Information for The Overseas Vietnamese

Diplomatic Representative Missions and Consulate Generals abroad are responsible for exercising the protection of the Vietnamese community living in that country. To ensure that the protection of citizens conform to the host country’s law and international law and practices, the State of Vietnam has acceded to international conventions related to protection of citizens, such as the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. In addition, Vietnam has signed Consular Agreement and Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement with a number of countries. This provides the legal basis for the effective protection of the Vietnamese citizens.

To implement the protection mentioned above, Representative Missions of Vietnam abroad are responsible for assisting the community in providing necessary documents, legalizing the presence of the Vietnamese community in the host country; representing Vietnamese citizens to protect their legitimate interest before competent authorities of the host country in business activities and in other fields; contacting relevant agencies of the host country for fact-finding and solutions to help the Vietnamese citizens in cases of arrest, detention, fine, deportation or assets seized by a foreign country.

Assist the community in maintaining close ties with the homeland: Competent agencies of Vietnam have issued a number of legal documents facilitating the maintenance of close links with the homeland (Decision 875/TTg dated 21 November 1996 on repatriation, Decree No 05/2000/ND-CP dated 3 March 2000 on exit and entry of the Vietnamese citizens, which contained some reforms in the procedures for repatriation, as well as rights and obligations of the repatriates). Such procedures as issuance or change of travel documents or other necessary documents for overseas Vietnamese to apply for residence, marriage, birth registration, death declaration or inheritance in the host country have been further specified (Decree No 68/2002/ND-CP dated 10 July 2002 guiding the implementation of the Law on Marriage and Family with regard to marriage and family relations with foreign elements, and Decree No 83/1988/ND-CP dated 10 October 1998 on registration of civic status).

Equal and preferential treatment: Decision 114/2001/QD-TTg (31/7/2001), which revises and supplements some provisions of Decision 210/1999/QD-TTg (1999) provides for uniform application of service prices to overseas Vietnamese, Vietnamese holding foreign passports and accompanying family members as to local Vietnamese. Furthermore, the Vietnamese Government offers overseas Vietnamese many incentives for their investment and business in Vietnam in terms of preferential land rent, loans, interest rates, investment credit guarantees, reduction in corporate personal income tax, personal income tax, additional income tax and tariff on machinery import.

The issue of ownership of property attached to land of overseas Vietnamese was institutionalized in the 2003 Land Law. To facilitate overseas Vietnamese’s life and business in their homeland, more liberal and conducive regulations in this respect will be introduced. Before that the amended land law had allowed overseas Vietnamese, who invest in Vietnam for a long term and need housing during the investment period, to buy houses with land use rights. The same treatment is also applied to overseas Vietnamese making meritorious contributions to the country, cultural activists and scientists who now frequently come back for activities in Vietnam.

Employment of talents: the Government has adopted policies to invite overseas Vietnamese who are experts and intellectuals to work in Vietnam. Decision 567/TTg (18/11/1993) is one example according to which Vietnamese intellectuals who are living overseas, highly experienced in science and technology management and enthusiastic to contribute to the country are invited to serve as advisors to domestic industries. At present, there are overseas Vietnamese in the Prime Minister’s advisor group.

Right to be informed about the country: Overseas Vietnamese, especially those who have relatives living in Vietnam, and organizations who intend to invest and do business in Vietnam have a great demand for information about the economic, political and social situation as well as investment and business policies in the country. It is, therefore, important for them to be provided with accurate information. In addition, a growing number of young overseas Vietnamese has little knowledge about their origin and the history of their nation. The provision of relevant information along with cultural activities will help build up their national pride and patriotism and enable them to contribute to the conservation and development of national traditions among overseas Vietnamese communities.

In response to the demand of overseas Vietnamese communities, information has been provided via major communication channels as follows: 1) television, radio and internet; 2) publications including newspapers and books sent from Vietnam; 3) performances in foreign countries by Vietnamese art troupes, cultural and art exchange programmes, exhibitions, conferences and tour packages to Vietnam.

Copyright: Ministry of Foreign Affairs