Leveraging the resources of overseas Vietnamese for a strong, prosperous, and happy Vietnam.

The 2026 Spring Homeland program, themed "Vietnamese Aspiration: Peace and Prosperity," took place from February 6-9 (corresponding to the 19th-22nd day of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Snake) in Hanoi and Ninh Binh province, featuring many rich, meaningful events steeped in national cultural identity.

On this occasion, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang gave an interview to VNA about the significance of the Program; and also sent a message to further inspire the spirit of companionship, responsibility, and practical contributions of overseas Vietnamese to the development of the country in the new period.

But The Spring Homeland 2026 program is being held in the context of the country entering a new stage of development after the 14th National Congress of the Party. How does the Deputy Minister assess the significance of this year's program in connecting the Vietnamese community abroad with their homeland?

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang: The Spring Homeland 2026 program is not only a cultural and spiritual activity signifying traditional family reunions during Tet (Lunar New Year), but also an important event in people-to-people diplomacy and work related to Vietnamese people abroad.

The program contributes to concretizing the major policies and guidelines of the Party and State on national unity and leveraging the resources of overseas Vietnamese to serve national development.

In particular, the Spring Homeland Program 2026 takes place in the context of the successful conclusion of the 14th National Congress of the Party, marking a new stage of development for the country after 40 years of reform, with its foundation, potential, position, and international prestige constantly improving, and with a vision and strategic direction for Vietnam to confidently move into a new stage of development, towards the goals of 2030 and the vision of 2045.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, delivered the opening remarks at the Spring Homeland 2025 program. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

The Vietnamese community abroad continues to be recognized by the Party and the State as an inseparable part and an important resource of the nation; together with compatriots at home, they form a solid national unity bloc, working together to carry out the great tasks of the country in the new development stage.

In this meaningful atmosphere, the 2026 Spring Homeland Festival is an opportunity for overseas Vietnamese to directly meet and exchange views with Party and State leaders, update information on the country's situation, and discuss development orientations in the new period. At the same time, it is also an opportunity for our compatriots abroad to share their thoughts, aspirations, initiatives, and suggestions for contributions in fields such as science and technology, innovation, investment, business, education and training, and to promote the image of Vietnam to the world.

Furthermore, this is also an effective space for connecting the Vietnamese community abroad with ministries, departments, and localities, thereby promoting substantive cooperation, knowledge transfer, and expanding international networks.

We expect that the 2026 Spring Homeland Festival, with the theme "Vietnam's Aspiration: Peace and Prosperity," will continue to inspire and strongly spread the spirit of "drinking water, remembering the source," strengthening the faith, attachment, and solidarity of nearly 6.5 million overseas Vietnamese with their homeland, so that together they can contribute to building a strong, prosperous, and happy Vietnam in the new era of development.

But In line with the 14th National Congress's orientation on science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation, what is the Deputy Minister's expectation regarding the continued support and contributions of the Vietnamese community abroad to the country's development in this field in the future?

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang: The Vietnamese community abroad has made and continues to make important contributions to the successful implementation of the Party's policies and resolutions, and is a crucial resource for the country's development. In particular, the overseas Vietnamese intellectual community, with over 650,000 people, along with the network of associations of overseas Vietnamese experts and intellectuals (currently 10 innovation networks in various countries with 2,000 experts; over 30 associations of Vietnamese experts and intellectuals in various locations), have participated, contributed, and offered highly responsible suggestions in key strategic fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, atomic energy, and quantum physics...

General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the high-tech semiconductor chip manufacturing plant (Hanoi, January 16, 2026). (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

According to the orientation of the 14th National Congress, science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation are identified as the main driving force and the inevitable path for Vietnam to make breakthroughs in the new era.

With this new strength and momentum, I am confident that the Vietnamese community abroad will continue to stand alongside and make strong contributions to the country's development in many aspects.

First and foremost, overseas Vietnamese are a crucial link in technology transfer. With hundreds of thousands of experts and intellectuals living in developed countries and working for leading technology corporations and prestigious research institutes worldwide, they have the opportunity to access and bring advanced technologies to Vietnam, helping the country narrow the technology gap and move towards mastering core technologies.

Furthermore, with their experience working in international environments, overseas Vietnamese experts can participate as policy consultants, contributing to the development of legal frameworks, digital governance models, and innovation strategies that are aligned with the country's development needs and global trends.

At the same time, overseas Vietnamese are also a driving force behind the domestic startup and innovation ecosystem. They not only bring in venture capital but also spread modern management thinking and a sustainable entrepreneurial culture, connecting Vietnamese businesses with international markets and resources.

In particular, overseas Vietnamese professors, scientists, and experts play a crucial role as a bridge in science and technology diplomacy and the training of high-quality human resources; thereby promoting cooperation with domestic universities and research institutes in teaching, training, and research activities, while connecting Vietnam with leading universities and research centers around the world.

They are also the most reputable "ambassadors" for lobbying multinational corporations to establish research and development (R&D) centers in Vietnam, making our country a new innovation destination in the region.

It can be said that the strategic directions set forth at the 14th National Congress, especially regarding science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, have opened up opportunities for overseas Vietnamese to not only be a source of support but also to be direct participants, making important contributions to the development process and bringing Vietnam to a new level of development in the context of global transformation.

But On the occasion of the 2026 Lunar New Year, what message does the Deputy Minister wish to send to the Vietnamese community abroad, aiming to further inspire the spirit of companionship, responsibility, and practical contributions of overseas Vietnamese to the development of the country in the new period?

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang: In the sacred atmosphere of the traditional Lunar New Year, when overseas Vietnamese from all over the world return to their homeland to reunite and meet at the Spring Homeland Program 2026, I would like to express my appreciation for the deep affection, strong bond, and sense of responsibility that our compatriots always dedicate to their homeland and country.

Overseas Vietnamese delegation visits and offers incense at the King Dinh and King Le Temple complex (Ninh Binh province). (Photo: Dai Nghia/VNA)

Our country is entering a new stage of development with a strong aspiration to rise up, build a powerful and prosperous Vietnam, and achieve an increasingly prominent position on the international stage.

In this process, the support of the Vietnamese community abroad is of particular importance, not only in terms of intellectual resources, finances, and management experience, but also in its role in connecting Vietnam with the world, spreading the image of a dynamic, responsible, and trustworthy Vietnam, a peaceful, humane, and resilient nation.

I hope that overseas Vietnamese will continue to uphold the tradition of patriotism, the spirit of solidarity, and attachment to their homeland; actively contribute ideas and initiatives, transfer knowledge and technology; participate in investment, business, and social and humanitarian activities for the common development of the country.

Every contribution is valuable because "one tree alone cannot make a forest, but three trees together can make a high mountain." The Party, State, and Government of Vietnam always listen to, appreciate, and create favorable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to feel secure in their commitment and contributions.

The new year is a time of faith and hope. On the occasion of the traditional Lunar New Year, I would like to send my best wishes to all our compatriots abroad and their families for a new year filled with health, happiness, and success; I believe that, with the collective efforts of the entire nation, including the Vietnamese community abroad, Vietnam will steadily advance on the path of development, realizing its aspirations for progress in the new era.

- Thank you for the insights shared by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/phat-huy-nguon-luc-kieu-bao-vi-mot-viet-nam-hung-cuong-thinh-vuong-va-hanh-phuc-post1093069.vnp