Overseas Vietnamese in Singapore: Intellectual Resources and Trust Driving National Development.

The Party and the State allowing overseas Vietnamese to contribute opinions to resolutions and draft documents of the Party Congress demonstrates a new approach by the Government in leveraging the resources of Vietnamese abroad.

The creation of forums for overseas Vietnamese to participate in contributing ideas to major resolutions, draft Party Congress documents, and through forums and conferences for overseas Vietnamese intellectuals is a highly commendable decision and an important shift in the Government’s policy toward the diaspora.

This was affirmed by Ms. Ho Quynh Lan—a leader of the Vietnam Business Association in Singapore, Deputy Head of the Liaison Committee of the Vietnamese Community in Singapore, and Executive Committee Member of the Association of Vietnamese Entrepreneurs Abroad—in an interview with a Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondent in Singapore.

According to Ms. Ho Quynh Lan, enabling overseas Vietnamese to contribute to major resolutions and draft Party Congress documents, as well as through forums and conferences for overseas intellectuals, is a very welcome decision.

This is seen as a significant shift, reflecting an adjustment in both thinking and policy toward overseas Vietnamese. She noted that this decision clearly demonstrates a more open and democratic approach by the Vietnamese Government, showing respect for, and willingness to listen to and understand, public opinion.

At the same time, the State has reaffirmed its consistent view that overseas Vietnamese are an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation. Regardless of where they live or what they do, they have both the right and responsibility to contribute to the country’s development.

Ms. Ho Quynh Lan at the 2025 Autumn Economic Forum. (Photo: VNA)

According to Ms. Ho Quynh Lan, establishing official dialogue channels with overseas Vietnamese also sends a strong message of openness and pragmatism, while encouraging constructive, multi-dimensional feedback. This reflects a renewed approach by the Government in recognizing the intellectual and experiential resources of Vietnamese abroad.

From her personal perspective—having more than 30 years of engagement with the overseas Vietnamese community and holding leadership roles in business associations—she described this as a “strategically visionary” shift by the Vietnamese Government.

As the overseas Vietnamese community continues to grow and expand across major countries worldwide, with a strong base of experienced entrepreneurs and intellectuals, appropriate policies can create powerful motivation, strengthen trust, and inspire a sense of connection to the homeland—mobilizing intellectual, human, and material resources for national development.

Regarding the response from overseas Vietnamese, Ms. Ho Quynh Lan noted that the majority of the community is highly encouraged by these positive policy changes. Despite living abroad for many years, Vietnamese people overseas always remain connected to their homeland, and every sign of reform from within the country is welcomed with enthusiasm and high expectations.

She added that Vietnamese entrepreneurs and intellectuals abroad aspire to contribute more deeply and effectively to Vietnam’s reform and development. They not only wish to engage in charitable activities or contribute through remittances but also hope to directly participate in policymaking, investment connections, technology and knowledge transfer, and key areas such as digital transformation, green transition, and sustainable development.

Additionally, Ms. Ho Quynh Lan expressed the hope that policies for overseas Vietnamese will be practical, stable, and long-term, enabling contributions to be implemented systematically and effectively. She emphasized that investment projects by overseas Vietnamese require long-term commitment and consistency from the Government.

Finally, she highlighted the expectations of the overseas Vietnamese community for a more modern and efficient government—moving toward e-government, ensuring transparency, upholding commitments, and truly serving the interests of the people for the common good of the nation.

(VNA/Vietnam+)