Vietnam shifts strategy to harness overseas Vietnamese as development partners

Vietnam's government has signaled a strategic pivot in how it engages with its diaspora, transitioning from a model focused on welfare and cultural preservation toward active partnership in national development initiatives. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang outlined the new approach during discussions at the Fifth World Conference of Overseas Vietnamese, describing it as a fundamental reorientation mandated by Party Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW.

Under the revised framework, Vietnam's 6.5 million overseas citizens are increasingly recognized as a strategic resource capable of contributing capital, expertise, and international networks to support the country's economic and social goals. Rather than treating the diaspora primarily as recipients of government support and cultural outreach, policymakers now envision mechanisms for deeper collaboration that mobilize overseas Vietnamese resources toward shared development objectives.

Successful implementation of this strategy hinges on sweeping administrative and institutional changes, Hang emphasized. The government must streamline policies governing foreign investment and business operations, accelerate digital transformation to facilitate remote engagement, and establish a more conducive environment for long-term cooperation with diaspora members and their enterprises.

The reframing reflects Vietnam's broader recognition that diaspora communities represent untapped potential for advancing national interests. Overseas Vietnamese have already demonstrated contributions in specialized sectors, from technical expertise and academic collaboration in Germany to educational initiatives serving Vietnamese teachers abroad. Policymakers are now working to formalize and expand these contributions through targeted programs and improved regulatory frameworks.