THE IMPRINT OF TRAN THANH VAN AND ICISE
I met Professor Tran Thanh Van, President of the Rencontres du Vietnam (Vietnam Meeting of Scientists) Association, more than 16 years ago. At that time, he was frequently traveling from France to Ho Chi Minh City with his wife, Professor Le Kim Ngoc (President of the Association for the Protection of Vietnamese Children in France), bringing with him the idea of establishing the International Center for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE). He chose Quy Nhon (Binh Dinh, now Gia Lai) as his destination. Through countless efforts and the wholehearted support of the provincial leaders, ICISE was established there in 2013, becoming a true "science center".
Ten years earlier (1993), Professor Tran Thanh Van was the founder of the Vietnam Meeting Program. The role of this scientific association was to connect, cooperate, and support the development of science and higher education in Vietnam. Thanks to its continuously increasing academic prestige, by 2012, Vietnam Meeting became an official partner of UNESCO. In the summer of 2013, on the occasion of the inauguration of ICISE in Quy Nhon, the 9th Vietnam Meeting was held there as a world-class physics conference. For the first time, this coastal city welcomed five Nobel laureates, along with hundreds of other renowned physicists from many countries. Professor Tran Thanh Van made the greatest contribution to this achievement.
In July 2015, the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province and the Vietnam Meeting of Scientists Association commenced construction of a science space complex near ICISE. In August 2018, the groundbreaking ceremony for the "For Science" hotel within the ICISE project grounds took place. Professor Tran Thanh Van stated: "To date, ICISE has organized more than 200 international scientific conferences, attracting nearly 16,500 scientists from 60 countries, including many Nobel laureates, Fields Medal winners, and Dirac laureates... ICISE contributes to bringing science closer to the public. The ICISE model is an intersection of academia, creativity, and policy vision. Here, young Vietnamese scientists can 'start their scientific careers' in a free environment, according to international standards."
Now 92 years old, Professor Tran Thanh Van continues to dedicate his heart, mind, and energy to Vietnam. In his latest email to me, he mentioned that he will be "returning to ICISE for a few months" this summer. There, the project "Building a Space Technology Research and Application Center" (2026-2030, with a vision to 2045) awaits him and his colleagues.
This scientist's footsteps seem tireless, especially when he returns to his hometown to contribute and share. He always harbors a dream: that "one day Quy Nhon will become a city of excellence in science and technology, like Princeton in the United States!"
Leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee attended the "Spring in the Homeland" program with overseas Vietnamese. Photo: HOANG TRIEU
"WE BELONG TO OUR HOMELAND"
Professor Tran Thanh Van and his wife, Professor Le Kim Ngoc, are among hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese intellectuals and those of Vietnamese origin living abroad who are contributing to their homeland every day and every hour. According to the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (NVNONN) - Ministry of Foreign Affairs , there are currently about 6.5 million Vietnamese people living in more than 130 countries and territories, of which experts and intellectuals account for 10%-15% (over 650,000 people); there are 10 innovation networks in various countries with 2,000 experts, and over 30 associations of experts and intellectuals of overseas Vietnamese. The economy and investment are areas where overseas Vietnamese make outstanding contributions. By 2025, remittances to the country are expected to reach over 16 billion USD; in terms of investment, 457 projects by overseas Vietnamese have been implemented in Vietnam, with registered capital exceeding 1.7 billion USD.
The next most prominent area of contribution is science, technology, and education. Each year, approximately 300-400 overseas Vietnamese return to Vietnam to support teaching, research, and technology transfer in various fields, including key strategic technologies. Regarding Resolution 57 on breakthroughs in national science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation (issued by the Politburo in December 2024), which includes a policy to strengthen the attraction and utilization of overseas Vietnamese experts and scientists to work in Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien, Chairman of the State Committee on Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, stated: "Vietnam is facing a great opportunity to develop its economy and science and technology as the Vietnamese intellectual community abroad grows larger, more highly qualified, and ready to contribute to the homeland."
Regarding Ho Chi Minh City specifically, lawyer Lam Quang Quy, Director of the Center for Supporting Overseas Vietnamese under the Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese in Ho Chi Minh City, assessed: "In recent years, the number of overseas Vietnamese intellectuals has increasingly desired and been willing to return to contribute. The spirit of patriotism has not only remained at the level of awareness but has also been transformed into many concrete actions. Many overseas Vietnamese experts and intellectuals have proactively participated in policy consulting, technology transfer, startup investment, and support for training high-quality human resources for the city. One example is Professor Nguyen Duc Khuong, Chairman of the Global Organization of Vietnamese Scientists and Experts. He has made many outstanding contributions to Ho Chi Minh City in the field of finance and banking (advising on capital market development strategies, contributing to financial policies, actively supporting the training of high-quality human resources, and connecting international experts with Vietnam). Another example is Dr. Tran Van Binh - an expert in renewable energy and a member of the World Renewable Energy Council. Dr. Binh has participated in consulting." and planning numerous wind power projects, strongly promoting wind power development in many localities across Vietnam."
Overcoming the challenges of the past, the Vietnamese community abroad in general, and overseas Vietnamese intellectuals in particular, with national pride and a strong connection to their roots, and with an open, understanding, and respectful attitude towards differences, are working together with their compatriots at home to build a peaceful and prosperous Vietnam. For them, the homeland is their anchor, their love. Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien added: Amanda Nguyen, the first Vietnamese woman to fly into space (April 2025), at the meeting between General Secretary To Lam and the delegation of exemplary overseas Vietnamese attending the Spring Homeland 2026 (February 2026), gave a very moving speech, saying: "No matter where we are on this planet, our roots still originate from here - from Vietnam… We belong to our homeland; our homeland is where love exists, and love transcends all borders - even outer space. I love Vietnam!"
REMOVE BARRIERS
However, there are still obstacles in attracting resources from overseas Vietnamese. According to lawyer Lam Quang Quy, bottlenecks in administrative procedures, working environment, and incentive mechanisms need to be removed to create more favorable conditions, thereby attracting and effectively utilizing the intellectual resources of overseas Vietnamese.
Returning from Germany and having held important positions at Bosch Vietnam, VinFast, etc., Mr. Vo Quang Hue - Chairman of Foundry AI Vietnam, Honorary Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Automotive and Power Equipment Association - stated: "The biggest challenge lies in the awareness and capacity of the workforce within the public administration - a decisive factor in the speed and effectiveness of policy implementation. Therefore, I expect the Government to continue promoting institutional reforms, while simultaneously improving the quality of human resources in the public sector towards professionalism, transparency, and innovation. Alongside this, it is necessary to create an environment that encourages creativity, allows experimentation, and accepts differences. In addition, there needs to be a sufficiently effective mechanism to attract and utilize the intellectual resources and experts of Vietnam abroad in a substantive way."
"For Ho Chi Minh City, it's time to be bolder in inviting and giving opportunities to talented people of Vietnamese origin around the world to directly participate in managing key projects or to act as consultants and advisors to departments and agencies," proposed businessman Vo Quang Hue.
To further leverage the resources of overseas Vietnamese, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs proposed four groups of solutions, including recommending that competent authorities remove bottlenecks in mechanisms, policies, and implementation, especially in realizing the legal system in practice to create a favorable environment for experts and scientists to return to the country and contribute with peace of mind.
Inseparable...!
The Party and State of Vietnam have always considered the Vietnamese community abroad as an inseparable part and an important resource of the Vietnamese nation. The Party and State's concern, affection, and responsibility are demonstrated through the issuance of Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW of the IXth Politburo in 2004 on work concerning Vietnamese people abroad; Directive No. 45-CT/TW dated May 19, 2015, of the Politburo on continuing to promote the implementation of Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW; Conclusion No. 12-KL/TW of the Politburo in 2021 on work concerning Vietnamese people abroad in the new situation; and Government Resolution 169/2021/NQ-CP on continuing to promote work concerning Vietnamese people abroad in the 2021-2026 period...
Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/tri-thuc-kieu-bao-mot-long-vi-to-quoc-238260516171634214.htm
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