Oldenburg series: A penchant for unusual sneakers

Oldenburg Duc Vuong deals with China professionally, privately he collects sneakers. He has meanwhile collected more than 60 pairs of the fashionable sports shoes. The 23-year-old works in the China office of the city of Oldenburg.

"Even if I don't look like it, I'm from North Germany," says Vuong. His parents left Vietnam to work in what was then East Germany. After reunification they moved from Rostock to Jaderberg. "I grew up in the countryside there," says Vuong. He has only visited his parents' home country four times, the last time being six years ago.

After graduating from high school, he studied public administration in Osnabrück and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. He wrote his bachelor thesis on what Chinese investors expect from municipal economic development. That's how he came to the China office in Oldenburg. There he is responsible for communication with companies in German and English, he prepares large events with guests from China and visits by delegations.

In April last year, when he was still writing his bachelor thesis, Vuong began working in the China office and has been employed since October. Even before that, he had completed an internship there for six months during his dual studies.

Vuong doesn't speak Chinese yet, but it's one of his plans for the future. This also includes catching up on a master's degree. His goal is higher service in administration, says Vuong.

Why did he look for work in Oldenburg and not in another city? "Apart from Hamburg, Oldenburg is the most beautiful city in northern Germany," says Vuong. "And definitely better than Osnabrück," he recalls when he was a student there.

Vuong's favorite hobby accompanies him to work: he always has several pairs of shoes next to his desk. He has more than 60 pairs of sports shoes called sneakers at home. They now take up the space of two closets. That means he has significantly more shoes than his girlfriend – Vuong estimates that she only has eight pairs.

Vuong doesn't see himself as a real collector yet. More than 200 pairs of sneakers are the norm in this group. He finds out about the latest trends via social networks on the Internet and also travels to trade fairs for shoe collectors. “They are more frequented than an outsider can imagine,” says Vuong. And they are much more common.

Collectors put up to 5,000 euros on the table for the right shoes. These are then special, limited models that are designed by certain designers and worn by celebrities, says Vuong. The most expensive pair he owns are the Nike Air Max 1 Urawa Dragon. “These should now be worth 400 to 500 euros,” says Vuong.

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Be second hobby is cooking. "I like to prepare curries - but they are really spicy," he says and laughs. When he visits his parents in Jaderberg, he is also happy when his mother cooks him the traditional Vietnamese soup Pho.

A special at ww.nwzonline.de/oldenburg-integration