Friend of Footprint – Mr. Dutch Smiling Fred

As everyone here at Footprint knows well that Mr. Fred Vorstenbosch, we often call him smiling Fred, who has been twice to Vietnam to support Footprint with tourism skills.

Fred is not as young as other Footprint members but he’s definitely not an old man, he’s always smiling and most important that he’s a very friendly person, this is, not just to Footprint, but to all he met and talked in Vietnam.

He has more than 30 years experience in tourism field, he traveled to so many countries when working and also lots of travel oversea nowadays on his volunteering work.

When he’s not oversea helping other tour operators, he’s at home reading news about tourism, what are happening to inform the fellow tour operators so that they or we can prepare to deal with, like his most recent message that there are even more Dutch making travel despite of the economic crisis.

His first visit to Vietnam was in 2005, I was so surprised to see him working so hard daily to support us, show us all his experience and skill we need to work in tourism, I do not know what brings him with so much energy to work like that but I know for sure that this is his pride in working in tourism and his power to support others like Footprint.

We kept in contact from 2005 till 2009, we got a chance to invite him back again, he showed up at the airport amazingly, strong and enthusiastic about his second visit to Vietnam in this Jan.

We traveled together this time to Mai Chau and Moc Chau where he got to see the mountains (last visit he was in the sea of Halong). He liked very much the mountains and the visit to the Thai people there, he enjoyed eating our hotpot at the longevity party of Huong’s grandfather, he socialized his fun and singing to every body at the party and the locals Huong’s family there enjoyed very much his presence.

Due to the sudden illness, that he had to leave Vietnam sooner than we planed but right after he was back to his home, he showed up on Skype and started talking to us, it was for us like he was still here, not yet boarded the plane.

Author: Footprint Team

Always full of travel spirit and laughter. Our expertises are shown not only through knowledge of the destination but also experience working in the tourism industry for over 15 years.