“People often say developed countries provide a favourable environment for medical research. However, works in these countries often focus on diseases that are rare or have the potential to bring economic benefits. On the contrary, the problems of improper use of antibiotics and drugs to treat epidemics are given special attention in Vietnam. This is also a very good condition for developing research projects”, said Dr. Truong Thanh Tung - one of 10 winners of the Vietnam Outstanding Young Faces Award 2022.
Having studied for a master’s degree in the Republic of Korea, obtained a doctorate in Denmark, and spent many years working and researching in developed countries (such as Finland, the UK, and the US), Dr. Tung still decided to return home.
According to estimates by the State Committee on Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, there are currently about 5.3 million compatriots living, studying and working abroad. Of these, individuals with university degrees or higher account for more than 10%, equivalent to about 600,000 intellectuals.
Every year, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of businessmen return home to seek opportunities and business connections. Thousands of experts and intellectuals participated in scientific research cooperation, educational cooperation, teaching, and technology transfer in Vietnam. In Ho Chi Minh City alone, there are more than 3,000 businesses invested by overseas Vietnamese intellectuals and businessmen, with a registered capital of more than 45 trillion VND.
Similar to Dr. Tung, Dr. Le Thi Phuong spent ten years working and researching in the RoK. She owns two international patents, three national patents and 27 scientific articles published in international journals in the field of new materials technology. The above achievements helped Dr. Phuong receive the Female Scientist Award with outstanding research from the Korean Society for Biomaterials in 2021. In 2022, she was also honoured to receive the Golden Globe Award from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Tran Ngoc Quyen, Director of the Institute of Applied Materials Science, despite having an open career and very good remuneration in the RoK, Dr. Phuong still accepted his invitation to return to Vietnam. The decision to refuse the opportunity to work in developed countries is not only to realise the dream of contributing and serving the country but also the desire to master one's research direction, as well as to spread the passion for science to young people in the country.
“In reality, life in Vietnam is generally not as good as in developed countries. However, the income conditions for scientists returning from abroad are high enough to ensure a good life,” Dr. Tung said.
When I first returned home, it was not easy to receive the attention of ministries, branches and research funds because my name was not widely known. It took a while for many organisations to be willing to invest in his research. In addition, difficulties also came from the fact that the domestic equipment system is still limited compared to the world. However, young scientists like Dr. Tung see this as a condition to commit, pioneer and achieve success.
At a conference on Vietnamese intellectuals abroad participating in building and developing the country, Professor and Dr. Nguyen Van Phuoc, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Union of Science and Technology Associations, affirmed that in Ho Chi Minh City, there are more than 400 long-term working experts and nearly 200 intellectuals collaborating directly with universities, hospitals and high-tech parks.
The problem is how to properly evaluate the potential and role of experts and scientists and to come up with corresponding incentive mechanisms. Policies to attract talent, such as income tax reduction, housing, and high salaries, are considered extremely attractive. However, key points such as “what to do, who is managed by whom, how does the model work?” have not been mentioned clearly.
Scientists recommended that the Government needs to select several priority and key areas, creating a "breakthrough" to attract more talented overseas Vietnamese to return to contribute to the Fatherland, both in quantity and quality.
