Best Carings electronics store chain changes hands

HCMC - Ben Thanh Trading and Marketing Co., owner of Best Carings electronics store chain in Vietnam under a franchise agreement with Japan’s Best Denki, has transferred its chain to another local firm named Mitsustar.

Under the transfer agreement, the chain including three Best Carings electronics goods stores in Hanoi, Can Tho and HCMC is handed over to Hanoi-based Vietnam Electronics & Refrigeration Technology Corporation, or Mitsustar. Ben Thanh will focus on electronics wholesaling.

Best Carings electronics goods store chain has been operational since 2004 as the strategic franchising cooperation between Ben Thanh and Japan’s Best Denki.

Ben Thanh affirmed that the chain’s business situation in the last years was very well. In 2009 and 2010, Retail Asia, a famous magazine in Singapore, selected Best Carings electronics goods stores as one of the ten leading retailers in Vietnam and one of the top 500 Asia-Pacific retail companies, according to the company.

In reality, Ben Thanh is also owner of Tara Joint Stock Co. specializing in electronics wholesale. After a long time running Best Carings, the management has realized that there exist some conflicts of interest when trading both brands, so they decided to transfer all stakes of Best Carings to the new owner to focus more on developing the Tara Joint Stock Co.

This means that Best Denki, one of the five leading electronic retail corporations in Japan, will no longer cooperate with Ben Thanh to open more Best Carings in Vietnam as per the two companies’ initial plan.

Previously, Ben Thanh and Best Denki had plans to cooperate to set up a joint venture to expand the store chain in Vietnam. However, during the process to establish the joint venture, the two partners has met difficulties.

For example, the foreign partner required Ben Thanh to step up the search for good locations in big cities to open more stores covering at least 2,500 square meters each, which is quite difficult in HCMC or Hanoi, the local company said.

Besides, under the WTO commitments, international retailers will face difficulties in expanding their operations after their first outlet. The ENT (Economic Needs Tests) principle will be considered by authorities when licensing the second retail point of foreign investors.

This means Vietnam will have the right to consider licensing based on three criteria: the number of retailers in a locality, the stability of the market and the scale of the residential neighborhood.

Experts said that to date, there is no legal document giving clear instructions on how to define ‘economic needs’ and interpret the three criteria. The term ‘retail point’ has also not been clearly defined.

The lack of legal documents and definitions of concepts is believed to create difficulties for enterprises when making business decisions, and for state management agencies themselves in management work.

Previously, Ben Thanh has plans to open ten shops around the country by 2012.

Ben Thanh has deployed Best Denki management technology, marketing skills and customer services in its new store chain. As a member of Best Denki, Best Carings was not only equipped with retailing skills and experiences, but also benefited from suppliers who are long-term partners of Best Denki.

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Jan-Sept aviation market growth put at 20%

Passengers wait for reclaiming their luggage at Noi Bai Airport. Vietnam’s aviation market is poised to post strong growth in 2010 as more people travel by air in the country - Photo: Mong Binh

HCMC – The country’s civil aviation market registered strong growth in the first nine months of the year, with both passenger and cargo segments picking up over 20% year-on-year, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV).

CAAV’s preliminary figures about the market released on Tuesday indicate more than 15 million passengers went through Vietnam’s airports in the period, up more than 20% from a year ago.

Of the number, Vietnamese carriers were responsible for more than 11 million, up 24% year-on-year. The number of passengers on domestic and international flights of the flagship carrier Vietnam Airlines exceeded nine million, up by a whopping 34% compared to the first nine months of last year.

Jetstar Pacific still took small domestic market share, transporting some 1.5 million passengers in the first three quarters. This low-cost carrier has only 40 daily flights while the number of Vietnam Airlines domestic and international services is more than 290.

The strong expansion of Vietnam’s overall aviation market in the period was credited to Vietnam Airlines’ aggressive launch of new domestic and international air routes and its increase of flight frequencies.

In the period, Vietnam Airlines started to fly on HCMC-Danang-Dalat and HCMC-Can Tho-Phu Quoc runs, and from Hanoi to Vinh and Chu Lai in central Vietnam. On the international front, the airline began services from Hanoi to Japan’s Osaka, China’s Shanghai and Myanmar’s Yangon among others.

The more promotional air tickets offered by the two local players, Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific, stimulated demand for air travel in January-September. Growth in international arrivals also backed the aviation market.

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Vietnam (VNAT), international visitors to Vietnam in the first three quarters jumped 34.2% year-on-year to 3.73 million. Air travelers to the country numbered nearly three million, up 32.7% over the same period last year.

As for the cargo segment, CAAV said domestic and foreign carriers transported 340,000 tons from January till September, a significant year-on-year increase of more than 36%.

The nation’s aviation market is expected to gain faster growth in the fourth quarter, as private airline Air Mekong entered the market on October 9 and the fact that more foreign airlines will launch their services to and from Vietnam.

CAAV has permitted Turkish Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines to fly to Vietnam later this year while Qatar Airways is gearing up for new flights to Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi and more services to Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC.

Air Mekong operates eight routes using four Bombardier jets and will increase the number to 10 in November this year with around 34 daily flights to the airports in Hanoi, HCMC, Danang, Con Dao, Pleiku, Buon Ma Thuot and Phu Quoc.

Vietnam Airlines is targeting 12 million passengers for its domestic and international flights this year compared to just over 9.34 million last year.

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Competition Counts In Quality Assessment

The protracted domination of a few State-owned enterprises in the field of quality assessment is being challenged by hundreds of local private and foreign firms

The quality assessment sector was arguably established in 1957, when the Import-Export Testing Department under the Ministry of Trade, a precursor to Vinacontrol, sprang to life. Vinacontrol is currently a joint stock company whose operation has expanded beyond quality assessment to include issuing international quality certificates, evaluating environmental standards and impacts, appraising prices, auditing, and training quality assessment professionals.

The company’s ups and downs closely mirror those in the industry. Monopoly no longer prevails as enterprises, including local private and foreign entities, have mushroomed. However, the market is not yet fully open as State-run quality assessment businesses are still influenced by various interest groups. Liberalization is most pronounced in segments where Vietnamese technologies are not yet able to flourish or win over foreign customers.

Capable quality assessment enterprises in Vietnam at present include Cafecontrol (agro-products), FCC (sterilization), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Nafiqaved (fisheries) and the Ministry of Science and Technology’s QUATEST 3 (consumer goods). The last company has recently turned into a force to reckon with, even among international quality assessment organizations. Some noteworthy foreign firms which have entered the sector are Switzerland’s SGS, Germany’s TUV SUD, Britain’s Intertek, and U.S.-based UL.

Owing to enticing profit prospects, the race rages on. Quality assessment accounts for a significant share of the operating costs of many enterprises, especially exporters and subcontractors. Consequently, domestic industry associations are setting up their own quality assessment arms to seize a slice of the profit pie.

However, fair competition remains elusive, or so some foreign firms argue. Despite their resources and reputation, these companies have yet to prosper in Vietnam due to limited market access.

In fact, competition has become increasingly ferocious. In 2002, the number of quality assessment firms in Vietnam shot up to more than 200 and, according to experts, exceeded those of Europe and the remaining Asian countries combined. Slashing prices was a popular strategy and fake certificates became rife. Ultimately, it was producers which felt the pinch of customers’ ire.

Hoang Lam, vice director of QUATEST 3, says that many enterprises still resort to bribes and other dubious practices to get sub-standard products certified. Sometimes, complacency and recklessness on the part of exporters and quality assessment organizations have caused them to overlook several shortcomings and led to customer dissatisfaction.

Fortunately, as competition intensifies, enterprises no longer have to wait for a long time to get their goods certified. Instead, it is quality assessment firms which must vie against each other for market share.

Fresh air

Foreign certification organizations have not created much fanfare since they started entering Vietnam. After the establishment of several representative offices and joint ventures, foreign-owned quality assessment firms have sprung up in Vietnam, too.

SGS, which arrived in Vietnam in the late 1980s, joined forces with Vinacontrol to set up a financially and technologically capable joint venture in quality assessment. However, they parted company in 1995 following an operational glitch. Two years later, SGS Vietnam Co. Ltd. emerged as the first wholly foreign-owned quality assessment company in Vietnam.

According to an expert from SGS, what his company lacks is not capital or technology, but market share, which is held mostly by domestic firms. SGS is known for energy certification, especially that related to oil. However, after its partnership with Vinacontrol ended, the energy arm was transferred to the Vietnamese partner. Subsequently, an energy quality assessment company aided by the oil and gas sector entered the fray and soon became the forerunner.

Henry Bui, managing director of a U.S.-based quality assessment firm, which has penetrated Vietnam’s market, says that he has had to reduce the fees charged by its modern laboratory in HCM City to 93% of international fees to stay competitive.

J.C. Sekar, managing director of UL for ASEAN, says that 70% of Vietnamese products are for export. Consequently, it is necessary to make sure they meet the increasingly stringent standards imposed by the Government and importing countries.

Apart from joining hands with QUATEST 3, using this center’s equipment for testing and upgrading laboratories to meet international standards, UL cooperates with producers such as the Vietnam Electric Cable Joint Stock Co., which has poured some US$200,000 into UL’s laboratories to produce electric wires and cables good enough for the U.S. market.

Meanwhile, TUV SUD has channeled millions of dollars into laboratories aimed at checking the quality of exported textiles, apparel and leather. In addition, it has joined forces with QUATEST 3 since May 2010 to exchange technical and professional information on quality assessment in various countries.

Industry associations also have plans to set up their own quality assessment centers to reap benefits. For instance, since most Vietnamese leather and footwear products are bound for other countries, Diep Thanh Kiet, vice chairman of the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association, says that quality assessment takes a substantial share of a company’s operating costs. Therefore, to slash such costs and capture the market share previously held by external firms, some of which are based in Hong Kong or Singapore, this association will develop two international-standard quality assessment centers, with an estimated cost of US$3-5 million each.

As technical standards proliferate, quality assessment has become increasingly important. The market will even expand as identifying appropriate energy labels for such complex equipment as photocopying machines, television and refrigerators requires modern laboratories which, according to Luong Van Phan, vice director of the Vietnam Standard and Quality Institute under the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality, gobble tens of billions of dong each and require much office space and competent human resources.

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Competition Counts In Quality Assessment

The protracted domination of a few State-owned enterprises in the field of quality assessment is being challenged by hundreds of local private and foreign firms

The quality assessment sector was arguably established in 1957, when the Import-Export Testing Department under the Ministry of Trade, a precursor to Vinacontrol, sprang to life. Vinacontrol is currently a joint stock company whose operation has expanded beyond quality assessment to include issuing international quality certificates, evaluating environmental standards and impacts, appraising prices, auditing, and training quality assessment professionals.

The company’s ups and downs closely mirror those in the industry. Monopoly no longer prevails as enterprises, including local private and foreign entities, have mushroomed. However, the market is not yet fully open as State-run quality assessment businesses are still influenced by various interest groups. Liberalization is most pronounced in segments where Vietnamese technologies are not yet able to flourish or win over foreign customers.

Capable quality assessment enterprises in Vietnam at present include Cafecontrol (agro-products), FCC (sterilization), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Nafiqaved (fisheries) and the Ministry of Science and Technology’s QUATEST 3 (consumer goods). The last company has recently turned into a force to reckon with, even among international quality assessment organizations. Some noteworthy foreign firms which have entered the sector are Switzerland’s SGS, Germany’s TUV SUD, Britain’s Intertek, and U.S.-based UL.

Owing to enticing profit prospects, the race rages on. Quality assessment accounts for a significant share of the operating costs of many enterprises, especially exporters and subcontractors. Consequently, domestic industry associations are setting up their own quality assessment arms to seize a slice of the profit pie.

However, fair competition remains elusive, or so some foreign firms argue. Despite their resources and reputation, these companies have yet to prosper in Vietnam due to limited market access.

In fact, competition has become increasingly ferocious. In 2002, the number of quality assessment firms in Vietnam shot up to more than 200 and, according to experts, exceeded those of Europe and the remaining Asian countries combined. Slashing prices was a popular strategy and fake certificates became rife. Ultimately, it was producers which felt the pinch of customers’ ire.

Hoang Lam, vice director of QUATEST 3, says that many enterprises still resort to bribes and other dubious practices to get sub-standard products certified. Sometimes, complacency and recklessness on the part of exporters and quality assessment organizations have caused them to overlook several shortcomings and led to customer dissatisfaction.

Fortunately, as competition intensifies, enterprises no longer have to wait for a long time to get their goods certified. Instead, it is quality assessment firms which must vie against each other for market share.

Fresh air

Foreign certification organizations have not created much fanfare since they started entering Vietnam. After the establishment of several representative offices and joint ventures, foreign-owned quality assessment firms have sprung up in Vietnam, too.

SGS, which arrived in Vietnam in the late 1980s, joined forces with Vinacontrol to set up a financially and technologically capable joint venture in quality assessment. However, they parted company in 1995 following an operational glitch. Two years later, SGS Vietnam Co. Ltd. emerged as the first wholly foreign-owned quality assessment company in Vietnam.

According to an expert from SGS, what his company lacks is not capital or technology, but market share, which is held mostly by domestic firms. SGS is known for energy certification, especially that related to oil. However, after its partnership with Vinacontrol ended, the energy arm was transferred to the Vietnamese partner. Subsequently, an energy quality assessment company aided by the oil and gas sector entered the fray and soon became the forerunner.

Henry Bui, managing director of a U.S.-based quality assessment firm, which has penetrated Vietnam’s market, says that he has had to reduce the fees charged by its modern laboratory in HCM City to 93% of international fees to stay competitive.

J.C. Sekar, managing director of UL for ASEAN, says that 70% of Vietnamese products are for export. Consequently, it is necessary to make sure they meet the increasingly stringent standards imposed by the Government and importing countries.

Apart from joining hands with QUATEST 3, using this center’s equipment for testing and upgrading laboratories to meet international standards, UL cooperates with producers such as the Vietnam Electric Cable Joint Stock Co., which has poured some US$200,000 into UL’s laboratories to produce electric wires and cables good enough for the U.S. market.

Meanwhile, TUV SUD has channeled millions of dollars into laboratories aimed at checking the quality of exported textiles, apparel and leather. In addition, it has joined forces with QUATEST 3 since May 2010 to exchange technical and professional information on quality assessment in various countries.

Industry associations also have plans to set up their own quality assessment centers to reap benefits. For instance, since most Vietnamese leather and footwear products are bound for other countries, Diep Thanh Kiet, vice chairman of the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association, says that quality assessment takes a substantial share of a company’s operating costs. Therefore, to slash such costs and capture the market share previously held by external firms, some of which are based in Hong Kong or Singapore, this association will develop two international-standard quality assessment centers, with an estimated cost of US$3-5 million each.

As technical standards proliferate, quality assessment has become increasingly important. The market will even expand as identifying appropriate energy labels for such complex equipment as photocopying machines, television and refrigerators requires modern laboratories which, according to Luong Van Phan, vice director of the Vietnam Standard and Quality Institute under the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality, gobble tens of billions of dong each and require much office space and competent human resources.

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Green Workplace For A Green Environment

They do not want to become a pathfinder or a trendsetter in environment protection, but many foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam have come to the forefront, initiating their own ways of fostering green production and green workplace

Facing with huge risks posed by global warming, these enterprises understand that if they do not contribute their part to solving the problem, they are part of the problem. This simple philosophy is echoed by Tim Baxter, when asked why he rallied 400 of his staff at DHL-VNPT Express to join a green campaign in Can Gio Biosphere Reserve in the city’s outlying district and Tam Dao National Park in northern Vietnam ten days ago. DHL staff on the day planted 12,000 trees in these two locales, says Tim Baxter, general director of the joint venture between DHL and Vietnam’s VNPT Group.

“This year’s DHL Volunteer Day in Vietnam will raise further awareness about climate protection among the company’s employees and make them understand why their contribution is crucial,” remarks the CEO, who plainly says a better environment will benefit all people in Vietnam as well as the company itself.

The campaign is not theatrical, however, as DHL-VNPT Express has also painstakingly built schemes to turn its workplace into a green environment, not only in Vietnam but elsewhere in the world. The company is making strides in reducing its carbon dioxide emissions and aiding customers in achieving a greener footprint.

DHL staff are now working on ways of increasing resource efficiency. To further strengthen its commitment to environmental protection, the company has fully fitted most of its facilities in Vietnam, including HCM City Gateway and Hanoi Service Center with energy-saving light bulbs.

Certainly, saving energy is good for both the environment and DHL, as this was proved in the financial year 2009 when DHL Express across Asia Pacific achieved the carbon dioxide emission reduction by 13,000 tons and 10 million euro savings from overall energy and ground vehicular fuel costs.

Riding on the achievements, DHL has set itself the goal of improving carbon efficiency by 10% by 2012 and 30% by 2020 for the company and its subcontractors as well.

In another success story, Cyprus-based PEB Steel Buildings Co., which came to Vietnam in 1994, has adapted its production to the trend of environment protection, turning out green products and promoting green development altogether.

In fact, PEB Steel has become the first pre-engineered steel building company in Vietnam to become a member of the U.S. Green Building Council. The firm’s commitment to the environment takes many forms in the design and use of materials for its projects.

Although the company has previously provided green pre-engineered buildings which help save on energy, it last year started to promote the green values of its products after winning a contract to build green industrial projects for a Nike shoe subcontractor in Tay Ninh Province. The 220,000-square-meter factory is invested by Taekwang Vina, which demanded that Environment Conditions be satisfied by using materials which meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) requirements.

To meet LEED requirements, PEB Steel chooses environmentally friendly products and materials, including spangle galvanized lead-free purlins, non-chromate steel sheet for roofing and wall system, or wall system with high solar reflectance and recycle content. These buildings are designed to ensure fullness of natural lights, and little heat to limit usage of electric lighting and air conditioners, thus saving on energy.

“Last year, after winning the contract for the green projects, we realized that our products could meet the environmental requirements, so why don’t we promote the green values of them,” says Vo Hoang Dung, marketing manager of the company.

Nabil Khalaf, plant manager of PEB Steel Building factory in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, says the company saves on over 20% of energy cost by reducing energy consumption through the use of energy-efficient lighting, high-performance exterior walls with improved insulation, and high-efficiency mechanical system.

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Holland Village Coming To Town

Glass blowing demonstration at the Holland Village

An old-day Holland Village will grow at HCM City’s September 23 Park on October 22-31 to give local people and tourists an insight into Dutch traditional lifestyles and age-old culture

Instead of traveling many areas of the Netherlands to make the most of its traditions, arts and specialties, a village will be designed to gather all in one place for a real experience.

The well-known Holland Village is, in the framework of trade promotion and Holland branding, brought to Vietnam by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in HCM City, with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.

To bring to visitors the feeling of a real Netherlands on hand, some 12 traditional Dutch houses in various gables will be built; and a life-size windmill which is ten meters high will stand out from the scene.

The village will be embellished with old Dutch attractions, including a fish stand, a cheese stand and street organ, presenting Dutch taste of herring, a Dutch favorite raw fish, plus Dutch syrup wafel cookies and cheese. To liven up and make the scene colorful, traditional Dutch costume shows will take place with explanation by MC, together with floral workshops, accordionists’ play of Dutch music and more.

Aside from a colorful and lively ten-day festival, the village will give visitors a rare opportunity to “touch” the long-lasting traditions through demonstrations of wooden shoe making and glass blowing and discover Dutch floricultural products, made by professional artists who are difficult to meet even when visiting the Netherlands.
Firstly, visitors will have chances to try the specialties with the hereditary old receipts. In a close-up, Poffertjes, a typical Dutch pastry served for many different occasions, will be baked at sight to the original recipe dating back to 1795. The food will be brought by a family member of Lubica van Wijk, who has been operating a Poffertjes cart for more than 25 years. The original recipe has been passed down for generations in her family and is a closely guarded secret.

Frozen fish will be shipped to Vietnam to create Dutch fish specialty sandwiches with herring, shrimp, pickled herring, smoked salmon and smoked eel for visitors to the village.

At the village, glass artist Frans Limpens will give demonstrations of glass blowing. “You can name it and I will produce it. The lungs of a man for a surgeon, music instruments for musicians, mascots for football fans and animals as a collector’s items,” the artist said.

“All of these objects are made with a glass-torch and special equipment made out of glass tubes with different diameter and glass bars. By blowing and handling the melted glass, all kinds of objects can be created,” added Limpens.

In the past 42 years, the artist has created various items for people from all walks of life, notably the hot-air balloon made for King Hussein of Jordan and the windmill that is now the property of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands.
Other in-depth knowledge of Dutch arts, such as making wooden clogs, will also be given through professional artists with tools from the country. Making wooden clogs by hand is considered a hard-to-make technique.

In addition to cultural and traditional performances, sponsors’ interactive programs with visitors will be held to give funs while learning knowledge of Holland cultures. Philips will organize an ironing competition and a short class teaching aerobics.

Probably the most interesting spot for children in Holland Village is to feel a typical Dutch farm through games of doing milking. Moreover, a photo zone with typical Dutch sceneries of photo panels will be set up to help visitors have real pictures of themselves in the Netherlands right in HCM City.

At the opening ceremony on October 22, an orange wave will come to the scene with the gathering of cyclos and bicycles decorated in orange and participants wearing orange shirts. The demonstration will last for about 20 minutes around the September 23 Park then parade through Le Loi Boulevard, turn around the Opera House and return to the park.

Holland Village was built in 1980 to promote Dutch agricultural products in Germany. It was deployed about four times per year in the major cities of Germany. Since 1989 it has been deployed all over the world, starting in Osaka, Japan, and later in Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Canada, France, Austria and the U.S.
The admission to the well-known Holland Village in HCM City is free. The open daily time is from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. About 300,000 visitors are expected at the festival.

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Holland Village Coming To Town

Glass blowing demonstration at the Holland Village

An old-day Holland Village will grow at HCM City’s September 23 Park on October 22-31 to give local people and tourists an insight into Dutch traditional lifestyles and age-old culture

Instead of traveling many areas of the Netherlands to make the most of its traditions, arts and specialties, a village will be designed to gather all in one place for a real experience.

The well-known Holland Village is, in the framework of trade promotion and Holland branding, brought to Vietnam by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in HCM City, with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.

To bring to visitors the feeling of a real Netherlands on hand, some 12 traditional Dutch houses in various gables will be built; and a life-size windmill which is ten meters high will stand out from the scene.

The village will be embellished with old Dutch attractions, including a fish stand, a cheese stand and street organ, presenting Dutch taste of herring, a Dutch favorite raw fish, plus Dutch syrup wafel cookies and cheese. To liven up and make the scene colorful, traditional Dutch costume shows will take place with explanation by MC, together with floral workshops, accordionists’ play of Dutch music and more.

Aside from a colorful and lively ten-day festival, the village will give visitors a rare opportunity to “touch” the long-lasting traditions through demonstrations of wooden shoe making and glass blowing and discover Dutch floricultural products, made by professional artists who are difficult to meet even when visiting the Netherlands.
Firstly, visitors will have chances to try the specialties with the hereditary old receipts. In a close-up, Poffertjes, a typical Dutch pastry served for many different occasions, will be baked at sight to the original recipe dating back to 1795. The food will be brought by a family member of Lubica van Wijk, who has been operating a Poffertjes cart for more than 25 years. The original recipe has been passed down for generations in her family and is a closely guarded secret.

Frozen fish will be shipped to Vietnam to create Dutch fish specialty sandwiches with herring, shrimp, pickled herring, smoked salmon and smoked eel for visitors to the village.

At the village, glass artist Frans Limpens will give demonstrations of glass blowing. “You can name it and I will produce it. The lungs of a man for a surgeon, music instruments for musicians, mascots for football fans and animals as a collector’s items,” the artist said.

“All of these objects are made with a glass-torch and special equipment made out of glass tubes with different diameter and glass bars. By blowing and handling the melted glass, all kinds of objects can be created,” added Limpens.

In the past 42 years, the artist has created various items for people from all walks of life, notably the hot-air balloon made for King Hussein of Jordan and the windmill that is now the property of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands.
Other in-depth knowledge of Dutch arts, such as making wooden clogs, will also be given through professional artists with tools from the country. Making wooden clogs by hand is considered a hard-to-make technique.

In addition to cultural and traditional performances, sponsors’ interactive programs with visitors will be held to give funs while learning knowledge of Holland cultures. Philips will organize an ironing competition and a short class teaching aerobics.

Probably the most interesting spot for children in Holland Village is to feel a typical Dutch farm through games of doing milking. Moreover, a photo zone with typical Dutch sceneries of photo panels will be set up to help visitors have real pictures of themselves in the Netherlands right in HCM City.

At the opening ceremony on October 22, an orange wave will come to the scene with the gathering of cyclos and bicycles decorated in orange and participants wearing orange shirts. The demonstration will last for about 20 minutes around the September 23 Park then parade through Le Loi Boulevard, turn around the Opera House and return to the park.

Holland Village was built in 1980 to promote Dutch agricultural products in Germany. It was deployed about four times per year in the major cities of Germany. Since 1989 it has been deployed all over the world, starting in Osaka, Japan, and later in Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Canada, France, Austria and the U.S.
The admission to the well-known Holland Village in HCM City is free. The open daily time is from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. About 300,000 visitors are expected at the festival.

Related Articles

• Duong Lam Ancient Village
• Chau Doc’s curried fish vermicelli: Bun nuoc ken
• Holland Village Coming To Town
• Painters show works inspired by nature, nostalgia
• Preparations for congress reviewed