How to attract talented people to Vietnam?
Resolution No. 57 issued by the Politburo emphasized that the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation is a decisive factor in the development of countries; it is a prerequisite and the best opportunity for our country to develop richly and strongly in the new era.
One of the specific solutions mentioned in Resolution 57 is to develop and make use of high-quality human resources and talents to meet the requirements of science , technology development, innovation and national digital transformation.
The resolution clearly states that it is necessary to issue a special mechanism to attract overseas Vietnamese and highly qualified foreigners to work and live in Vietnam, with special mechanisms on naturalization, home and land ownership, income, and working environment to attract, employ, and retain leading scientists, experts, and "chief engineers".
“How to attract talented people to Vietnam?” is one of the important topics discussed by experts at the ongoing Vietnam Research and Development Forum 2025 (VRDF 2025).
Mr. Truong Gia Binh, Chairman of the Board of Directors ofFPT Corporation, said that to attract talented people, the first important thing is to give them great opportunities to accumulate capacity, develop ideas and contribute to the country.
He cited examples from Vietnamese history that were very typical examples. For example, Professor Tran Dai Nghia returned to Vietnam because he had the opportunity to design a three-pronged bomb to serve the resistance war against the French or Professor Dang Van Ngu successfully produced penicillin antibiotics in the difficult circumstances of the resistance war.
“Those people are successful not only because of their talent, but also because they are given great opportunities to realize their aspirations and knowledge,” Mr. Binh shared. He believes that the young generation now also stands before a historic opportunity to contribute to the Fatherland like the previous generation.
To attract talented people and international experts, Mr. Binh emphasized that the remuneration policy is a key factor. Currently, many countries have applied a flexible financial model, in which the State pays 50% of the income for senior experts, while the rest is taken care of by the enterprise. Mr. Binh suggested that Vietnam should also apply this mechanism.
The key to attracting talent is not only high salaries but also trust, flexible mechanisms and a big vision. “Talented people need space to develop and an ideal to dedicate themselves to. If Vietnam can do that, talented people will come to them,” he emphasized.
Speaking at the discussion session on the afternoon of July 30, Prof. Dr. Vu Hai Quan, Director of Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, said that talent was emphasized from the beginning in the vision of this unit. He gave an example of Vietnam National University implementing a program to attract and retain 350 talents to contribute to the school. This program has attracted about 100 experts.
Prof. Dr. Vu Hai Quan, Director of Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Organizing Committee).
Professor Vu Hai Quan said in the recruitment announcement that the income is about 85 million VND/month from salary, teaching, not including income from research for the professor position.
The Director of Vietnam National University shared 3 important keywords to attract talent including: Autonomy, development and dedication. Accordingly, a scientific research space that ensures these 3 factors in addition to a decent income will create conditions for scientists to develop.
However, he also said that although there is an income mechanism, this unit still does not have enough capacity to build public housing as well as school and medical systems to meet the needs of a young family for talented people returning to work in the country.
What do talented people need when they return home?
At the forum, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dung, Senior Expert on Research and Development of Startup Innovation Ecosystem, National Innovation Center, Ministry of Finance, shared her perspective when having the opportunity to meet many Vietnamese talents around the world. Ms. Dung herself has 10 years of experience working in Silicon Valley and was invited to return to work in the country.
“Young people do not need salaries, housing or benefits from the government. What they need is an innovative ecosystem,” Ms. Dung emphasized.
Experts say this ecosystem consists of many elements, the most important of which is a clear institutional framework for legal innovation in Vietnam. Ms. Dung gave the example of a company from Silicon Valley returning to start a business in Vietnam but had to work with 6 ministries to get a business registration license.
Over the past year, the policy for innovation has been clearly initiated. This expert hopes that the policy will be promoted to be implemented more quickly.
Sharing the same view with Ms. Dung, Dr. Nguyen Ai Viet, Member of the National Advisory Council on Science and Technology Development, Innovation and Digital Transformation; Director of the Institute of Technology and New General Intelligence Education IGNITE, said that in order to attract talented people to return to the country to contribute, there must be an environment for them to live. These experts need an environment to connect and exchange with each other.
Dr. Nguyen Ai Viet (Photo: Organizing Committee).
Dr. Ai Viet himself is also a world-famous physicist and has 23 years of teaching, research, and working in the US and Europe. He is a member of the Think Tank group, VINASA. In 2018, he and a number of experts founded the Aiviet club to connect Vietnamese talents to return to work in the country.
In addition to the connected environment, experts from the National Innovation Center mentioned the important role of infrastructure for innovation to attract talent. According to Ms. Dung, private innovation startups are very strong and not afraid of failure. However, this person believes that minimizing risks and reducing pain for innovators is very important.
Countries around the world have a support system for innovative startups, from mentors, incubators to investment funds. Vietnam is lacking this support system and needs to be built and developed.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/lam-sao-de-thu-hut-nhan-tai-nguoi-viet-tro-ve-cong-hien-cho-dat-nuoc-20250731102724613.htm
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