Although living far from the Fatherland and still facing many difficulties, Vietnamese compatriots, with passionate patriotism, have made great contributions in many aspects, in many diverse forms, from financial and material support to spiritual support, political struggle, even sacrificing their blood and bones, contributing to writing brilliant heroic epics.
No matter how hard it is, overseas Vietnamese are always loyal to the Fatherland
Since the time when the Vietnamese revolution was still in its infancy, when Uncle Ho and his comrades were still tirelessly searching for a path for revolutionary activities, finding a way to save the country, the Vietnamese community in many places, although still young, facing many difficulties in life, with an uncertain legal status, did not fear danger and hardship, but protected and sheltered him and the leaders of the Party.
During the years when the whole nation was immersed in a rain of bombs and bullets, overseas Vietnamese had many activities to financially and materially support the resistance war against the US for national salvation. Overseas Vietnamese in various countries have organised many large-scale donation campaigns, sending back to the country through many channels, including secretly, large amounts of money and gold, many types of medicine, medical equipment; clothes and food; equipment for field hospitals and battlefields; many machines and technical equipment for production and combat.
Not only contributing from afar, many overseas Vietnamese have returned to the Fatherland to directly contribute their efforts to the revolutionary cause of the nation.
Not only contributing from afar, many overseas Vietnamese have returned to the Fatherland to directly contribute their efforts to the revolutionary cause of the nation. On January 10, 1960, the first train bringing overseas Vietnamese in Thailand back to the country was personally welcomed by President Ho Chi Minh in Hai Phong. Many engineers, doctors, experts, and intellectuals from socialist countries volunteered to return home to participate in building the northern rear, directly fighting on the battlefields, working in field hospitals, supporting the treatment of wounded and sick soldiers, or working as interpreters and in enemy agitation work...
Many overseas Vietnamese also participated in supporting, providing technical documents, translating books to serve education and national defence; researching and developing technologies to serve combat and production; teaching foreign languages, science and technology to northern cadres.
On the political and diplomatic front, overseas Vietnamese actively participated in international advocacy activities to support Vietnam’s resistance war against the US for national salvation and participated in peace negotiations; participated in anti-war movements, rallies, and demonstrations, including many Vietnamese students studying in Western countries protesting against US intervention in Vietnam. Notably, young man Nguyen Thai Binh, during his time studying in the US, actively participated in protests against the “Vietnam War”, sacrificing himself for peace, freedom and justice.
In addition, through lobbying Governments, international organisations, participating in international events, writing articles, publishing propaganda books and newspapers, overseas Vietnamese have conveyed information to the international peace-loving community about war crimes, about the just struggle of the Vietnamese people in order to gain support from the Governments of other countries and world public opinion.
During the Paris Conference from 1968-1973, despite being closely monitored by the French side, patriotic overseas Vietnamese of the Association of Vietnamese in France actively supported the Vietnamese delegation to the Conference in spirit, material and human resources, contributing to the victory of the Agreement. These efforts not only helped raise the international community's awareness of the just resistance of the Vietnamese people but also created great political pressure forcing the US to end the war, contributing to the overall victory of the nation.
“The strength of a million people is stronger than the waves of the East Sea”
The Vietnamese community abroad currently has about 6 million people, living, studying and working in more than 130 countries and territories, of which more than 80% are in developed countries. With their growing strength and increasing position in the local economic, political and social life, overseas Vietnamese are an important force contributing to the country’s security, political and defence goals, especially the protection of sea and island sovereignty.
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| Overseas Vietnamese present gifts to island officers and soldiers in Len Dao. |
The Vietnamese community in many places has established funds for Vietnam’s sea and island sovereignty, Truong Sa Clubs; organised international seminars and photo exhibitions on the East Sea/South China Sea, thereby mobilising resources, while at the same time transmitting correct information to the international community and overseas Vietnamese in particular, contributing to affirming Vietnam’s sea and island sovereignty.
The overseas Vietnamese delegations visiting the soldiers and people of Truong Sa island district and DK1 Platform organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese annually since 2012 have attracted special attention and response from the community, thereby strongly spreading the love for the homeland’s sea and islands.
In terms of economic resources, overseas Vietnamese businesses have been contributing to building the “Make in Vietnam” brand. The amount of remittances sent home in the past 5 years has reached 86.3 billion USD, putting Vietnam on the list of the world’s leading countries in remittance receipt. Overseas Vietnamese businesses, with their extensive network, have become a bridge to bring Vietnamese goods to the world, while also bringing advanced technology back to the country, contributing to improving the competitiveness of the economy.
In terms of intellectual resources, with thousands of Vietnamese scientists and experts working at leading organisations in the world, this is a valuable resource for Vietnam to promote the development of science, technology, digital transformation, and improve innovation capacity.
The contributions and suggestions of overseas Vietnamese at the 4th World Conference of Overseas Vietnamese (OV) and the 2024 forum of OV intellectuals and experts organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese and at many other conferences and seminars or the development of the Vietnam Innovation Network are vivid evidence of the spirit of dedication and sense of responsibility of overseas Vietnamese for the development of the homeland.
In addition, the overseas Vietnamese community is increasingly promoting its “soft power”, acting as a bridge between culture, cuisine, language, promoting the country's image, and promoting Vietnamese tourism. From traditional festivals, Vietnamese language classes for the younger generation, to participating in people’s diplomacy, overseas Vietnamese are continuing the spirit of patriotism, bringing Vietnam closer to the world.
The great cause is made of solidarity
Vietnam is concentrating its efforts and strive to successfully complete the goals set by the 13th Party Congress, bringing the country to develop richly and strongly in the new era - the era of the nation’s rise. To achieve that goal, the contribution of the overseas Vietnamese community plays a very important role.
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| Overseas Vietnamese delegation visit the army and people of Truong Sa Island District. |
Looking back at the valuable lessons learned from the victory of the resistance war against the US for national salvation, it can be affirmed that promoting the strength of the great national unity bloc, strongly arousing patriotism and national pride of each overseas Vietnamese is of great significance. Whether living far from the Fatherland or leaving for any reason, deep in the hearts and subconscious of overseas Vietnamese, the Homeland always exists and lasts forever.
The great contributions, not sparing blood and bones, ready to give up a comfortable life abroad to return to share the hardships with compatriots at home during the previous period of national liberation struggle are clear evidence of the ardent patriotism of overseas Vietnamese.
In the current period, overseas Vietnamese all wish to contribute to building a peaceful, independent, unified, territorially intact homeland of Vietnam, with wealthy people, a strong nation, and a democratic, fair, and civilised society. This is the common denominator, the common point to gather, gather, and unite overseas Vietnamese, promoting their enormous resources for the development of the country.
The Party and State always consider overseas Vietnamese as an inseparable part and a valuable resource of the Vietnamese community, an important factor contributing to strengthening the friendly relations between Vietnam and other countries.
The Party and State always consider overseas Vietnamese as an inseparable part and a valuable resource of the Vietnamese ethnic community, an important factor contributing to strengthening the friendly relations between Vietnam and other countries. In that spirit, the Party and State have issued many policies and guidelines to strengthen the connection between overseas Vietnamese and their homeland and effectively promote the resources of the community.
On December 22, 2024, the Politburo issued Resolution No.57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation, emphasising the issuance of a special mechanism to attract highly qualified overseas Vietnamese to work and live; have a special mechanism on naturalisation, home and land ownership, income, and working environment to attract, employ, and retain leading scientists, experts, and “chief engineers” with the capacity to organise, operate, command, and implement key national tasks.
The issuance of Resolution No.57-NQ/TW with its breakthrough thinking has received the welcome and positive response of the overseas Vietnamese community, especially the team of overseas experts, intellectuals, and businessmen. They consider this an important foundation, strengthening the belief, fueling the desire to contribute of overseas Vietnamese, contributing to the breakthrough development of the country in the new era.
Resolution No.57-NQ/TW together with Resolution No.36-NQ/TW dated March 26, 2004, Directive No.45-CT/TW dated May 19, 2015 and Conclusion No.12-KL/TW dated August 12, 2021 of the Politburo on the work of overseas Vietnamese are proof of policies that are in line with the Party’s will and the people’s heart, clearly demonstrating the spirit of great national unity, combining internal and external strengths. Institutionalising and implementing the above documents well will create a driving force to further promote the precious resources of overseas Vietnamese as we did in the previous period of national liberation struggle.
President Ho Chi Minh once advised the great cause is made of solidarity. Under the wise leadership of the Party, promoting historical lessons from the victory of the resistance war against the US for national salvation, with the consensus, solidarity and unanimity of the entire political system and all people, including the overseas Vietnamese community, Vietnam will realise the aspiration to develop a strong and prosperous country, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world powers as Uncle Ho always wished.
