Overseas intellectuals – Vietnam's strategic resource in the new era
WVR - After more than 20 years of implementation, Resolution 36-NQ/TW on work related to overseas Vietnamese (NVNONN) has brought about fundamental changes. The achievements have contributed to ushering Vietnam into a new development phase with higher demands and aspirations.
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| General Secretary To Lam meets with a delegation of prominent overseas Vietnamese attending the 4th Global NVNONN Conference and the 2024 Forum of Vietnamese Intellectuals and Experts Abroad. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
To create a foundation and driving force for development in the coming period, the Politburo has issued several strategic resolutions, serving as institutional pillars for the new era of development.
Among them, Resolution 57-NQ/TW is groundbreaking in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, identifying these as the main drivers of the country's industrialization and modernization in the new era. It also emphasizes the task of attracting, utilizing, and promoting the team of NVNONN experts and scientists.
A particularly important resource
Historical reality shows that in difficult and pivotal moments of the country, the team of NVNONN intellectuals and experts has always been a particularly important resource.
From the time of resistance and the initial foundation-building of the State, many overseas intellectuals returned to lay the groundwork for the country's science, technology, healthcare, and defense. Notable figures include Professor Tran Dai Nghia, who laid the foundation for Vietnam's defense industry, and Lương Định Của, a prominent agricultural scientist who contributed to increasing productivity and ensuring food security under extremely challenging conditions.
During the period of blockade and embargo, many Vietnamese intellectuals and entrepreneurs abroad continued to return, bringing with them scientific thinking, modern management, and international experience. They helped unlock development resources, laying the groundwork for subsequent renewal and deep integration.
Currently, the NVNONN community numbers nearly 6.5 million people, living in over 130 countries and territories, deeply integrated and asserting their position in host countries. In line with the general development trend of the overseas Vietnamese community, the number of overseas intellectuals continues to grow in both quality and quantity, achieving success and establishing international reputation in various fields, including science, technology, and innovation.
According to incomplete statistics, the number of experts and intellectuals (with university degrees or higher) accounts for about 10-15% of the NVNONN community (equivalent to 650,000 people). The associations and networks of Vietnamese experts and intellectuals abroad are increasingly developing (currently, there are 10 innovation networks in countries with 2,000 experts, and over 30 associations of Vietnamese experts and intellectuals abroad).
With their knowledge, international experience, and extensive networks, NVNONN has become a bridge bringing advanced technology, knowledge, and management methods to Vietnam.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of ministries and sectors pose with overseas Vietnamese at the 4th Global NVNONN Conference and the 2024 Forum of Vietnamese Intellectuals and Experts Abroad. (Photo: Tuấn Anh) |
From this reality, many overseas Vietnamese have returned or connected remotely to contribute to the country. Notable examples include Jonathan Hạnh Nguyễn, who plays a pioneering role in international trade and service connections, and Pham Nhat Vuong, who is building high-tech industrial complexes, gradually integrating Vietnam deeper into the global value chain.
Additionally, annually, about 300-400 overseas Vietnamese return to participate in teaching, research, and technology transfer in various fields, including strategic and cutting-edge technology sectors.
Many have directly participated in national key projects, contributing to enhancing Vietnam's intellectual capacity and position on the international stage. Through programs and conferences organized by the State Committee for NVNONN, overseas intellectuals have actively offered advice on the country's development issues.
In the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and increasingly fierce global competition, the strategic role of overseas intellectual, scientific, and technological resources is becoming more evident. Vietnamese intellectuals abroad have access to advanced research centers, innovation ecosystems, expert networks, and global capital that were previously unavailable domestically.
The community of Vietnamese experts and scientists abroad is present in many scientific and technological fields, from basic science to applied engineering. They not only possess high academic qualifications but also hold important positions in the international scientific community, from professors and research group leaders to senior management in technology corporations.
The special advantage of the overseas intellectual team lies in their high professional qualifications and extensive experience in the international environment, including two main groups: first, Vietnamese intellectuals trained domestically who then study and work abroad at leading science and technology centers, achieving success; second, the young generation of Vietnamese intellectuals born and raised abroad, benefiting from advanced education.
The networks and connections of overseas Vietnamese experts and intellectuals have been actively cooperating and supporting domestically. Notably, these intellectual groups mainly consist of individuals aged 25-40, representing the second and third generations of overseas Vietnamese or students who stayed abroad to live and work. This shows that the sentiment towards the homeland is not only present in generations born in Vietnam but also in young overseas Vietnamese born and raised abroad, who are eager to contribute to their homeland.
Many Vietnamese have left developed countries with high salaries to participate in teaching and research domestically. When properly stimulated and directed, the intellectual, scientific, and technological resources of overseas Vietnamese not only help shorten the development gap but also become a strategic advantage for Vietnam to enhance its competitiveness and actively participate in the global race in the new era.
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| The overseas Vietnamese bloc participates in a parade at the 80th National Day celebration, September 2025. (Source: VNA) |
Barriers to overcome
In meetings and interactions with senior leaders during visits to countries or at domestic conferences and seminars, overseas Vietnamese express great excitement about the country's strong transformations, especially appreciating the issuance of major policies on national development, amended laws on identity, land, housing, nationality, science, technology, and innovation...
They wish to accompany and synchronize with the nation's heartbeat and hope for continued opportunities to contribute more in the era of national awakening.
However, overseas Vietnamese, especially experts and intellectuals, also express concerns when returning to the country, including issues such as administrative procedures, legal frameworks, remuneration, working conditions, family support, and lack of specific information...
In recent times, efforts to attract overseas intellectuals have achieved some initial results but have not created breakthroughs and have not matched the vast potential of overseas Vietnamese.
Major barriers still exist, such as cumbersome administrative procedures, uncompetitive salary regimes, lack of autonomy in research environments, limited utilization mechanisms, and inadequacies in infrastructure, investment capital, and intellectual property protection.
Apart from a few individuals who have returned for many years, most return to teach, attend conferences, or participate in bilateral programs and projects for a certain period. As a result, overseas intellectuals have not been able to "take root," connect with domestic colleagues, and fully utilize their strengths.
Creating breakthroughs to unblock
With the consistent view that NVNONN is an inseparable part and an important resource of the country, the Party and State always care for and improve policies to support overseas Vietnamese in securing a stable legal status, integrating into host societies, while encouraging and facilitating their contributions to the cause of national construction and defense.
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Recognizing the potential contributions of the team of Vietnamese experts and intellectuals abroad, especially their important role in successfully implementing the Party's policies and resolutions and as a crucial resource for the country's development, the Party and State have continuously issued and improved policies to attract and utilize overseas intellectuals.
Resolution No. 57 on the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation has created a strong institutional push, opening up space and mechanisms for overseas intellectuals to maximize their potential.
The amended Law on Nationality has relaxed conditions for re-acquiring Vietnamese nationality while retaining foreign nationality for overseas Vietnamese. The newly issued Law on Science, Technology, and Innovation also paves the way for the participation of NVNONN scientists and experts in the fields of science, technology, and innovation.
Implementing Resolution 57, a series of decrees and strategies have been issued, proposing specific mechanisms and policies to attract and utilize NVNONN experts and scientists to work in Vietnam, such as Government Decree 231 dated August 26, 2025, on selecting and utilizing Chief Engineers and Chief Architects in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation; Government Decree 249 dated September 19, 2025, on mechanisms and policies to attract experts in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation... These efforts contribute to creating a transparent, modern, and attractive scientific and technological ecosystem for overseas Vietnamese intellectuals and experts to participate in realizing the country's development goals in the new era.
Vietnam is facing a significant opportunity to develop science and technology as the overseas Vietnamese intellectual community grows in number, with high qualifications and a desire to contribute to their homeland.
To further leverage the intellectual, scientific, and technological resources of overseas Vietnamese, the State Committee for NVNONN, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, identifies the task of attracting Vietnamese experts and intellectuals abroad to serve the country's socio-economic development goals in the new phase as a key task in work related to overseas Vietnamese. It also proposes prioritizing the implementation of several solutions:
First, removing bottlenecks in mechanisms, policies, and implementation, especially the realization of the legal system in practice to create a favorable environment for experts and scientists to contribute with peace of mind.
Second, building a synchronized connection ecosystem between enterprises, institutes, schools, and management agencies, linked with flexible and independent financial mechanisms according to international practices.
Third, clearly defining the leading role of ministries and sectors in professional management and in connecting overseas Vietnamese, promoting cooperation in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
Fourth, enhancing autonomy for localities and research and training institutions is a key solution to ensure that the attraction of experts is closely linked to the practical needs of each locality, thereby creating sustainable motivation for leveraging overseas Vietnamese intellectual resources.
It can be affirmed that the team of NVNONN experts and intellectuals is a particularly important resource for realizing the aspiration to build a strong and prosperous Vietnam.
In the spirit of Resolution 36-NQ/TW on strengthening national unity and leveraging overseas Vietnamese resources, the synchronized and timely implementation of solutions to connect and effectively exploit this resource will help transform the knowledge of overseas Vietnamese into a strategic driving force, thereby effectively implementing Resolution 57-NQ/TW and creating momentum for the country's breakthrough in the era of science and technology...
