Overseas Vietnamese Community

The overseas Vietnamese form an integral part of the Vietnamese community. For a long time, due to a variety of reasons, the Vietnamese people have had to go abroad to earn a living. Vietnamese communities have been established and fine national traditions are preserved in many places. The Vietnamese people have integrated well into the societies of the host countries.

The number of Vietnamese residents overseas is about 4.0 million. They reside, work and study in 101 countries and territories; over 80% of them live in developed countries. In today’s trend of integration, more and more Vietnamese people go abroad to work, study and be reunited with their families. That results in new Vietnamese communities in different regions.

The Vietnamese nation has upheld fine traditions, which have been handed down for millennia. These traditions constitute a source of strength for the country. No matter where they live and work, the Vietnamese people are always mindful of their origin and nation, as well as their traditional cultural values.

The overseas Vietnamese community has made great contribution to national liberation for independence and unification. They boast great scientific and economic potentials as well as technical and managerial expertise. They have relations with international enterprises and organizations and are able to look for new partners and can serve as a bridge with enterprises and organizations inside Viet Nam. There is an increasing awareness of and a higher demand for preserving, protecting and promoting cultural identities and national traditions including nurturing and popularizing Vietnamese language within the overseas Vietnamese communities.

Policy towards Overseas Vietnamese

Fully aware that the overseas Vietnamese communities form an integral part of the national community, the State of Viet Nam has elaborated policies that give incentives to the overseas Vietnamese, providing them with favorable conditions to deepen their relations with the motherland, to take part in national construction and development as well as the promotion of Viet Nam’s image to the world and the enhancement of friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and resident countries of the overseas Vietnamese.

Regardless of nationalities, religions and social status, every Vietnamese who wishes to contribute to building a peaceful, independent, unified and strong country of Viet Nam with wealthy people, just, democratic and advanced society can find a place in the national unity. The State of Viet Nam always attaches great importance to the overseas Vietnamese communities and consistently observes the policy of broad national unity.

CPV Politburo’s Resolution 36/NQ-TU, dated March 26th 2004, on the affairs related to the overseas Vietnamese and the Government Action Plan issued by Decision No 110/2004/QD-TTg on June 23rd 2004 represented a breakthrough and a fundamental transformation in perception and in guiding the implementation of the affairs related to overseas Vietnamese. The Resolution points out that the affairs related to overseas Vietnamese is the responsibility of the entire political system and people. Resolution 36/NQ-TU, Government Action Plan and Prime Minister’s Instruction 19/2008/CT-TTg, dated June 6th 2008 on continued implementation of the Government Action Plan set out major tasks as follows:

1. To create favorable conditions and give support for overseas Vietnamese to stabilize their life, settle their business, integrate into the society of residing countries and maintain close links to the homeland; renew and diversify mobilizing activities aimed at uniting overseas Vietnamese in mutual assistance, encouraging overseas Vietnamese to turn towards the motherland on voluntary basis and in conformity with laws and customs of the host countries.
2. To improve existing and issue new policies on talent attraction to maximize overseas Vietnamese brainpower in service of national development; improve the existing and introduce new policies to encourage overseas Vietnamese to invest and do business in Viet Nam.
3. To increase assistance to and investment in programs and activities aimed at preserving and promoting national identity and tradition, preserving and popularizing Vietnamese language among overseas Vietnamese, especially the younger generation; to reform information activities to help overseas Vietnamese have an accurate understanding of the country’s situation and the policies of the Party and State and to encourage overseas Vietnamese to participate in promoting Viet Nam and people of Viet Nam abroad.
4. To develop the rewarding policy for overseas Vietnamese individuals and organizations with meritorious contribution to strengthening the community, preserving national cultural identity and traditions, and furthering national construction; to improve the organizational structure and facilities of the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese to meet the requirements of the new context; Party organizations, State agencies at central and local levels, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and mass organizations, in accordance with their tasks and functions, take an active part in overseas Vietnamese affairs.

Contribution from Overseas Vietnamese

Doi Moi’s major achievements and preferential policies of the Party and State have facilitated and encouraged overseas Vietnamese to look toward the motherland. Over the past years, in addition to support to their families and relatives in Viet Nam, overseas Vietnamese communities have made active contribution to promoting investment inflow and trade. The overseas Vietnamese communities have invested in the country in various forms. They are also engaged in humanitarian and charity activities. About 3,000 investment projects of overseas Vietnamese are registered in Viet Nam with a total capital of US$ 2 billion; remittance has increased significantly every year. Overseas Vietnamese have also been recognized for their contribution to the formulation and implementation of the Party and State’s policies. A number of experienced Vietnamese intellectuals, managers and experts living abroad have returned to work in Viet Nam.

Information for Overseas Vietnamese

Protection of citizens: On the basis of Vietnamese laws and international conventions that Viet Nam accedes to, the Vietnamese State exercises the protection of all legitimate rights of overseas Vietnamese. Viet Nam’s diplomatic missions and consulates abroad are responsible for exercising the protection of the Vietnamese community living in that country. To ensure that the protection of citizens conform to the host country’s law and international laws and practices, the State of Viet Nam has acceded to international conventions related to protection of citizens, such as the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. In addition, Viet Nam has signed Consular Agreements, Mutual Legal Assistance Agreements and other agreements with a number of countries. This forms the legal basis for the effective protection of the Vietnamese citizens. On July 25th 2007, Prime Minister signed Decision No 119/2007/QD-TTg on establishing Fund for protection of Vietnamese citizens and legal entities abroad.

To implement the protection above, Representative Missions of Viet Nam abroad are responsible for assisting the community in providing necessary documents, legalizing the presence of the Vietnamese community in the host countries; representing Vietnamese citizens to protect their legitimate interests before competent authorities of the host countries in business activities and in other fields; contacting relevant agencies of the host countries for fact-finding and solutions to help the Vietnamese citizens in cases of arrest, detention, fine, deportation or assets seized by a foreign country.

Assist the community in maintaining close ties with the homeland: Competent agencies of Viet Nam have issued a number of legal documents facilitating the overseas Vietnamese’s close links with the homeland (Decision 875/TTg dated November 21st 1996 on repatriation; Decree No 05/2000/ND-CP dated March 3rd 2000 on exit and entry of Vietnamese citizens, which reformed the procedures for repatriation such as criteria, documents, as well as rights and obligations of the repatriates; Decision 135/2007/QD-TTg, dated August 17th 2007 promulgating Regulations on Visa Exemption for Overseas Vietnamese; amended Law on Nationality dated November 13th 2008 that came into effect on July 1st 2009 allows overseas Vietnamese with foreign citizenship to retain their Vietnamese nationality). Such procedures as issuance or change of travel documents or other necessary documents for overseas Vietnamese to apply for residence, marriage, birth registration, death declaration or inheritance in the host country have been further specified (Decree No 68/2002/ND-CP dated July 10th 2002 guiding the implementation of the Law on Marriage and Family with regard to marriage and family relations with foreign elements; and Decree No 83/1998/ND-CP dated October 10th 1998 on registration of household status). The transformation of Binh An (Binh Duong) cemetery into a civil cemetery has enabled families to carry out, in their visits, maintaining and reburying activities. This reflects the humanitarian tradition and national unity policy of the Party and State of Viet Nam.

Equal and preferential treatment: Decision 114/2001/QD-TTg (July 31st 2001), which revises and supplements some provisions of Decision 210/1999/QD-TTg (1999), provides for uniform application of service prices to overseas Vietnamese, Vietnamese holding foreign passports and accompanying family members as to local Vietnamese. Furthermore, the Vietnamese Government offers overseas Vietnamese many incentives for their investment and business in Viet Nam (2005 Investment Law came into effect on July 1st 2006) in terms of preferential land rent, loans, interest rates, investment credit guarantees, reduction in corporate income tax, personal income tax, additional income tax and tariff on machinery import.

The issue of ownership of property attached to land for overseas Vietnamese was institutionalized in the 2003 Land Law. The 2005 Housing Law (taking effect on July 1st 2006) expanded the range of applicable subjects than the Land Law. At present, concerned agencies are examining the issuance of specific and more conducive regulations to facilitate overseas Vietnamese’s life and business in their homeland. Before that the amended land law had allowed overseas Vietnamese, who invest in Viet Nam for a long term and need housing during the investment period to buy houses with land use rights in conformity with legal regulations. The same policy also applies to overseas Vietnamese making meritorious contributions to the country, scholars and scientists who now frequently come back to Viet Nam as well as those want to live permanently in Viet Nam.

Employment of talents: the Government has adopted policies to invite overseas Vietnamese experts and intellectuals to work in Viet Nam. Decision 567/TTg (November 18th 1993) is one example. Under this decision, Vietnamese intellectuals who are living overseas, highly experienced in science, technology and management and eager to contribute to the country, are invited to serve as advisors to domestic industries. At present, the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front has nineteen overseas Vietnamese members.

Right to be informed about the country: Overseas Vietnamese have a great demand for information about Viet Nam’s economic, political and social situation as well as investment and business policies in the country. In addition, a growing number of young overseas Vietnamese has little knowledge about their origin and the history of their nation. The provision of relevant information along with cultural activities will help build up their national pride and patriotism and enable them to contribute to the preservation and development of national traditions among overseas Vietnamese communities.

In response to the demand of overseas Vietnamese communities, information and cultural content have been provided via major communication channels: namely 1) television, radio and internet give overseas Vietnamese information about economic, political and social situation of the country and policies of the State; 2) publications including newspapers and books sent from Viet Nam; 3) Vietnamese-language teaching and learning programs on television, radio and internet; performances in foreign countries by Vietnamese art troupes; cultural, literature and art exchange programs, exhibitions, conferences, tours to Viet Nam, and sports events.