Over 15 years of implementing Conclusion No. 14-KL/TW of the Secretariat regarding the mobilization of overseas Vietnamese, Hai Phong has left a profound mark in consolidating national unity and strongly promoting the resources of the diaspora for the city's development. With a strategic vision, Hai Phong identifies the community of Hai Phong people abroad as an inseparable part of the nation and a vital bridge to bring the city to international status in a new era.
Strength from Leadership and Synchronized Implementation
Recognizing the vital importance of work regarding overseas Vietnamese, over the past 15 years, the city has directed the effective dissemination and mastery of Party and State guidelines to all levels of Party committees and authorities. Key guiding documents, such as Directive No. 01-CT/TU and Plan No. 105/KH-UBND, have created a solid legal corridor for mobilizing and supporting the diaspora for the 2016-2026 period.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has been assigned as the lead agency to advise and perform state management of this work. The unit has actively connected with organizations and individuals within the overseas community while effectively performing the role of citizen protection, showing the city's responsibility in safeguarding the legal rights of citizens in their host countries. Notably, the merger of the Overseas Vietnamese Liaison Associations of Hai Phong and Hai Duong in 2025 created a reliable address for the diaspora when returning to their homeland.
Consolidating National Unity and Preserving Cultural Identity
Defining culture and language as the strongest connecting threads, Hai Phong has implemented many meaningful activities to consolidate national unity. The city regularly organizes Lunar New Yearmeetings, creating a space for city leaders to listen to the thoughts and aspirations of the diaspora. Major cultural events like the Red Flamboyant Festival have also become gathering points for the community to return to their roots.
Preserving the Vietnamese language is particularly emphasized through activities like donating Vietnamese textbooks to associations abroad and organizing the "Writing about Hai Phong" contest. These efforts not only help the younger generation connect with their homeland but also spread Vietnamese cultural values globally.
The strength of homeland ties is further demonstrated through humanitarian activities. Since 2003, the community of Hai Phong people abroad has contributed over 15 billion VND to charity programs, schools, and medical stations, and supported victims of Agent Orange. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the community proactively donated cash and necessities to help the city overcome challenges.
Economic and Intellectual Resources: A Driver for City Development
Hai Phong has achieved impressive results in attracting financial resources from overseas Vietnamese. According to State Bank data, remittances to the city have continuously increased, peaking at 409 million USD in 2019 and remaining high at 380 million USD in 2024. This resource is stable not only from long-term residents in Europe and America but also through labor activities in Asian markets such as Japan and South Korea.
Regarding investment, as of October 2025, the city (after the merger) has 39 projects invested in by overseas Vietnamese individuals with a total registered capital of 155.4 million USD. Typical projects like the “International Overseas Vietnamese Village” and projects in the Phu Thai Industrial Park have provided jobs for thousands of local workers and contributed significantly to the city's budget.
Additionally, Hai Phong proactively attracts intellectual resources through scientific research and international cooperation programs. The city has approved programs to promote scientific and technological cooperation, creating favorable conditions for experts in the diaspora to participate in consulting and solving local practical problems, especially in the high-tech sector.
Identifying Challenges and Lessons Learned
Despite these achievements, there are limitations that need to be overcome. Institutions and policies sometimes lag behind dynamic realities, and coordination between units occasionally lacks proactivity or synchronization in interpreting legal regulations.
One of the biggest difficulties is that diaspora data statistics are still performed manually, leading to a lack of accuracy and timely updates, which hinders policy planning. Resources for implementation, including funding and specialized personnel at the local level, remain thin and disproportionate to the city's potential.
Objective causes include global financial crises and changes in immigration policies, but subjective causes stem from inconsistent awareness across units, complex administrative procedures, and insufficient resources dedicated to attracting talent.
Vision and Solutions in the New Development Era
Entering a new stage, Hai Phong aims to comprehensively innovate its work with overseas Vietnamese toward a proactive, modern, and substantive direction. The city predicts the community will remain stable and rejuvenated, becoming a key resource for sustainable development goals.
Key solution groups include:
- Promoting Digital Transformation: Building a synchronized and interconnected digital database of overseas Hai Phong people to serve migration forecasting and policy planning. Maintaining contact through digital channels like Zalo for timely two-way information updates.
- Attracting Youth and Intellectuals: Developing policies to encourage students and young people abroad to intern and participate in community projects in Hai Phong. Connecting experts with innovation networks and domestic startups.
- Perfecting Policy and Administrative Reform: Utilizing new points in the Land Law 2024and Housing Law 2023 to create conditions for the diaspora to own real estate and invest equally with domestic citizens. Promoting full-process online public services for vital records and nationality procedures to reduce administrative pressure.
- Enhancing Citizen Protection: Paying special attention to legal aid for Vietnamese workers abroad, particularly female workers. City leaders commit to directly listening to and resolving the recommendations of the diaspora, ensuring an environment free from harassment or bureaucracy.
Hai Phong's efforts to mobilize overseas Vietnamese are meeting great opportunities. With its position as a modern industrial, service, and logistics center, Hai Phong commits to continuing as a "safe haven" and a high-potential destination for the overseas community. Effectively promoting these resources is not only an economic contribution but also a testament to the power of national unity, leading Hai Phong firmly into the nation's new era.