Frankie Ang was General Sales Manager, North Vietnam for Asia Pacific Breweries Vietnam from 2004 to 2006. He has moved back to Singapore since 2006 and has started his own food and beverage business in Singapore. We chat with Frankie on his experiences living in Hanoi.

   How long did you live in Hanoi?
   I spent 4 years in Ho Chi Min City from 1991-1995. In 2004, I moved to Hanoi and lived here for about 20 months.

   Why did you move to Hanoi?
   I came to Hanoi due to work commitments and was posted here in 2004 by Asia Pacific Breweries.

   What was the biggest challenge when you moved to Hanoi? How did you overcome it?
   Being away from my family and missing them. My wife and I decided that it was better for my kids to stay back as they had just started primary school. I would fly back to Singapore during the school holidays taking advantage of cheaper air tickets by Tiger Airways. I also stayed in touch using Yahoo! Messenger over the weekends.

   What do you like about living in Hanoi?
   I enjoyed the challenges that came with my new job. For one, the size of the Vietnamese market was huge. I managed a sales team of over 150 people and my distributors where more than 70. Customer meetings sometimes required a drive of more than 8 hours to Sapa. Very different from everyday commuting in Singapore.

   What do you miss most about Hanoi now that you are back in Singapore?
  Definitely my friends in Hanoi. For most of the guys, our families are back in Singapore. We usually hang out after work and provided much needed support and companionship.

   What were the things that bothered/worried you in Hanoi?
  I am quite used to living in a foreign country as Hanoi was my fourth posting. Apart from missing my family, I didn’t really feel worried or lost in Hanoi.

   Do you have a favourite spot/pastime in Hanoi?
  I love cooking. I look forward to weekends when I prepare some home-cooked dishes and invite friends over. I also enjoyed playing golf with my friends whenever time permits.

   What are the “must-sees” and “must-dos” in Hanoi?
  Don’t miss taking a cruise in Halong Bay. The scenery is breathtaking. It is also very relaxing as you get to take in fresh air and escape the hustle and bustle of Hanoi city.

   What advice would you give to Singaporeans relocating to Hanoi?
  I suggest that they join the SBAV and stay in contact with Singaporeans. It is important to have friends when you have living overseas. I was an active SBAV member.

   How different was life in Hanoi compared to Singapore?
  Don’t be misled by the busy traffic on the roads. In general, the pace is slower and people here definitely take family time quite seriously. The good thing is, unlike Singapore, not everything is “due yesterday”. On the other hand, people not taking deadlines seriously can sometimes be a big letdown.

   What did you do to adjust to differences in work culture?
  It is important that I approach my work with passion as an example to my local staff. I also keep myself on my toes by maintaining high work standards no matter where I am based.

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