Speaking at a meeting with the Vietnamese Innovation Network (VIN), organized by the National Innovation Center and the Ministry of Finance in Hanoi, Dung spent nearly three hours discussing Vietnam’s strategic technology development with experts working in fields such as quantum computing, AI, blockchain, and unmanned aerial vehicles, many of whom are currently based abroad. He encouraged them to keep contributing to Vietnam, whether from overseas or by returning.
“At some point, if you feel the drive to return, the government will support you and make every effort to help you come back, especially those who are capable of taking on roles as lead engineers or chief architects,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung at a meeting with the Vietnamese Innovation Network on the development of strategic technology sectors on Nov. 26, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Luu Quy
The roles of chief architect and lead engineer are critical leadership positions, responsible for overseeing major projects, managing research teams, and driving specific initiatives. Experts who have studied and worked abroad are considered highly qualified for these roles. Many such professionals are part of VIN, which was established in 2018 and currently has around 2,500 members across 22 countries and regions.
Dung pointed out that the government has created favorable policies, infrastructure, and conditions to encourage these experts to return and contribute to the country’s development. He noted that the government has allocated 3-5% of GDP for science, technology, and innovation, stating that “no other country has invested at this scale.”
However, he pointed out that the challenge lies in the absence of specific proposals.
“At this point, we do not need to discuss the role, position, or necessity of this anymore, as that is already well understood,” he said. “What is needed now are concrete proposals: what should be done, which projects need to be registered, how much funding is required, and where to begin?”
Hoang Anh Tu, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Science and Technology, also noted that Vietnam has mechanisms in place to expedite the implementation of strategic scientific projects.
For example, institutions and scientists can now propose projects directly to funding bodies, streamlining the approval process.
Additionally, regulations ensure that experts, including lead engineers and chief architects, are compensated competitively, with salaries comparable to senior government officials, such as ministers or department heads.
Tu highlighted the need for experts to lead critical projects in Vietnam, including the development of a large Vietnamese language model with 100-150 billion tokens, and invited those in the network to return and take charge of such ambitious initiatives.
Dung also suggested that experts in the network focus on solving Vietnam’s significant challenges, including natural disasters, floods, landslides, and urban issues such as traffic congestion, environmental pollution, and the crosscountry high-speed railway.
“If we fail to leverage research to master new technologies and materials for these projects, it would be a significant missed opportunity,” he said.
He urged the expert network to actively engage in policy critique and contribute to strategy development, drawing on their experience abroad. He also expressed a desire to attract more Vietnamese talent to the network and mobilize international resources for Vietnam, such as scholarships and R&D funding.
“The Vietnamese expert community abroad is vast. If we can unite them, it would be an enormous resource.”