Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) is drafting a new policy proposal featuring groundbreaking mechanisms and incentives aimed at attracting and retaining international experts, researchers, and overseas Vietnamese in the country’s higher education and vocational training sectors.

Nguyen Thu Thuy, Director General of MoET’s International Cooperation Department, said the proposal is built around a central goal: to establish comprehensive and exceptional policies that overcome current regulatory limitations and provide a sustainable platform to draw high-caliber intellects into Vietnam’s education system.

Under the general policy, foreign experts and overseas Vietnamese professionals who are recruited will receive special benefits as per existing regulations. Additionally, they may be granted equivalent academic titles such as professor or associate professor if they have held such positions at foreign institutions.

Group 1: Top-tier experts

The highest-priority group may receive a minimum fixed monthly salary of 400 million VND (approx. USD 16,000).

They will be exempt from personal income tax for the first three years and receive an initial support package worth up to 5 billion VND (USD 200,000) for setting up laboratories, purchasing equipment, and hiring assistants.

These experts will also be appointed to key leadership roles such as program directors or heads of national-level research groups in core scientific and technological fields. They will be prioritized for leading ministry- and state-level research projects.

They will be entitled to recruit postdoctoral researchers or PhD candidates (Postdocs/PhD students) and have all domestic and international travel expenses covered for work or research activities directly related to their assigned tasks.

Moreover, they may be provided with permanent housing or apartments, or receive up to 50 million VND/month (USD 2,000) in rent support for premium accommodations. Additional benefits will be granted according to institutional agreements.

Group 2: Senior-level experts

The second group will be offered a minimum monthly salary of 200 million VND (USD 8,000) and a special research allowance.

They will receive up to 2 billion VND (USD 80,000) in initial funding, depending on the field, to purchase equipment and research materials.

This group will be appointed to key academic or research management roles such as institute director, faculty dean, or head of academic and research programs. They will be assigned at least two ministry- or state-level research projects.

All related travel costs for domestic and international work, conferences, or research will be fully covered. They will also receive housing support ranging from 20–30 million VND/month (USD 800–1,200) for the first three years, along with other negotiated benefits.

Group 3: Entry-level or mid-career experts

Experts in this category will be guaranteed a minimum fixed salary of 100 million VND/month (USD 4,000), plus compensation for teaching engagements.

They will also receive an initial support grant of up to 500 million VND (USD 20,000) to cover resettlement and international conference participation.

They may be appointed to managerial academic roles such as deputy institute director, department head, or program leader in both teaching and research areas.

They will receive full coverage of expenses for domestic and international conferences or assignments directly tied to their scientific work. In particular, they are entitled to full funding for two international conferences per year.

Each expert in this group will be assigned at least one ministry-level research project annually and receive housing support of 10–20 million VND/month (USD 400–800) for the first three years, in addition to other agreed benefits.

This draft proposal is part of a broader effort by the Ministry of Education and Training to build a more competitive academic environment in Vietnam. According to ministry representatives, high compensation and supportive policies are not acts of generosity - but deserved recognition of the value these experts bring to national development.

Thanh Hung