VIETNAM was Piet Steel's first posting in many years of diplomatic service that he considered a challenge.
Mr Steel is Belgium's new consul-general to Hong Kong. He spent three years in Vietnam and was Belgium's first ambassador there for 12 years when he arrived in Hanoi in 1990.
''My job was to beef up the political and trade relations between Belgium and Vietnam - and liaise for the European Community,'' he said.
''It was the first time I had to be creative as a diplomat.'' After three years in Vietnam Hong Kong is a big change for Mr Steel.
''Everything is in place, everything is at such a sophisticated level,'' he said.
This, and taking over from a successful predecessor, made it difficult to see how he could further the relationship.