to be
on the right track. Doing all these
things is my own duty. That’s why
a Ph.D study requires much effort
and a high independent study
ability.
The life of a Ph.D student is
sometimes like a boring routine.
DOUBLE DUTCH
2007│3
13
living
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14 DOUBLE DUTCH 2007│3
Hilde Hoogwaerts & Janneke Dufourquet
Dweilen met de kraan open
in An Phu!
Beste lezers,
Hartelijk welkom bij alweer het derde Double Dutch thema-nummer.
Iedereen is inmiddels alweer lang terug op zijn stek in Vietnam,
of misschien net aangekomen, en de zomervakantie lijkt voor de
meesten al een ver verleden. Heeft u ook weer gemerkt dat, naar
Hollandse traditie, HET gespreksonderwerk in winkels, op straat enz.
het natte, koude weer was? Wij susten steeds het schuldgevoel over
deze slechte zomer in ons kikkerlandje met een geruststellend; “Ach,
voor het weer komen we hier echt niet… wel voor een beetje frisse
lucht en af en toe een buitje als je een heel jaar in de warmte zit…”
Terug in Saigon, zien we echter weer wat een echte regenbui kan
betekenen…en overal water! Als An Phu bewoners is het elke dag een
hele uitdaging om met droge voeten werk, school, de supermarkt of
sportclub te bereiken!
Nederland en Vietnam; zo enorm verschillend maar toch ook weer
veel (water) gemeen.
Een themanummer over water was dan ook vanzelfsprekend.
In deze editie de vele facetten van water, de bekende rubriek
‘even kennismaken’ met twee nieuwe Nederlandse gezinnen, een
bijzondere boekbespreking van dhr. Van Zeeland, een verslag over het
golftoernooi en nog veel meer.
Noteer alvast in de agenda’s de piano voorstelling voor de kinderen
op 29 oktober, het Nederlands cabaret op 25 november en niet te
vergeten de aankomst Goed Heiligman, ook op 25 november!
Het volgende nummer van de Double Dutch verschijnt in januari 2008
en zal gaan over “Cultuur”. Uiteraard zijn uw suggesties, ideeen,
bijdrage opnieuw meer dan welkom.
Maar eerst… spetterend leesplezier en tot ziens tijdens de Holland
Days 2007 en de tal van andere Nederlandse aktiviteiten!
e
d
l
i
H
&
e
Jannek
l
working
living
living
wonen in vietnam
op deliving
valreep
workin
kl
Samenstelling gezin 5 personen : Joss en Arthur,
dochter 13, jongen 11 en jongen 8 jaar oud.
En natuurlijk Tommy onze hond die jarenlang de BP
compound onveilig maakte :).
Hoe lang hebben jullie in Vietnam gewoond?
4 jaar
Wat wordt jullie volgende bestemming?
Maleisie, Kuala Lumpur
Wat ga je het meeste missen?
Brommer rijden en onze goede vrienden.
Wat is je meest positieve ervaring met
Vietnam? Lieve, blije en hardwerkende mensen.
daaruit voortgekomen.
Welke souvenirs heb je nog gekocht de laatste
weken?
Lackerware en Buddha’s
Wat is het leukste feest dat je hebt
meegemaakt in Vietnam?
Australian Ball, ons afscheidsfeest en onze eerste
‘oud op nieuw’ bij Dorris en Jack Castelein
Tenslotte; nog enig advies voor de
achterblijvers?
Ga vooral brommerrijden, of gebruik de Xe-om
Wat is je meest negatieve ervaring?
Vietnamees is een moeilijke taal, waardoor het
communiceren vaak erg lastig is. En dat er maar
weinig natuur rond de grote steden is.
Zijn de verwachtingen die je destijds had toen
je naar Vietnam kwam uitgekomen?
Ik dacht dat het land veel groener zou zijn.
Wat is je favoriete restaurant in HCMC?
Nee, heb ik niet specifiek, vind veel restaurantjes
leuk.
Heb je nog leuke tips voor de nieuwkomers in
Vietnam?
Schaf zo snel mogelijk een brommer aan. Leer
simpele en een paar korte zinnetjes in Vietnamees.
Veel meer gebruik je toch niet. Ben duidlijk en
kort in communiceren en check of ze het begrepen
hebben!
Wat vind je de leukste vakantiebestemming in
Vietnam?
Ninh Binh onder Hanoi en de meest noordelijke
provincies zijn bij mij favoriet.
Ik heb diverse keren een rondreis op de motorbike
gemaakt in het noorden van Vietnam. Geweldig is
dat! Onder ander de kalender Vietnam Smiles is
Familie van Berlo is door naar
KuaLa lumpur
DOUBLE DUTCH
2007│3
15
living
wonen in vietnam
even voorstellen
Samenstelling
gezin (naam/
leeftijd):
Jesse (3,5), Daan
(1), Marjo (34), Jan Willem (37)
Wie of wat brengt jullie naar Vietnam?
Het bedrijf van Jan Willem, Dutch Lady
Vietnam
Hoe lang zijn jullie hier inmiddels al en
hoe lang verwachten jullie te blijven?
Nu 4 maanden, we verwachten 3 jaar te
blijven.
Is dit de eerste keer dat jullie in Vietnam
zijn?
In januari zijn we 3 dagen geweest voor “final
check”. Eind mei zijn we definitief gekomen.
Wat zijn jullie verwachtingen van jullie
verblijf in Vietnam?
Best een uitdaging, verder vooral een intense
ervaring voor ons alle vier met elkaar.
Hoe zijn de eerste ervaringen?
Goed, het levende, bruisende van HCMC trok
ons allebei bij pre-assignment visit heel erg.
Dat blijven we bijzonder vinden als we door de
stad lopen/ rijden en de grote verscheidenheid
aan mensen en nationaliteiten.
Wat mis je het meest uit Nederland?
Mijn werk? Nu ik hier nog geen werk heb, mis
ik de uitdagingen van mijn werk het meeste.
Wat mis je het minst uit Nederland?
De regen?? Hmm, niet het beste seizoen nu
natuurlijk. Nou ja dan maar vooral de koude
regen.
Wat heb je nog extra ingekocht voor jullie
verblijf in Vietnam?
Haha, goede matrassen (2) voor alle gasten die
we verwachten. Zodat die lekker uitgerust en
dus vrolijk de dag beginnen
Wat is het item in je container dat je zeker
niet zou willen missen?
Laptop (met webcam…)
Willen jullie Vietnamees gaan leren?
Ja!
16 DOUBLE DUTCH 2007│3
living
Samenstelling gezin
(naam/leeftijd)
Sam (40), Petra (36), Gabriël
(8), Brian (7)
Wie of wat brengt jullie naar Vietnam?
Petra werkt sinds half augustus op het Nederlandse
Consulaat-generaal in HCMC. Sam heeft een eigen
bouwbedrijf in Thailand en is bezig aan zijn laatste
studiejaar Political Sciences.
Hoe lang zijn jullie hier inmiddels al en hoe lang
verwachten jullie te blijven?
Wij zijn op 11 augustus jl. gearriveerd in HCMC en
blijven in principe drie jaar, misschien vier.
Is dit de eerste keer dat jullie in Vietnam zijn?
Ja, behalve onze eerste kennismaking met Vietnam
in juni dit jaar toen wij een week naar HCMC zijn
gegaan om scholen te zoeken en een huis.
Wat zijn jullie verwachtingen van jullie verblijf
in Vietnam?
Wij hopen een leuke en interessante tijd tegemoet
te gaan, leuke mensen te ontmoeten. Verder zijn wij
van plan te reizen in Vietnam en omstreken.
Hoe zijn de eerste ervaringen?
Na Guangzhou (China) is de kleinschaligheid van
HCMC wennen. En natuurlijk de vele, motorbikes/
scooters, de chaos in het verkeer. Voor het eerst in
9 jaar Azie hebben wij een chauffeur. Leuke mensen
en wij hopen met nog meer mensen uit zowel de
Nederlandse als de internationale gemeenschap
kennis te maken.
Wat mis je het meest uit Nederland?
Familie, vrienden, patatje oorlog en de seizoenen!
Wat mis je het minst uit Nederland?
Alle regeltjes uit Nederland!
Wat heb je nog extra ingekocht voor jullie
verblijf in Vietnam?
Senseo koffiepads en hagelslag voor de jongens.
Wat is het item in je container dat je zeker niet
zou willen missen?
De fotoalbums en ingelijste familiefoto’s.
Willen jullie Vietnamees gaan leren?
Wij willen zeker een basiscursus gaan doen …..
l
living
living
boekverslag
leeuw en
draak
living
Ton van Zeeland
Leeuw en Draak, vier eeuwen Nederland en
Vietnam. Onder redactie van John Kleinen, Bert
van der Zwan, Hans Moors en Ton van Zeeland.
Boom uitgeverij Amsterdam 2007, 266 blz.
Prijs.: Euro 24,50
ISBN: 978 90 8506 520 3
Sinds 2005 is het boekproject over de Nederlandse
relaties met Vietnam in uitvoering. Het ConsulaatGeneraal in Ho Chi Minh Stad begon het project
om meer aandacht te schenken aan de bredere en
historische relaties. Het boek is op 26 september
2007 in Amsterdam, in de VOC-zaal van de
Amsterdamse Universiteit aan mr. Max van der Stoel
aangeboden. Minister van Staat Max van der Stoel
was in 1975 minister van Buitenlandse Zaken van
Nederland. Het boek biedt de lezer een goede kijk
op Nederland in relatie met Vietnam. Hoe Vietnam
in onze tijd, om met een van de auteurs te spreken
“van een oorlog in een land veranderde”.
In de publicatie komen verschillende aspecten over
Nederland in relatie tot Vietnam aan de orde. Vanaf
de eerste contacten kort na 1600, eigenlijk nog voor
de oprichting van de “Vereenighde Oostindische
Compagnie” in 1602, tot heden. Dit eerste contact
was echter gewelddadig en er vielen doden waarna
men na nog koers gezet te hebben naar Faifo (Hoi
An) snel de aftocht blies.
In 1635 kwam het tot hernieuwd contact dit keer
werden er handelsrelaties aangeknoopt, hoe broos
dat destijds ook
allemaal was.
De handelscontacten
zouden lang
duren en die
contacten
werden gevoed
door de handel
op Japan. Via
Vietnam werd
Chinese zijde
verworven die
in Japan kon
worden verkocht
of geruild.
Deshima is hier
het sleutelwoord,
de Hollanders
hadden via dit
schiereiland
toegang tot
het Japanse
rijk. In het
boek worden
eveneens
de handelscontacten met
het noorden
beschreven.
Domea, thans
nog te identificeren, was een aanlegplaats voor
de VOC schepen. Een vervolg op de publicatie van
dit boek zal een archeologisch project zijn om de
eventuele restanten van Nederlandse aanwezigheid
in noordelijk Vietnam te onderzoeken / op te
graven.
Tevens is een artikel opgenomen van de beroemde
Vietnamese historicus Phan Huy Le. Hij beschrijft
een bezoek van zijn overgrootvader aan Batavia
(thans Jakarta) in 1833; een interessante kijk in het
verleden van Vietnam en Nederlands Indië. Voor wat
betreft de negentiende eeuw is er een artikel dat het
wel en wee van de honoraire consuls beschrijft.
In 1946 werd de honoraire post Saigon omgezet
in een beroepspost. De situatie was na de
Tweede wereldoorlog immers veranderd en het
dekolonistaieproces was in de regio maar ook in
Indochina in gang gezet. In het boek wordt de rol
van de Nederlandse vertegenwoordiging uiteen
gezet. Tot en met de opheffing in 1975.
De periode van de oorlog komt aan bod in
algemene artikelen en in enkele thematisch gekozen
items. De rol van de pers alsmede de vredes/
Vietnambeweging wordt belicht. Hier speelt de
Vietnam-oorlog de centrale rol.
Prof. Hellema van de Utrechtse Universiteit neemt
het laatste hoofdstuk voor zijn rekening waarin de
relaties en de handelsbetrekkingen aan bod komen
na de Vietnam-oorlog, evenals de belangrijke rol
die Ontwikkelingshulp en –samenwerking speelt of
speelde. Hij beschrijft de Nederlandse betrekkingen
met Vietnam tot en met onze tijd.
Het boek geeft een mooi overzicht met thematische
artikelen over 400 jaar Nederland en Vietnam. Een
must voor de expat die in Vietnam woont en voor
alle historisch geinteresseerden.
Volgend jaar verschijnt de Vietnamese versie die
tijdens een seminar in Hanoi gepresenteerd zal
worden.
Ton van Zeeland
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2007│3
17
new in town
living
living
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even voorstellen
Frédérique
geboren 25 juli 2007
ouders Heleen & Derk Schep
Ayden
geboren 28 augustus 2007
ouders Mireille & Berndt Kodden
broertje van Yannick
Marie
geboren 27 september 2007
ouders Loth & Marc van den Assem
20 DOUBLE DUTCH 2007│3
living
living
Royal dutch open
living
Op Zondag 10 juli vond de
traditionele Royal Dutch Open
plaats te Saigon South.
De spanning was ‘s ochtends
duidelijk te voelen bij de
verschillende deelnemers
aangezien sommigen al een uur
van te voren aan het inslaan
waren! Na de traditionele
groepsfoto’s vertrok eenieder in
koppels van 2 (“best ball”) voor
de eerste afslag.
Na vele ingewikkelde
berekeningen bleken dit jaar
Robert Hoeve en Peter Kerckaert
de sterkste en trotse winnaars
van de Royal Open. Zij ontvingen
de wisselbeker, een flesje wijn en
de grote eer het volgende Royal
Open te organiseren.
De ‘19e hole’ bleek weer eens het
meest aangename en de laatste
deelnemers verlieten weltevreden
om 20 :00 La Habana ! Allen tot
ziens bij de volgende Open op 28
oktober!
Berndt Kodden
Waar voor de een het inslaan
duidelijk bleek te helpen zagen
anderen pijnlijk het nut van de
driving range. Het mocht de pret
echter niet drukken. Na ruim
2.5 uur spelen werd er nog wat
nagekaart en gedronken alvorens
zich klaar te maken voor de
lunch en prijsuitreiking bij bar ‘La
Habana’.
de Nederlandse Vereniging Saigon presenteert:
NEDERLANDSTALIG CABARET
Merijn Scholten (1983)
Een nieuw en veelbelovende stand-up comedian
die al diverse prijzen gewonnen heeft, brengt
deze avond een speciale show op de planken.
Volgens de jury van de Comedy Factory ‘een
goede verteller die zijn onderwerpen dicht bij
zichzelf houdt en met af en toe hilarische grappen slaagt hij erin om het publiek door zijn ogen
naar de wereld te laten kijken’.
25 november
Martijn Koning (1978)
Met zijn vlijmscherpe timing en snelle grappen
weet Martijn zichzelf en het publiek uitstekend
te vermaken. Niet voor niets heeft hij een vaste
plaats in de line-up van de Comedy Train. Optredens tijdens de Uitmarkt, bij Laughing Matters en Lowlands staan op zijn naam. Daarnaast
schrijft hij teksten voor TV programma’s, o.a.
voor ‘Dit Was Het Nieuws’.
details volgen via email!
DOUBLE DUTCH
2007│3
19
living
living
kids pagina
pagina
kids
living
Bubblemakers
Nathan van Sluijs
Op zaterdag 24
juni was er de
mogelijkheid om
kennis te maken
met scuba diving
voor kinderen.
Dit heet PADI
Bubblemaker en
is voor kinderen
vanaf 8 jaar.
Er waren
twee PADI
duikinstructeurs en wel 20 kinderen.
Zelf had ik al een paar keer gedoken op Bali, dus
het was voor mij niet zo nieuw als voor de andere
kinderen. Maar toch vond ik het leuk om nog ‘ns
mee te doen. Eerst kregen we een korte uitleg
van Sean wat je moest doen en hoe je moest
ademhalen.
Daarna gingen we een voor een met Sean of Grant
het zwembad in met duikuitrusting. Sommige
kinderen bleven wel 20 minuten onder water! Iedereen was enthousiast en misschien gaat de
Saigon Yacht Club nu wel een echte PADI duikcursus
organiseren: dan ga ik me meteen aanmelden!!!
20 DOUBLE DUTCH 2007│3
Myrthe Sprik
Hallo, ik heet Myrthe Sprik. Ik ben 8 jaar. Geboren
augustus 1999 in Pretoria, Zuid-Afrika. Ik zit al 1
jaar in Vietnam.
Ik zit op de Britse
school, ik vind
het heel erg leuk
op die school.
Eveline is mijn
beste vriendin,
we zien elkaar
bijna elke dag. We
zitten ook samen
op de Nederlandse
school.
Op zaterdag 2
juni hadden we
Themadag waterwerken van de Nederlandse school.
Het was bij Esther’s huis. Toen we aankwamen
werden we in groepjes verdeeld. Ons groepje ging
als eerste tekenen met juf Bianca. We tekenden
huizen op heuvels. Toen verfde ik zeehonden, hierbij
hielp juf Kuneke. Daarna vertelde meneer Frans
over de delta, het water en afvalwaterzuivering
en keken we samen naar een dvd over water in
Nederland. Als laatste gingen we een computerspel
doen op de laptop. Mijn moeder Marleen heeft bij dit
spel geholpen. We moesten proberen de zee beter
te maken, het land te beschermen tegen de zee en
het leuk te maken voor de mensen.
Als allerlaatste deden we een barbecue om afscheid
te nemen. Nadat we hadden gegeten zei Esther nog
wat en toen gingen we naar huis toe. Ik vond het
heel erg leuk dat het bij Esther en Johan thuis was.
kindervoorstelling
living
living
living
living
monique copper
janneke dufourquet
Op 20 oktober komt de pianiste Monique
Copper aan in Ho Chi Minh City. In het kader
van het Cultuur en Ontwikkelings programma
van het Consulaat Generaal (waarover u meer
zult lezen in de volgende Double Dutch), zal
Monique Copper een paar dagen masterclasses
verzorgen voor studenten van het Ho Chi Minh
City Conservatorium.
Ter afsluiting van de Holland Days treedt zij op 23
Oktober op met haar nieuwste programma “Water”
en op 29 oktober verzorgt zij een Nederlands
kinderprogramma.
Monique Copper studeerde in Genève, Rotterdam en
Utrecht, waar zij haar solistendiploma behaalde in
1975 onder leiding van Ria Groot. Zij geeft concerten
in binnen en buitenland zowel solistisch als met diverse
ensembles. Op haar programma’s zijn vaak premières
van nieuwe werken en bekende componisten hebben
speciaal voor haar nieuw werk geschreven.
Met het programma “Water” brengt Monique Copper
een eerbetoon aan Nederland, het land waar water
zo’n belangrijke rol speelt. Zij laat U allerlei aspecten
van water ervaren, van Waves en Barcarolles tot
Ondines en andere mythen. De Barcarolles roepen
belevenissen van boottochten op, zowel op kronkelende
rivieren als op de woeste ondoorgrondelijke zee.
In de Ondines horen we hoe waternimfen met hun
gezang en dans ons stervelingen het water in lokken.
In hun schaterlach klinkt zowel de schoonheid als ook
de onvoorspelbare grilligheid van water.
“Het waterprogramma is een spiegel van mijn
dagelijkse gevoelsbeleving in een land waar het
water alom aanwezig is, Nederland, de Delta waar
Rijn en Maas in zee uitmonden. De keuze voor het
thema water komt voort uit de ontdekking, dat mijn
repertoire - onbewust - uit veel composities bestaat,
die door wind, water en sneeuw geïnspireerd zijn. Ik
besloot daaruit een programma samen te stellen met
uitsluitend water-werken . Overal is altijd water in de
buurt - meren, rivieren, kanalen, sloten en grachten.
Vanuit de lucht gezien lijkt het of Nederland in
geometrische figuren op het water drijft. Een soort
lappendeken, waarin sloten, kanalen en vaarten het
stiksel zijn. Kronkelende riviertjes zijn op weg naar de
eindeloosheid van de zee. In de 17e eeuw lokte de
open zee en gingen Hollanders de oceanen bevaren.
Het handelen in exotische specerijen kon beginnen en
de Gouden Eeuw bracht de kooplieden grote rijkdom.
Deze ontwikkeling leidde ook tot een enorme opbloei
van het culturele leven. De kooplieden waren de
patroons van beroemde portretschilders als Rembrandt
maar
ook
van
zeeschilders
zoals
Ludolf
Bakhuizen,
van wie ik zelf een
nazaat ben. Ik ben
geen schilder, maar
wel
een
pianist.
Via de muziek geef
ik uitdrukking aan
mijn liefde voor het
water. Water kan
poëtisch, kalmerend,
overweldigend,
dreigend
of
gevaarlijk zijn. Met
U wil ik mijn keuzes
delen van het water in muziek en poëzie…”
Naast haar reputatie als vertolkster van hedendaags
repertoire, heeft Monique in binnen- en buitenland
naam gemaakt met verhalende recitals, voor
volwassenen en kinderen. Zo ontwikkelde zij het
geïllustreerde familierecital in de vorm van klein
muziektheater. Zij vertelt het verhaal en projecteert
gelijktijdig kleurrijke dia’s van illustraties bij het
verhaal. De composities zijn gebaseerd op verhalen
voor kinderen. Door de gelijktijdige diaprojectie van
kleurrijke illustraties bij het verhaal blijven ook kleine
kinderen geboeid.
Mevrouw Copper heeft met enthousiasme gereageerd
op onze vraag of zij misschien ook voor de Nederlandse
kinderen van Saigon zou willen optreden. Samen
hebben we een speciaal programma opgesteld
(leeftijd 4 t/m 8 jaar). Wij hopen dus alle kinderen
te zien op maandag 29 oktober voor dit bijzondere
evenement. (nadere informatie volgt via email).
Meer lezen over Monique Copper ;
www.moniquecopper.nl
Pianorecital Water
23 oktober 2007
Conservatorium Ho Chi Minh City
Kinderprogramma
29 oktober 2007
Ho Chi Minh City
DOUBLE DUTCH
2007│3
21
living
living
vraag en aanbod
vraag en living
aanbod
living
Wilt u ook iets plaatsen op deze pagina? Stuur dan uw
oproep naar hoogwaerts@pacific.net.sg of wildejanneke@
yahoo.fr
After-School Activities @ Smartkids
Creative activities (painting, sticking, drawing, etc.), Music,
singing, Dance, Games, Play (inside & outside)
Every Tuesday afternoon from 15:15 to 16:45 @ Smartkids
international Child Care Centres
Address : 1172 Thao Dien compound, An Phu, Dist. 2
Age
: 3-5 years old
Language: English
Fee
: US$ 10.00 per child for 1,5hours, payable up
front, minimum per term.
Contact: Ms. Yoko Otter - 0903 957 316
Mother tongue program @ Smartkids
We are starting with a “mother tongue program” as an
after school activity.
We will kick off with Dutch programs for children from 2.5
to 6 years old. The focus of the afternoon will be playing,
singing songs, reading books, etc…
The children must have some understanding of the
language.
The mother tongue activities are not set-up as Dutch
lessons! The focus is that children with an other language
can meet each other, and extend their vocabulary through
play and games. These activities will also be open for “nonSmartkids” children and will take place on:
Monday- Dutch 15:15 – 16:45
Fee is US$10.00 per child for 1,5 hours, payable up front,
minimum per term.
Contact: Contact : Ms. Yoko Otter - 0903 957 316
Address : 1172 Thao Dien Compound - An Phu, District 2,
HCMC
Voetballers gezocht!
Doe mee elke zaterdamiddag om 16:00 uur voetballen op
Parkland. Weer of geen weer, wij spelen!
Interesse bel: Johan Rietberg 091 3940 243
Hockey in Ho Chi Minh City
Every Saturday morning, there is a group of expats playing
hockey at the International
School HCMC. If you want to join this recreational but
enthusiastic group of ex-hockey
players, please write an e-mail to
liesbethwillemars@hotmail.com (Liesbeth)
Voormalig pro-skate-boarder Lloyd Morgan geeft skateboard lessen in BP Compound, elke zondagmiddag na 4 uur.
Contact Lloyd: 0908 422 007
Gezocht, klassiek musici (pianist, violisten,
altviolisten, cellisten, contrabassisten (eventuel ook
clavecimbel, organist, dwarsfluit, hobo) voor het spelen
van kamermuziek (duo’s, piano-/strijktrio’s, piano/strijkkwartetten etc..). Zelf ben ik een gevorderde
amateurcellist.
Jos Langens 0903 727 059 prive: 899 0552
De Nederlandse Vereniging Saigon is op zoek naar een
cabaretliefhebber die mee wil helpen in het organiseren
van een cabaretavond in mei 2008. Een bekende
cabaretier heeft al toegezegd te willen komen! Wie helpt
er mee?! Gaarne contact opnemen met
Marjo Vaessen: 0902 920 200
22 DOUBLE DUTCH 2007│3
Salsa Cursus 6-week courses at Restaurant La Habana.
Beginners: 19:30-20:30
Intermediate: 20:30-21:30
Prices:
- VND 250,000 for 6 lessons per person.
- VND 300,000 for 6 lessons per mixed couple!
New students can start from 02 OCT, after that the
course is closed. It will also be closed if it gets full, so
come early!
Also, every Thursday Salsa Night at La Fenetre Soleil,
with a workshop for absolute Beginners at 20:30 and
free dancing at all levels during the night: Salsa,
Merengue & Bachata, reasonably joined by a few
mojitos...
Tickets for the workshop incl. 1 free cocktail: VND
55,000 at La Fenetre Soleil, 1st floor, 125 Nam Ky
Khoi Nghia. See you all on the dance floor!
Irene Ploeg email: irene_prive@hotmail.com
TE KOOP Tuinmeubilair
Bent u op zoek naar een leuke tuinset, neem dan
contact op met ScanCom Vietnam. Wij beschikken over
een voorraad van onder andere tropisch hardhouten
meubelen tegen hele aantrekkelijke prijzen.
Bent u geinteresseerd en wilt u meer informatie,
dan kunt u op werkdagen contact opnemen met
Mevr. Hoang, e-mail: hoang@scancom.net (alle
communicatie in het Engels)
www.scancom.net
Om met regelmaat een filmavond te kunnen
organiseren, is de Nederlandse Vereniging op zoek
naar Nederlandse of Nederlands gelinkte films. Ben
je in het bezit van een mooie, goede, spannende of
humoristische film, neem dan contact op met
secretary@dbav.org
Saigon Memory , NIEUW!!!! Nu te koop: het
perfecte Sinterklaas geschenk of Kerst cadeau.
Natuurlijk ook een heel leuk afscheidscadeau voor uw
bezoek.
Interesse mail: info@geckoboxes.com
l
living
living
living
oooh kom er eens kijken...
sinterklaas activiteiten
Om alvast te noteren...
Vrijdag 23 November
Knutselmiddag
15:00- 17:00h
Bij Joke in Smartkids
Thao Dien Compound
Zondag 25 November
Intocht van Sinterklaas
09:30- 13:00h
Bij familie van tiggelen aan de kade
Lily 37, BP Compound
Zondag 2 December 15:00- 17:30h
“Zwarte Pieten Activiteit”…..
Details volgen per email!
DOUBLE DUTCH
2007│3
23
oktober
2
17-23 oktober
Holland Days 2007
17
oktober
Presentatie boek
Leeuw & Draak
Venue: Park Hyatt Saigon
Time: 14.00 – 15.00 hrs.
19
oktober
Exhibition Holland Days
Venue: Chi Lang Parc
23
oktober
Piano recital ‘Water’
Monique Copper
25
oktober
HCMC Stock Exchange
Luncheon
28
oktober
Royal Saigon Open
golftoernooi
29
oktober
Kindervoorstelling
Monique Copper
november
23
november
Sinterklaas knutselmiddag
25
november
Aankomst Sinterklaas
25
november
Cabaret
2
december
Zwarte Pieten activiteit
january
Nieuwjaarsborrel DBAV
decem-
oktobe
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