Dutch Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Daniel Stork has expressed his compassion toward fostering a connection between Vietnam and the Netherlands, as well as his hope for the southern Vietnamese city to preserve its heritage and dream of roads with more bicycles.

Stork recently had an exclusive interview with Tuoi Tre News ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet, which is due on January 29.

When were you requested to go to Vietnam? What were your initial thoughts about our country?

I had a list of where I would like to go, and Vietnam was in my top four. When I found out I would be traveling here, I was very happy. I have an emotional reason/attachment because my father worked here in the late 1960s, at what was then the Dutch Embassy.

In 2016, on my first visit, Vietnam gave me the feeling of a tropical place, reminding me of my childhood in Cuba.

My father passed away in 2017, so I couldn't talk to him about what he did here. But in his bookcase, there were many books on the history and the culture of Vietnam because of his time here.

I love trying new things and staying curious about the world. Vietnam is definitely one of those places that will always hold a special place in my heart.

There's something about the warmth and joy of the Vietnamese people, the way they embrace life. From the vibrant selfie culture to singing together at karaoke, or enjoying meals in large, lively groups, there's a strong sense of community here. And then there's the natural beauty of the country, with its diverse landscapes and stunning nature.

I see it there within the Dutch people who live here, my community. People came here and thought that they were going to stay for a few years, but then it became 15, 20, 25 years. I think it's that kind of place that you really grow attached to.

Like me, I just ride around on my electric bike or my bicycle and absorb the city. I look at the city, I look at the people, I look at how people are making their living in this city, and how they interact.

There's so little aggression in Vietnamese society, at least from what I see.

You have completely opened the city to the rest of the world, and that makes it so attractive now. The Indians, French, Chinese, South Koreans, etc. are comfortable living here, and all of them are so happy to come to this place.

I find Vietnamese very open. I think that your religious traditions and your cultural traditions are not closed. Those are the appealing things, but I think the number one word, the keyword is energy in Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City.

What are you most proud of in terms of contributions to the relationship between the two countries?

I think in the end it's all about people and bringing them together. And I think I've been doing that every single day: introducing people to each other as well as connecting my Dutch fellow citizens, companies, culture, and institutions to the Vietnamese partners.

Every time I see something blossoming out of these relations, that's what I feel proud of. Because I see these people are developing a relationship and then working on something together. There are Dutch companies that employ many Vietnamese people here, and Vietnamese investors who are investing in the Netherlands.

The cultural exchanges we've done and the exhibitions we've done are the things I'm proud of. The events I do in my own residence where we bring many different people together and the intermingling which happens in those events can be considered the mixing of energies.

It's mixing Dutch energy with Vietnamese energy and seeing what comes out of it. That's great to see. There are many Vietnamese-Dutch couples, which is what makes me happy to see this connection.

Do you have any heartfelt advice after living and working in Vietnam, or Ho Chi Minh City?

You feel an incredible energy in Vietnam. You feel it even stronger in Ho Chi Minh City. People want to work, want to study, and want to do the best they can to make their lives better.

So you really have that feeling of optimism in Vietnam, which is very attractive. I think it also attracts many Europeans to come. I think maybe the opening of Vietnam started a bit later than other countries, in the 1990s, but it is quickly catching up.

It also means it's quite an exciting phase now because it's that phase where even if you look at the city, as I'm looking out of the window of the Dutch General Consulate, I see this building, which has been built since I first came here, but I also still see the old colonial villa, which is right there.

You see the mix of buildings, some old and some just beginning construction. What I always say to the People's Committee here is that I think it's very important not to completely lose what makes the city itself.

For example, you should not get rid of all your architectural heritage from previous centuries because those are the things that also make it special. Many Asian cities may have glass towers, but not all cities have this old architectural heritage and nature.

I think about the trees of Ho Chi Minh City. I was in the house of my French colleague who lives on Le Duan Street, the French residence. They have trees that are 200 years old. Those trees are like monuments in themselves.

All around are monuments. People grow very attached to buildings and trees. The big towers, of course, it's great when you see The Landmark 81, but when you stand next to that building, it's less nice, and you don't feel the intimacy.

In the Netherlands, in Amsterdam, or in older Dutch cities, we keep the city center. It's not a coincidence that a city like Amsterdam is one of the most visited cities in the world, maybe for many reasons, but one of them is because of that historic city center.

Removing the history from a city like Ho Chi Minh City would strip it of its unique identity, making it less appealing to foreigners. One of the aspects I truly appreciate about Ho Chi Minh City is its rich historical backdrop, which sets it apart from cities like Bangkok, where modern development has somewhat overshadowed its history.

How do you assess the 50-year history of the Vietnam-Netherlands relationship? What are your wishes for the future?

First of all, it's not only 50 years, it's 400-plus years. We, the Dutch, were some of the first traders in the early 17th century. So there's always been contact.

This highlights what we have in common -- a trading nature. We are both important trade nations that depend very much on global trade and on the trade routes that pass through our countries.

In terms of what we produce, agriculture is a main area of similarity. The Netherlands is the second-largest agricultural exporter in the world. Vietnam has had an incredible boom over the past 30 years and wants to position itself at the top of the list.

We have it with the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and we are very happy with it. We, as the Netherlands, will also keep pushing for this connection between our countries because doing business is how you also create understanding and links with each other.

I was also very proud that on the 50th anniversary, we did a bicycle tour in Ho Chi Minh City. People who cycle are often happier. I hope we will see more people switching from polluting motorbikes to electric bikes, and maybe sometimes back to bicycles or even electric bicycles.

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