John Nielsen, the sporty and environmentally-conscious former Danish ambassador to Vietnam, has been instrumental in catapulting the two countries’ relationship to new heights.

Nielsen concluded his five-year term as Ambassador to Vietnam in 2015.

During his tenure, the diplomat, notable for his physical characteristics of being 1.96 meters tall along with his unmistakable white hair, struck many in diplomatic circles, the Vietnamese press and public by joining several marathons, helping Vietnam pursue green economic growth as well as raising awareness of energy conservation and environmental protection.

Profound love for Vietnam

With an insatiable love for Vietnam, the former ambassador petitioned for the post in the Southeast Asian country in 2010.

“I first visited Vietnam as a tourist in 2007 and was stunned at the locals’ hospitality and the country’s scenic allure. I told myself that I would return to Vietnam someday,” he said.

At the beginning of his ambassadorship, he chose to introduce himself to Vietnamese people by creating a video clip featuring him expressing Tet (Lunar New Year) wishes at the Temple of Literature, the country’s first university, in Hanoi. 

The diplomat also conveyed wishes and messages from Denmark in other rustic settings, including Tay (West) Lake, one of the Vietnamese capital’s hallmarks.

He revealed that one of the things he loved most about his stay in Vietnam is the anticipation of Tet.

During Tet, which kicks off on February 8 this year and lingers around one week after that, streets in Hanoi typically become considerably less crowded.

The former ambassador would ride around the deserted streets on his bicycle.

“Hanoi stands out from other Southeast Asian cities by its own appeal and elegance,” he observed.

Now the Danish ambassador to Spain, a gorgeous country in terms of both scenic spots and cultural values, Nielsen revealed he still misses Vietnam.

He wistfully posted a photo taken in the UNESCO-recognized Hoi An, located in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Nam, during the Mid-Autumn Festival last year alongside another snapped in Madrid on his Facebook page.

The festival, observed on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, sees children dressing up, lighting lanterns and adults sipping hot tea and savoring mooncakes.          

A sporty, active ambassador

Particularly fond of jogging, Nielsen would get up early and run along the streets, especially those around Tay Lake almost every morning, along with his Vietnamese chauffeur at the Danish Embassy or one of his colleagues.

The former ambassador, who has taken part in several marathons in Europe, instigated the Vietnam Mountain Marathon in 2013 and 2014, which took place in the beloved tourism hub of Sa Pa in northern Lao Cai Province.

The sports event, which secured the registration of nearly 500 participants from 40 nations, gave them a chance to admire Vietnam’s awesome hilly landscape and meet ethnic minority people, while helping promote tourism and providing jobs for locals.

The diplomat himself ran a half marathon like a professional athlete.

Former Danish Ambassador to Vietnam John Nielsen (L) is seen running in the Vietnam Mountain Marathon 2013 in Sa Pa, located in the northern province of Lao Cai, in this file photo provided by the Danish Embassy in Hanoi.

He also demonstrated his assertiveness by deciding promptly to help organize the Monsoon Music Festival 2014.

The event, which rocked the capital city in October 2014, drew several thousand young music lovers and gathered around 100 local and international artists from countries including Denmark, the UK, France, Belgium, South Korea and Japan.

The former ambassador also came up with the initiative of addressing students at universities across Vietnam regarding Denmark’s green economic growth and the enhancement of awareness of sustainable development and environmental protection.

He was one of the few ambassadors to hold exchanges with students in person.

With all of his tireless environmental efforts and pervasive influence, Nielsen was appointed ambassador of the “Earth Hour” campaign, a global environmental movement launched by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to promote energy saving, for four consecutive years.

During the campaign, he would cycle along Hanoi streets, speak to students and raise questions on environmental safeguarding.

Soaring trade value

Former Ambassador to Vietnam Nielsen was also integral to the growing trade cooperation between Vietnam and Denmark during his 2010-2015 tenure.

His ambassadorship witnessed the two nations’ trade value soar by 75 percent in the five-year period, considered a milestone and a breakthrough in the 40-year course of formal ties. 

The seasoned diplomat was presented with a Vietnamese International Friendship Medal by the government in recognition of his massive contributions.

Nowadays the former ambassador occasionally sends personal messages on Facebook to the Vietnamese chauffeur at the Danish Embassy in Hanoi, asking if he still jogs on a regular basis. 

Nielsen is also among the ambassadors who make use of Facebook as an effective diplomatic channel to connect with Vietnamese people on a daily basis.

His Facebook page currently boasts more than 63,000 likes.

“Vietnamese Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien has launched her official Facebook page,” he said.

“I know it’s hard to sway negative opinions on Facebook as a diplomatic means among Vietnamese people, but I’m sure local politicians will learn a lot if they give it a try."

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