About us

Marcel (founder)

In February 2017 I decided to leave the Netherlands. To sell my house, car and all my belongings and move out into the world without a plan.
On February 8, 2017, I left Schiphol with only a backpack containing 7 t-shirts, 2 pairs of shorts, a toothbrush and my laptop. I didn't know if I would be back in a month, a year or maybe never. And so far it's the latter.

After wandering around the world for a while, I found my place in Vietnam. I feel completely at home here.
I regularly hear that people are a bit jealous of me and that they would never dare to take such a step. Perhaps fear of the unknown, because yes, many things are different here than in the Netherlands. Different culture, different customs.

Over the years, people have regularly come to Vietnam and I have shown them around Vietnam. Helped with countless big and small things.
Picked up at the airport, accommodation arranged. Helped with a SIM card for the mobile phone to have internet. Shown the way, where you can buy a toothbrush, where they have tasty sandwiches. How to negotiate the price on the market, visit a dentist or doctor if you have problems.

This was a lot of fun to do! So much fun that I decided to tackle this on a larger scale. This resulted in Overwintering in Vietnam. It doesn't necessarily have to be in winter, of course. If you are not bound to the Netherlands, you can come as long as you want. 1 month is fine, but longer is also possible. I have been living in Vietnam for over 5 years now and I am still having a great time. So you've been warned, you might never want to go back.

With the exception of electronic devices such as mobile phones or televisions, life here is 4 to 5 times cheaper than in the Netherlands. You can get a haircut at the hairdresser for 2 euros, a pedicure for 4 euros or an hour-long massage for 6 euros.
You can eat from €1.50 in a normal restaurant to, for example, unlimited meat and seafood for €12.

Apart from the daily costs, it can also be interesting to undergo dental treatments. Think of crowns, implants or veneers. This at rates that are significantly lower than in the Netherlands, but the same quality. We now know the correct addresses. Other medical or cosmetic treatments are also possible.

Given the explosively rising energy costs in the Netherlands, it may well be that it is cheaper with us in Vietnam than if you stay at home in the cold. Turn the heating on at home and turn off the main electricity switch, and with the money you save you can spend plenty of time in Vietnam.
So you save money and you also have plenty of time to see some of Vietnam, taste the culture and get to know the friendly people.

Winter in Vietnam with Dutch-speaking help always at hand. This can be done by wintering in Vietnam. Make an appointment for one now informative conversation or book immediately.

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Jolanda Friend

We are pleased to welcome Jolanda to our team as our contact person in the Netherlands for “Wintering in Vietnam”. Since her first trip to Kenya in 2009, she has become passionate about the beauty of long-distance travel, nature and warm, hospitable cultures. Her adventures eventually led her to a career change, quitting her job in Dutch education to dedicate herself fully to volunteer work in Kenya and Tanzania and setting up her own travel organization, ReisVriend.

Jolanda's extensive experience as a tour guide and her dedication to personal attention and carefully curated travel programs fit perfectly with our mission to offer our guests an unforgettable wintering experience in Vietnam. With her enthusiastic and empathetic approach, Jolanda is ready to answer all your questions and ensure seamless preparation for your stay in Vietnam. Choose an adventure with the help of Jolanda, experience the rich culture of Vietnam, enjoy the hospitality and admire the untouched beauty of this beautiful country.

Phuong

Phuong is a part-time secondary school biology teacher. In addition to her work at school, she also works for Overwintering in Vietnam. She is always cheerful and almost nothing goes too far to please the guests. Her motto: “Money is not important!” Number 1 is that life is all about having a good time. Do what you like. And she does that, because driven by passion she ensures that you don't lack for anything.

Luong

If you want to know something about Vietnam, Luong is your man! Started as an English teacher, but soon left this job because he prefers to be outside rather than inside. He therefore has more than 15 years of experience as a tour guide.
If you want to go on trips in the area or further away, he will arrange that for you and if desired he will also take you, because he is also an excellent driver.

Mister Hai

Mister Hai is one of our regular drivers. Mister Hai's best quality is that he is always cheerful and always sees the humor in everything. He speaks very good English by Vietnamese standards.
In addition to these qualities, he is also a very reliable driver who takes our guests everywhere in a comfortable car.

Sabine

Since 2011, Sabine has embraced life in Vietnam. Although she is not fluent, she speaks enough Vietnamese to handle daily matters. She is known for her expertise in textile crafts and once hosted travelers in her own homestay. In addition to her work in textiles and entertaining visitors, she teaches part-time in English and German and is passionate about baking. She also helps Germans who want to stay in Vietnam for longer periods. Sabine's journey interweaves German efficiency with Vietnamese warmth.

Mien

This is the Vietnamese Mien Dice. Mien cooks the tastiest meals with love and passion. Obviously Vietnamese, but she is also well informed when it comes to Dutch food. She doesn't mind endive stew. And actually it might be even tastier than the Dutch version.
In addition to the meals, she also ensures that everything is spick and span clean. Presumably even Rob Geus could learn from her.

Jenny

As the photo suggests, she has a preference for the English language. That's a good thing because she teaches English part-time every day at a secondary school. She also works for Overwintering in Vietnam. She takes care of many administrative matters, but she also ensures that papers are in order and reservations are made.

Information interview

Although our website offers a lot of information, we understand that you may want personal contact before making your decision. We are always happy to answer your questions or discuss any concerns, whether this is via a telephone or video call.

Simply leave your details and we will contact you as soon as possible to schedule a meeting at a time that suits you.

You can also reach us at any time by email at info@overwintereninvietnam.nl. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you plan your stay in Vietnam.