Meet Chi, Geotechnical Team Leader of Maritime Vietnam

From a lecturer to a geotechnical expert in Vietnam

“I used to be a lecturer at the Water Resources University, specializing in Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. An university scholarship to pursue my Master's degree in the Netherlands in 2006 marked the beginning of my journey towards profound research. Throughout my journey of over 10 years of designing and conducting experimental and computational modelling at Delft University of Technology, Deltares, The University of Adelaide and Monash University, I found the geotechnical field everlasting enchanting to dig into due to the complicated behaviors of non-man-made materials and the uncertainties naturally exist in the interaction of soil-water-structure. Up until now or even in the next 10 years, geotechnic has been one of my greatest enthusiasm and I will continue to pursue it.”

“2017 marked an important milestone when I returned to Vietnam to visit my family and contemplate what to do next. Ultimately, I chose my motherland as the place to settle down and pursue long-term development. I aspire to see the world through the eyes of an engineer and to become someone who applies academic knowledge to solve practical challenges. In 2023, I also proudly became a member of the executive committee of the Vietnamese Society for Soil Mechanics & Geotechnical Engineering (VSSMGE).”

Fascinating soil-water-structure geotechnical projects

“Complex projects that stimulate me are the ones I remember the most. Among them, the Porto Romano project stands out as an impressive endeavor. This pivotal port development in the Balkan region faced numerous geotechnical risks. The project site is located in the high seismic activity zone of small to medium earthquakes with a fault line crossing the project area. Also, the geological condition is characterized by the coastal low-lying former marsh land which were reclaimed with loose to medium dense silty/sandy soils between 1962 and 1967. Apparent geotechnical challenges are the liquefaction potential of the higher layers (the top 10-20 meters), the deep slip failure mode of the deeper clayey layers (from the deep of 20 to 30 meters) and excessive movement of the quay wall structure.”

“To tackle this project, an international team, including professionals from various countries, collaborated closely to employ state-of-the-art analyses such as full dynamic analysis using original ground motion signals with appropriated scaling factors, intensive liquefaction potential assessments and drainage analysis of the stone column. Despite the time zone differences, this collaboration significantly enhanced the capabilities of our Vietnamese team, enabling us to pursue similar large-scale projects in the future.”

Important personal values to keep learning

“Hungry to learn is a principle I hold dear, both in academia and industry. I constantly explore new fields and strive to enhance myself, developing optimised computational methods to meet the growing complexity of geotechnical projects. My primary methods include studying previous company projects, reading scientific articles, attending conferences, and keeping an eye on competitor activities.”

“Willing to share encompasses two values for me. Firstly, internal sharing among colleagues through direct communications or knowledge sharing sessions fosters mutual support and learning. Secondly, external sharing through conference papers, articles and papers in local geotechnical communities’ bulletins and workshops allows for knowledge exchange with other companies and it also promotes our presence in the industry.”

Why I chose Royal HaskoningDHV

“Normally, when people have been doing something for 10 years, they tend to continue on the same path. However, I am drawn to new things and desire to do something I have never done before. I chose Royal HaskoningDHV because it is one of the best companies in The Netherlands working on the maritime fields with rigorous expertise, a huge library of successful projects all over the world and a true Dutch spirit. The last point is what I love the most, this beautiful country lives harmonically with nature of marshland areas, problematic soils, high water levels, strong sea storms with high tides by innovative yet sustainable hydraulic/geotechnical structures; nature-based solutions and climate change adaptation are more and more promoted.”

“Maritime Vietnam as Global Delivery Center for maritime projects of Royal HaskoningDHV is a great place to work to form a future of resilience and sustainability. We certainly can achieve this because of a broad range of local experts and international specialists, all for one and only mission: Enhancing society together!”