The journey of great national unity: Imprints of overseas Vietnamese in the new era
WVR - Over 80 years of development, Vietnamese diplomacy has always adhered to the teachings of President Ho Chi Minh, an exceptional diplomat and the first Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, on great national unity. Efforts have been made to connect Vietnamese people at home and abroad, jointly creating resources to protect and build the nation in the new era.
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Great unity – the source of national strength
During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh constantly emphasized the role, mission, and strength of great national unity: “We unite to fight for the independence and unity of our Fatherland; we must also unite to build our country. Whoever has talent, virtue, strength, and a heart to serve the Fatherland and the people, we unite with them”.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang. |
Right after independence was gained, Uncle Ho sent many letters and telegrams to overseas Vietnamese, announcing national independence, expressing gratitude for their congratulations and contributions, and calling on them to uphold the patriotic tradition, support one another, and make the voice of the Fatherland heard in the civilized world.
In early 1946, in a New Year letter to overseas compatriots, he highly valued their love for the Fatherland, affirming: “The Fatherland and the Government always remember our compatriots, like parents missing their children far from home. That is the heart of humanity, the love of one family”.
This thought was not only a sacred sentiment for compatriots far from home, but also became the foundation of the policy of great national unity throughout the 80 years of Vietnam’s diplomacy.
From Uncle Ho’s teachings to consistent policies
During the resistance wars against the French and the Americans, in response to President Ho Chi Minh’s call for national resistance, people at home upheld the spirit of “sacrifice everything rather than lose the country”, while overseas Vietnamese, in whatever circumstance, turned toward the Fatherland, mobilizing international support for Vietnam’s just cause.
Entering the renewal (Doi Moi) period, policies concerning overseas Vietnamese were institutionalized and became an important part of the Party and State’s strategic documents.
On November 29, 1993, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW on mobilizing overseas Vietnamese. For the first time, the view that “overseas Vietnamese are an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation” was affirmed in a Party document, serving as the basis for the Government to issue Decrees No. 74-CP (July 30, 1994) and No. 77/CP (November 6, 1995) on the functions, tasks, and organization of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, placing it under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Since then, overseas Vietnamese affairs have become one of the four pillars of diplomacy (alongside political diplomacy, economic diplomacy for development, and cultural diplomacy).
In 2004, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs proposed and drafted Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW of the Politburo on overseas Vietnamese work.
This was a historic and comprehensive document, reflecting the Party’s renewed thinking, widely disseminated at home, among overseas communities, and to all countries. It was concretized into laws and policies, including the highest legal document — the 2013 Constitution.
On May 19, 2015, the Politburo issued Directive No. 45-CT/TW to continue implementing Resolution No. 36 in the new situation, affirming the tradition of national great unity and the connection between people inside and outside the country.
On August 12, 2021, the Politburo issued Conclusion No. 12-KL/TW to further strengthen the implementation of Resolution 36 and Directive 45, raising awareness of the role of overseas Vietnamese communities in national unity and mobilizing overall strength for the aspiration of building a prosperous and happy Vietnam.
It can be said that throughout the past 80 years, from Uncle Ho’s teachings to the Party’s resolutions and directives, policies toward overseas Vietnamese have always been consistent and increasingly refined, suitable to each stage of national development.
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| The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs was honoured at the "Glory of Vietnam 2025" program. |
Remarkable Highlights
The development and contributions of the overseas Vietnamese community over the past 80 years, with remarkable highlights, are vivid evidence of the consistent and comprehensive policy of great national unity by our Party and State.
Firmly consolidating the National Unity Bloc
Awareness of the role and importance of overseas Vietnamese in the great national unity bloc is increasingly enhanced. Work with overseas Vietnamese not only receives attention from leaders at all levels but also attracts strong participation from various committees, ministries, sectors, and localities.
Directives from the Party and Government emphasize the role, position, and importance of overseas Vietnamese in the great national unity bloc; consistently affirming the spirit that “overseas Vietnamese are an inseparable part and a resource of the Vietnamese nation, an important factor contributing to strengthening cooperative and friendly relations between our country and other countries”.
It can be affirmed that since the founding of the Party and the country, the revolutionary cause has always received strong support and valuable contributions from overseas compatriots. Many intellectuals and entrepreneurs answered the call of Fatherland and Uncle Ho, dedicating their talents and resources to the struggle and national development.
In the early renewal years, material and intellectual contributions from overseas Vietnamese helped the nation overcome hardships.
In the 1950s–1960s, fundraising movements such as “For Beloved South Vietnam” spread among communities in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, France, and the Soviet Union. Small as they were, those boxes of medicine and parcels embodied immense love for the Fatherland, adding strength to the rear in the resistance war.
In the Doi Moi period, humanitarian contributions became larger and more systematic. Whenever Vietnam faced natural disasters or epidemics, overseas Vietnamese mobilized donations worth billions VND and necessities.
A meaningful initiative was the program “For Beloved Truong Sa – For the Fatherland’s Frontline”, with broad overseas participation. Tens of billions were donated to build cultural centers, schools, and clinics on Truong Sa islands.
To date, the overseas Vietnamese community has grown in both size and geographic reach, with more than 6 million people in over 130 countries and territories; the community’s legal status, economic conditions, role, standing, and reputation in host societies have been increasingly enhanced.
Our compatriots abroad are cohesive and united, and ever more closely connected to the homeland. Vietnamese associations overseas have been established, consolidated, and developed, helping to strengthen solidarity within the community; preserve and spread cultural identity and national traditions; serve as bridges of friendship between Vietnam and other countries; and play a core role in organizing many activities oriented toward the Fatherland.
Economic contributions – trust and attachment to the homeland
After national reunification, remittances from overseas Vietnamese became a vital resource for families in Vietnam. Since the 1990s, with the acceleration of reform and integration, remittances steadily increased, contributing significantly to socio-economic development.
The overseas Vietnamese business community has also increasingly affirmed its role in the development of external economic relations. Vietnamese business associations abroad have become bridges for trade and investment promotion, contributing to the branding and promotion of Vietnamese goods in international markets.
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| Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang with delegates at the opening of the Vietnam Summer Camp 2025. |
Domestically, to date, overseas Vietnamese from 35 countries and territories have invested in 421 projects across provinces and cities nationwide, with a total registered capital of 1.72 billion USD.
In the 2021-2024 period alone, there have been 59 investment projects with a total registered capital of 118.38 million USD, an increase of 21% in the number of projects and 75% in registered capital compared to the 2018-2020 period.
Additionally, there are indirect investment sources from overseas Vietnamese back home. The investment and business activities of overseas Vietnamese have contributed to socio-economic promotion, creating more jobs, and addressing social welfare issues.
Overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs have become important bridges, bringing Vietnamese agricultural products such as rice, coffee, and fruits into distribution systems in supermarkets of various countries; regularly organizing trade fairs and seminars to connect, bringing many supporting industrial products and services from Vietnam into global supply chains.
Notably, many overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs not only enrich themselves but also return to invest in their homeland. Some large projects in real estate, tourism, and renewable energy in Phu Quoc, Binh Thuan, Quang Ninh… have the capital contribution of overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs from the US, Australia, Singapore…, demonstrating the trust and responsibility of the expatriate business community towards the country's development.
Connecting global knowledge and innovation
Besides financial resources, the overseas Vietnamese community also possesses an invaluable asset, which is knowledge. Currently, there are about 600,000 Vietnamese intellectuals and experts abroad, many working in leading research institutes, universities, and corporations worldwide.
In recent years, the Ministry of Planning and Investment has coordinated with the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs to establish the Vietnam Innovation Network.
Since 2018, this network has gathered global Vietnamese intellectuals, experts, and young scientists, connecting with domestic agencies to implement projects on artificial intelligence, big data, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy…
Notable projects on artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation, establishing research centers in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City… have the participation of overseas Vietnamese.
People-to-people diplomacy – bridges of friendship
From the resistance era, Vietnamese associations in France, the US, the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe… organized many anti-war movements, lobbying politicians, and international intellectuals to support Vietnam.
Protests against the war, petitions sent to the United Nations, and parliaments of countries created significant effects, helping international public opinion better understand the just struggle of the Vietnamese people.
In the current period, people-to-people diplomacy through our compatriots abroad continues to be strongly promoted. Vietnamese associations abroad regularly coordinate with our representative agencies abroad to organize “Vietnam Culture Days”, “Vietnam Cuisine Weeks”, “Vietnam Ao Dai Festivals”...
These activities not only maintain love for the homeland among the younger generation but also contribute to enhancing Vietnam's position and image in the eyes of international friends. With their increasingly elevated position, role, and influence in the host society, overseas Vietnamese become bridges, acting as direct ambassadors promoting culture, cuisine, tourism, and the country and people of Vietnam worldwide.
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| Delegates attending the 4th Global Overseas Vietnamese Conference in August 2024 in Hanoi. |
Stepping into a New Era
Entering a new era, the era of prosperity for the nation, Vietnamese people at home and abroad are the connecting threads in the great national unity bloc.
The nation's strength comes not only from traditional values but also from the intelligence, creativity, and aspiration to rise of every Vietnamese individual.
It is the patriotism, love for the country, the attachment, and the responsibility of each of us that will be the decisive resource for Vietnam to rise, integrate, and sustainably prosper.
