Foreign NGOs Drive Development Across Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is capitalizing on people-to-people diplomacy to advance development priorities across multiple sectors. The municipality currently hosts 117 licensed foreign non-governmental organizations working in healthcare, education, social protection and community development programs.

As of September 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee had approved 30 applications for foreign aid projects and programmes, mobilizing approximately 302 billion Vietnamese dong (11.6 million US dollars) in committed funding. The approved initiatives reflect growing international support for the city's development agenda.

The expansion of foreign NGO operations demonstrates Ho Chi Minh City's openness to international collaboration on pressing social and economic challenges. These partnerships complement domestic efforts to improve service delivery and living standards across the sprawling metropolitan area.

The city's approach aligns with Vietnam's broader strategy of deepening people-to-people exchanges with international partners. Educational programmes, healthcare initiatives and social protection schemes benefit from technical expertise and financial resources contributed through the NGO partnerships.