Ho Chi Minh City seeks overseas academic talent

Photo courtesy of VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Ho Chi Minh City could receive special powers to attract overseas lecturers and scientists under proposals raised as Vietnam's National Assembly considers a new urban development law. Education and Training Minister Hoang Minh Son said stronger incentives were needed to encourage Vietnamese academics abroad to return or work with local institutions.

New powers proposed for the city

Delegates discussed the draft Law on Urban Development on 7 August. The bill covers planning, infrastructure, science and technology, education and healthcare, including arrangements for teachers and education managers to study, research and take visiting lectureships in Vietnam and overseas.

Son said the draft currently supports sending people abroad but lacks a clear mechanism for the reverse flow. He proposed exceptional support and remuneration to bring lecturers and scientists into universities and vocational education institutions. He linked the proposal to Politburo Resolution 23 on overseas Vietnamese affairs, issued on 2 August.

Universities and businesses may benefit

The minister also asked lawmakers to clarify which organisations could use special mechanisms for science, technology and innovation personnel. The scope could include city agencies, universities, public service units and businesses, but he warned that implementation would be difficult unless the eligible organisations were clearly defined.

Separate provisions would allow Ho Chi Minh City to award scholarships in priority disciplines, rather than limiting support to students with the highest academic results. Son also called for university urban zones to receive mechanisms similar to high-tech parks, reflecting their role as centres for teaching, research, innovation and corporate research and development.

The National Assembly is due to debate the draft in plenary on 11 August and vote on 24 August. Ho Chi Minh City generates roughly a quarter of Vietnam's GDP and about one-third of state budget revenue. Municipal figures put annual economic output above US$100 billion across a population of about 14 million.

What it means for foreigners in Vietnam

The proposal is not yet law, so no immediate hiring or immigration change has been announced. If approved and implemented broadly, however, it could create more opportunities for foreign-based academics, overseas Vietnamese specialists and international businesses working with universities or research centres. Applicants would still need to check the eventual eligibility, employment and visa rules once implementing guidance is published.

8 August 2026