Two years of pandemic – and what has happened since 

The sunny summer days almost make us forget the past two years, that have been challenging for all of us in many ways. Thus, intercontinental travel was not possible for a long time, and health care in Vietnam in particular made stricter measures necessary. To protect the health of our employees in Ho Chi Minh City, we have therefore always heeded the advice of local authorities and allowed our team to work from home. This was not easy at the beginning – after all, not everyone has access to the necessary infrastructure at home. In addition, new employees were added to the team just a few weeks before the outbreak of the pandemic, which meant that training had to take place mainly remotely. However, with pragmatic solutions, a lot of motivation and flexibility, we coped well and are now a few experiences richer.

After several months of strict lockdown and an amazingly fast vaccination campaign, most of the measures could now be lifted by the end of 2021. The team is pleased to return to the office, which has been somewhat remodeled in the meantime. Now the personal exchange and the joint lunch break may be enjoyed again on site and appreciated even more. Lively discussions, hearty laughter during breaks and after-work activities round off the working atmosphere in addition to the otherwise digital communication and give room for the spirit and passion that we value so much in our work.

 

Feierabendbier mit dem Vietnam-Team

Welcome back to Ho Chi Minh

Travel to Vietnam has been possible again since mid-March, so our Head of Service Center Vietnam, Christian Gehrung, immediately took the opportunity to get an idea of the progress of the projects and the atmosphere in the team on site. Although we were able to bridge the two years thanks to team videotelephony, chat, document collaboration and casual lunch meetings, a handshake, a personal conversation and joint activities are still  extremely helpful in understanding and developing the team dynamic. And Ho Chin Minh City? The city itself has definitely changed a bit in the two years. You can already see tourists again, but it feels quieter, many stores and cafés have moved or closed, some newly opened. And yet, you can still see the brisk construction activity of the emerging city, which clearly underlines its status as the economic center of the country.

Christian says: “It was a great pleasure to be able to greet the team in person again and to show them the well-deserved appreciation. The joint work on projects was very enriching, especially because some members joined us for the first time. On site, you can literally feel the motivation and passion for our services. The collaboration within the team is friendly and cooperative, and the input they give me is very valuable for the quality and further development of our modern solutions.”

In addition to some pending issues and exciting projects, there was of course also a lively exchange at the coffee corner and the joint dinners. We are looking forward to continuing working successfully with the Vietnam team and to give the best for our customers – with a lot of passion and joy.

 

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