At Milient, we pride ourselves on fostering a global community of professionals who bring diverse perspectives and experiences to our projects. This month, we were thrilled to welcome three of our talented colleagues from our Hanoi office—Ngoc, Thai, and Thang—who have made the journey to our Oslo office. Their visit has not only strengthened our cross-border collaboration but also offered valuable insights into their professional journeys, experiences at Milient, and impressions of Norway.
Ngoc, Johan, Thai, Thang and Leon from the technology department at Milient
Meet the Hanoi Team: Ngoc, Thai and Thang.
Thang, a software developer with seven years of backend experience, has been with Milient for a while, following a successful stint in the Fintech sector. When he's not coding, Thang enjoys immersing himself in mobile games, particularly "Art of War."
Thai brings nine years of IT industry experience to the table. Milient is his first product company, having previously worked in tech development for services. He expresses great enthusiasm about being part of the Milient family. Although Thai loves to travel, his two young daughters—aged three and one—now keep him busy at home, where he also enjoys reading.
Ngoc has also been in the software development field for nine years, with the last two spent as a Team Lead before joining Milient. His previous roles span across the Fintech and healthcare industries. Like Thang, Ngoc is an avid mobile gamer, with "Edge of Pride" being his game of choice. He is also a father to two daughters, aged five and one.
Joining Milient: A New Adventure
All three say that they wanted to try something new and exciting, and that working for a European company was something they were looking forward to. Scandinavian Software Park (external link) gave them this opportunity. Traveling to Europe and experiencing a different work culture was also a great motivation.
They really appreciate being able to work with a good work-life balance. All three say they enjoy solving challenges and developing new features based on customer feedback.
Although there is a time difference between Oslo and Hanoi, the 4-5 hour overlap in the working day makes it easy to stay in touch and collaborate. Thai also mentioned that he now has the fastest laptop he's ever had!
The Differences Between Oslo and Hanoi
Their visit to Oslo has been a refreshing change of pace. Thai remarked on the fresh air, quieter streets, and the pleasant August weather. Ngoc was struck by the old architectural style, noting how different it is from the tall buildings of Vietnam. Thang appreciated the calm traffic and fewer crowds, but they all agreed on one thing—"Oslo is crazy expensive." They joked that with the same amount of money in Hanoi, they could live like millionaires.
One cultural difference that Ngoc found particularly interesting was the absence of a post-lunch nap in Norway. In Vietnam, it's common for people to take a short nap after lunch, complete with a mat, blanket, and pillow. Ngoc was curious to see how he would adapt to the Norwegian workday without this break. To his surprise, he has managed well, especially with the help of coffee.
Building Stronger Connections
During their visit, our Hanoi colleagues have had the opportunity to meet with various team members, deepening their understanding of our systems and processes. They have found the Oslo team to be open, friendly, and always willing to help. This personal interaction will undoubtedly make future collaboration easier, as they now have faces and relationships to connect with when they return to Hanoi.
Looking ahead, they expressed a hope that Milient will expand to new locations, such as the USA or Australia, so they can continue to explore new cultures and build even stronger global connections.
Their visit has been a testament to the power of cross-cultural collaboration and the shared commitment to excellence that defines Milient. We look forward to many more such exchanges and to continuing to grow together as one global team.
