Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City's Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen, Chairwoman of the People's Council Nguyen Thi Le, and overseas Vietnamese at a meeting to welcome the New Year on Jan 7, 2023. (Photo: Viet Dung/sggp.org.vn)

Upholding the tradition of patriotism and the strength of national unity, overseas Vietnamese people have accompanied their homeland in all historical periods, helping to carry Vietnam through all difficulties to stronger development.

Overseas Vietnamese contribute to all sectors

The overseas Vietnamese community is an important source of the knowledge and experience necessary to national development. Every year some 500 overseas Vietnamese intellectuals return home from more developed countries to participate in policy making and consultancy for the government in new development fields.

Overseas remittance is important source of capital for national economic development. Overseas Vietnamese have invested in thousands of projects that have generated jobs and contributed billions of dollars to socio-economic development. Overseas Vietnamese businesspeople have participated in trade promotion, investment connection, and brand marketing for Vietnamese goods worldwide, especially Vietnamese export of staples like garments, footwear, agricultural products, food, and handicrafts.

Dr. Hoang Manh Hue, President of the Union of Vietnamese Business Associations in Europe, said: “The overseas Vietnamese community in Europe owns trade centers, and some businesses have established supply chains to connect Vietnamese goods to global supply chains.”

Overseas Vietnamese contribute to Vietnam's global integration and mobilize international resources for national construction and development. They have actively participated in humanitarian activities to fight epidemics and help the victims of natural disasters and poor people living in remote island or border areas. The contributions of overseas Vietnamese benefit national development in every sector and demonstrate their love for and pride in Vietnam.

Directing overseas resources toward national development

In the past 20 years overseas Vietnamese have increased their numbers and spread to more countries. From 2.7 million people in 2003, there are now more than 5.3 million Vietnamese studying or working in 130 countries and territories. More than 80% are in developed countries. There has been a steady increase in the number of overseas Vietnamese students, contract workers, and Vietnamese marrying foreigners. The legal status, social status, and economic conditions of overseas Vietnamese have improved.

The Vietnamese Party and State insist that the overseas Vietnamese community is an integral part of the Vietnamese nation. Overseas Vietnamese affairs and solidarity have consistently been a priority of the Party and State.

The 13^th National Party Congress emphasized that great national unity entails helping OVs obtain a firm legal basis for living, developing their economy, and integrating into their host country, and protecting and managing overseas workers and students.

Vietnam has encouraged overseas Vietnamese to preserve their language and cultural identity, kept them informed of developments in Vietnam, and helped them act in ways that contribute to national construction and defense.

Ngo Trinh Ha, Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “We coordinate with ministries and sectors to attract overseas human resources for national development, and improve regulations on immigration and business investment for overseas Vietnamese. Conferences, seminars, and forums have been held for them to contribute ideas to national issues and connect with localities in Vietnam.”

Patriotism and national pride will spur overseas Vietnamese to advance side by side with compatriots at home to build a prosperous and prestigious Vietnam that can take its place among the world powers.