Typically Dutch - Dutch Business Association vietnam

my job
Working with the Dutch
Who better to ask about typically
Dutch behaviour than the people
working with them. As a Belgian
‘red devil’ in the orange DBAV team,
we asked Anneleen Erlingen, office
manager, about her experiences
with the Dutch.
How long have you been working
with Dutch people?
In Vietnam, about 4 months and
in previous jobs I also worked with
Dutch people on a daily basis.
Sidenote: my best friends here in
HCMC are all Dutch (which pretty
much says it all)!
What were your first impressions
of working with the Dutch, when
you started working here?
Open-minded, (a bit too) talkative,
cheerful, extravert (especially the
ladies), love discussions but are bad
decision-makers, colorful.
In your view, what are the main
differences between the Dutch and
the Vietnamese?
Dutch people are more extravert and
less ‘shy’ but I don’t know if that’s
something typically Dutch or simply a
Western-Vietnamese cliché.
What are the similarities?
Making decisions can be difficult but
they both smile their way through and
are always willing to help out!
What has been your most ‘typically
Dutch’ moment?
Apart from my official office hours,
it definitely was the night out to
‘het Leidens Ontzet’. Dutch people,
Dutch songs and Dutch food all
over the place…I loved it (except for
the musical part, although it became
funny after a couple of glasses of
wine).
Can you give an example of
a funny moment in which the
cultural differences came forward?
Even though we speak the same
language it sometimes leads to small
confusions; ‘een kleed’ (blanket in
6 DOUBLE DUTCH 2010│11
Dutch) is the Flemish word for dress
(‘jurk’ in Dutch). In Flemish we ‘trek’
(pull in Dutch) a photo, we don’t
‘neem’ it (Dutch voor take) “Trek een
foto van mij in mijn mooie kleed!”
Furthermore, we planned a girlsweekend-out
quite some time ago, but
it has taken forever to arrange a date
and finally get it booked (I hope that
when this is published we will have
our tickets in hand!).
What advice would you give to a
Dutch person regarding working
in Vietnam?
As to any other expat: “embrace the
culture, stay true to your Dutch self
and enjoy!”
What advice would you give to
a Vietnamese person regarding
working with Dutch people?
Enjoy the Dutch spirit as much as I
do!
the Dutch
are not only tall...
Anneleen Erlingen (right)
cheers the Belgian soccer team
Thanh (left)
and Hoa
We also asked Haskoning
Structural Department Manager
Bui Thi Kim Thanh, and Office
Manager Nguyen Thi Hoa, who
have been working with the
Dutch for the last 9 and 14 years,
respectively, for their view.
Any advice to a Dutch person
regarding working in Vietnam?
Thanh advises Dutch people to
keep in mind that business in
Vietnam is not transparent like in the
Netherlands. “In order to keep that
difference from limiting your dealings
and business with the Vietnamese
you should be very clear as to the
requirements that will satisfy your
Vietnamese clients, so that you can
meet their expectations.” Also, if you
want to build strong relationships
with your Vietnamese colleagues and
clients be understanding of different
working methods. If someone
doesn’t plan as well as you might
expect, make your expectations clear
and work together to find a suitable
working method.
Hoa agrees that it is very important
to respect each other and our
differences. This is especially
important on a day to day basis.
“Be respectful about Vietnam and
its people and culture, and do not
make condescending remarks about
Vietnam or the Vietnamese in front
of your Vietnamese colleagues and
staff.”
What advice would you give to
a Vietnamese person regarding
working with Dutch people?
Thanh advises to really take the time
to understand your Dutch colleague’s
or client’s ideas. The Dutch tend to
be much more thorough and detailed,
and expect the same from you. If you
sense confusion, be open regarding
misunderstandings so that you can
meet each other’s expectations.
Also, be prepared to plan extensively,
including how each item is carried
out, when it will be finished and the
expected level of quality.