Work relating to overseas Vietnamese has recently secured numerous commendable milestones, building a bridge that connects overseas Vietnamese with the country and promotes the strength of great national unity.
With a strong desire to contribute to building a prosperous and strong homeland, the overseas Vietnamese community, numbering nearly 6.5 million people living in more than 130 countries and territories, has executed many practical activities towards the Fatherland. The Vietnamese community has increasingly affirmed its position and political prestige in host countries, while also possessing great potential in terms of economy, knowledge, science, and technology, standing ready to unite with compatriots at home in advancing Viet Nam’s story of development and international integration. These results are the “sweet fruits” of the persistent efforts of Vietnamese diplomatic agencies at home and abroad, which have always taken the lead, stood side by side with, and accompanied overseas Vietnamese in all circumstances.
Nguyen Trung Kien, Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, that as the agency responsible for advising on, formulating, and realising the Party and State’s strategic guidelines and policies towards overseas Vietnamese, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs has thoroughly executed this work across many key fields in recent times.
In particular, efforts to connect and promote resources from overseas Vietnamese have yielded outstanding results, not only effectively attracting investment flows, but also unlocking intellectual resources and securing high-tech investment projects and initiatives from overseas Vietnamese intellectuals, experts, and entrepreneurs. These achievements also testify to the efforts and dedication of generations of diplomatic officials and staff in nurturing and spreading patriotism, while igniting overseas Vietnamese people’s aspiration to contribute and their pride in the homeland.
Since the beginning of 2025, Viet Nam’s senior leaders have held nearly 60 meetings with overseas Vietnamese; activities towards the homeland such as the Homeland Spring programme, Viet Nam Summer Camp, and overseas Vietnamese delegations visiting Truong Sa (Spratly) have continued to be revitalised and elevated in standard.
Citizen protection work has also attained many positive results, helping strengthen people’s trust in the protection of the State, while affirming the important role of Vietnamese diplomacy amid a volatile international context. Doan Hoang Minh, Director of the Consular Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasised that under the close direction of the leaders of the Party, the State, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, citizen protection has always been identified as a central and regular task, with the goal of optimally safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens and legal entities abroad.
Since the beginning of 2026, amid complex international developments involving geopolitical conflicts, economic tensions, and non-traditional security risks, the Consular Department has proactively worked closely with the network of Vietnamese representative missions abroad to execute citizen protection work in a coordinated, flexible, and effective manner.
Through bilateral and multilateral diplomatic channels, the department has coordinated the provision of legal information, supported access to lawyers, conducted consular visits, and protected the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens abroad. In situations of armed conflict and political instability, urgent measures have been swiftly deployed, with close coordination with international organisations to evacuate, support, and protect citizens in hotspots.
In the context that Vietnamese representative missions cannot yet be present in every area, honorary consuls serve as an “extended arm”, rapidly safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens and legal entities, as well as facilitate cooperation opportunities between Viet Nam and host countries.
According to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, Viet Nam now has 48 honorary consuls operating effectively in 35 countries across all continents. Unlike professional consular officers, who are officials and employees of the Vietnamese Government, honorary consuls are mostly successful and reputable businesspeople who voluntarily support consular work and the protection of Vietnamese citizens in host countries using their personal resources. Although they hold different nationalities, honorary consuls are connected with Viet Nam through sincere affection, personal prestige and a spirit of voluntary companionship.
In the face of a rapidly changing and complex world with many security and safety challenges, the timely and dedicated support of honorary consuls on the ground has become a reassuring source of support for the overseas Vietnamese community. This is not only a matter of responsibility, but also a reflection of their affection for the country and people of Viet Nam.
The overseas Vietnamese community is an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation and an important resource for the cause of national construction and defence. This is a consistent policy of our Party and State, embodying a strategic vision and deep affection for compatriots living abroad.
With the positive achievements attained in recent times, work relating to overseas Vietnamese has been and is continuing to make an active contribution to helping overseas Vietnamese truly become strong partners, accompanying people at home in realising the aspiration to build a prosperous and happy country.
