[Vnbiz] Vietkieu Policies

Tue Feb 12 10:34:11 PST 2008

Dear A. Hoanh and all, 

Just a few quick reactions on your latest post: 

1.	I guess the salary issue is could still be a relevant question for the public sector, since the private sector has definitely been functioning based on the market rules whether employees are local Vietnamese, foreigners or Vietkieu. Now what happens if a Vietkieu wants to work for a Government agencies or a state-funded research institution? To what extent the current salary framework will prevent them from taking the positions could be a relevant GOV policy question.
2.	Having said this, I think salary is only one among many important issues to be thought through in designing GOV policy to attract Vietkieu talents, including housing, recruitment and promotion policies, inter alia, and all of them have to go together in the same direction. If I was to design such policies, I would start by asking three questions: 1. what are the incentives for Vietkieu to come home and work; 2. what do they need as a.desirable and b.acceptable working and living conditions; and 3. what are the order of importance and priorities for Vietkieu within this broad set of conditions. I guess answering these questions would help the development of a list of things to do for the GOV in various areas in terms of removing current economic, social, administrative and even ideological barriers and creating an enabling environment for drawing home this valuable, yet very much undertapped source of the nation’s human capital, ranging from visa, passport to housing, salary, working conditions, among others.    
3.	Even though I am not entirely happy with the current pace of changes in this important area of Vietkieu policy, I guess somehow we need to acknowledge the long way the GOV has gone through in being where it is today. A couple of days ago, I heard from one senior MOFA member that the dual citizenship for Vietkieu had been put on the table for discussion. In the areas of housing, moving from allowing Vietkieu to buy houses might be just one initial step to further future liberalisation in this sphere.
4.	All changes in behaviours need to come from changes in mindset. I guess we have gone through the most difficult stage in that process of digging away the elements of doubts and untrust burdening on both sides by the historical contexts. Whilst even this step can be arguably not yet fully complete, the trend is clearly irreverable. Now the question is more how to translate such momentum of changes in the mindset into practical effective policies that can fuel the homebound inflows of Vietkieu intellectual resources for the economic and social development of the nation. 

I will be curious to learn from some Vietkieu brothers and sisters on this forum on some of these thoughts of mine, especially the 3 questions that I raised earlier. 

Happy New Year to you all!

Thanh An 

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From: vnbiz-bounces at mail.saigon.com [mailto:vnbiz-bounces at mail.saigon.com] On Behalf Of Tran Dinh Hoanh
Sent: 12 February 2008 15:00
To: vnbiz at vietlinks.net
Subject: [Vnbiz] Vietkieu Policies

Dear CACC,

The attached article is an interview with Chairman of the Overseas Vietnamese Committee on Vietkieu policies.  I am not posting it here because it has anything worth reading, but because it has something worth seeing.  That is the picture below with brother Pho Hong Phong's parents in the foreground.  The gentleman with white hair and eyeglasses is brother Phong's father, prof. Pho Ba Long, and the woman is brother Phong's mother.

About Vietkieu policies, it is much more simple than the government makes it to be, and I have talked to everyone I know in Hanoi for more than a decade about this.  If we don't treat Vietkieu as "Vietkieu with exceptions" but as "Vietnamese citizens with exceptions" than everything will achieve its most efficiency.  That means, instead of starting out the policy by treating Vietkieu as foreigners and then a list of exceptions, please start out the policy by treating Vietkieu as Vietnamese citizens and then making a list of exceptions.  How hard would that be? 

Most of the time, when I heard policy makers say it is such a complex issue, it is not really complex.  It is complex just because they refuse to go with most obvious and easy way.

A note about salary:  Why does anyone have to talk about "Vietkieu salary"?  It is ridiculous.  Vietkieu or not, the market determines who is worth how much.  There is no reason to think about special salary package for Vietnkieu, or for foreign-school graduates, or for whoever.  Let the market work itself and let's not discriminate against non-vietkieu or against domestic graduates by having a policy of discriminatory salaries.  Just have a policy that makes the environment friendly for people to live and to work.  Salary and profit is a matter of the market, not government policy. 

Have a great day!

Hoanh

_____________________ 

Tha;) hai, 11/2/2008, 11:53 GMT+7

'ChC:ng ta khC4ng ta:!o bC!nh va:= cho kia;u bC o' 

  <http://vnexpress.net/Vietnam/Xa-hoi/2008/02/3B9FEF9B/son1.jpg> 

Cng Nguya;n Thanh SF!n. a:"nh: N.H.

Trao Da;i va;i VnExpress Da:'u xuC"n, C4ng Nguya;n Thanh SF!n, Quya;n Cha;' nhia;m a;&y ban va; ngF0a;i Via;t Nam a; nF0a;c ngoC i, cho ra:1ng, ca;ng Da;ng 300.000 trC- tha;)c Via;t kia;u nhF0 kho bC!u la; thiC*n. Va:%n Da; ca;'a ChC-nh pha;' lC pha:#i tia:?p ca:-n, ta:!o sa;1 tin tF0a;ng Da; 

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 ha; tin tF0a;ng.
> ChF0a <http://vnexpress.net/Vietnam/Xa-hoi/2007/12/3B9FDE1E/>  ta:-n da;%ng cha:%t xC!m trC- tha;)c Via;t kia;u

- ND 

  _____  

m 2007 DF0a;#c DC!nh giC! lC nD 
  _____  

m thC nh cC4ng va; thu hC:t va;n Da:'u tF0 ca;'a Via;t kia;u cE)ng nhF0 lF0a;#ng kia;u ha;i. Tuy nhiC*n, via;c ta:-n da;%ng cha:%t xC!m trC- tha;)c Via;t kia;u cC2n nhia;u ha:!n cha:?. Cng nghD) nhF0 tha:? nC o va; va:%n Da; nC y?

- Mua;n thu hC:t cC3 hia;u qua:# cha:%t xC!m ca;'a ca;ng DC4ng kia;u bC o, trF0a;c ha:?t ta pha:#i DC!nh giC! DC:ng giC! tra;
 tha;1c ta:? ca;'a sa;)c ma:!nh tia;m tC ng nC y. ChC:ng ta khC4ng cC3 nha;/ng "Da:!i gia" kia;u bC o nhF0 cC!c nF0a;c, song chC:ng ta la:!i cC3 Da;i ngE) trC- tha;)c DC4ng Da:#o va;i hF!n 300.000 ngF0a;i DF0a;#c DC o ta:!o a; cC!c trF0a;ng Da:!i ha;c danh tia:?ng a; nha;/ng nF0a;c cC4ng nghia;p tiC*n tia:?n. 

Via;t kia;u cC3 tha:? ma:!nh trong lD)nh va;1c cC4ng ngha; thC4ng tin, cC4ng ngha; cao va;i nha;/ng chuyC*n gia gia;i a; Ma;9. NgoC i ra, chC:ng ta cE)ng cC3 nhia;u chuyC*n gia trong lD)nh va;1c nC4ng nghia;p a; Nha:-t Ba:#n, y ha;c, khoa ha;c ka;9 thua:-t a; PhC!p... Nhia;u trC- tha;)c kia;u bC o ta lC m a; NASA, Boeing, ta:-p DoC n tC*n la;-a ca;'a Ma;9b&. 

a;‑ trong nF0a;c, DF!n ca;- nhF0 cC4ng ty pha:'n ma;m TMA Solution ca;'a C4ng HoC ng Kia;u sau hai nD 

  _____  

m Da:'u tF0 DC# phC!t tria; 
  _____  

n thC nh ma;t cC4ng ty ta:'m ca;! va;i 500 lao Da;ng. Con sa; nC y sa:= tD 
  _____  

ng na;/a trong nD 
  _____  

m ta;i vC, sa:#n pha:)m ca;'a cC4ng ty nC y ra:%t thu hC:t tha;
 trF0a;ng. NC3i nhF0 va:-y Da; 
  _____  

 tha:%y sa;)c ma:!nh cua kha;i kia;u bC o tri tha;)c a; bC*n ngoC i, Da:7c bia;t lC khu va;1c TC"y Ba:/c C[1]u vC Ba:/c Ma;9.

Do DC3, nhC nF0a;c ca:'n cC3 chC-nh sC!ch DC#i nga; phC9 ha;#p, DC!p a;)ng nguya;n va;ng ca;'a kia;u bC o trC- tha;)c khi va; nF0a;c, pha:#i DC!nh giC! kha;i ca;ng Da;ng tri tha;)c bC*n ngoC i va;i tF0 duy tha;1c sa;1 Da;i ma;i.

- Nhia;u Via;t kia;u cho ra:1ng, rC o ca:#n nhF0 lF0F!ng, Dia;u kia;n lC m via;c, cha; a;... DC# khia:?n mong mua;n DF0a;#c lC m via;c ta:!i quC* hF0F!ng ca;'a ha; tra; nC*n khC3 khD 

  _____  

n. ThC!o ga;! ca;% tha; 
  _____  

 trong tha;i gian ta;i ca;'a nhC nF0a;c lC gC,?

- ChC:ng ta DC# thC!o ga;! via;c mua nhC , kia;u bC o DC# DF0a;#c mua nhC  <http://vnexpress.net/Vietnam/Kinh-doanh/2008/01/3B9FE9DD/> . a;&y ban va; ngF0a;i Via;t a; nua;c ngoC i va:+n Dang tia:?p ta;%c kia:?n ngha;
 quya;n sa;! ha;/u, tha:-m chC- lC phF0F!ng tia;n Di la:!i ca;'a ngF0a;i nF0a;c ngoC i nC3i chung vC kia;u bC o nC3i riC*ng. Nhia;u trF0a;ng ha;#p cC!c nhC khoa ha;c yC*u ca:'u sa:/p xa:?p Da;
a Dia; 

  _____  

m Da; 
  _____  

 lC m phC2ng thC- nghia;m... chC:ng ta va:+n chF0a cC3 hC nh lang phC!p lC= Da; 
  _____  

 Da:'u tF0, tia:?p nha:-n.

Va; va:%n Da; lF0F!ng, cC3 tha; 

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 khC4ng ca:'n thia:?t pha:#i DC!p a;)ng 100% theo Da;
nh ma;)c cC!c nF0a;c va:+n tra:#. Kia;u bC o hia; 
  _____  

u rC5 Da:%t nF0a;c cC2n nghC(o nC*n sa:5n sC ng cha:%p nha:-n nha;/ng thia;t thC2i, cha; la:%y 40% lF0F!ng so va;i a; cC!c nF0a;c khC!c.

Theo tC4i, va:%n Da; chC-nh lC pha:#i lC m cho kia;u bC o tha:%y DF0a;#c tia;m nD 

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ng khi va; nF0a;c lC m via;c. ChC:ng ta khC4ng ta:!o ra bC!nh va:= mC pha:#i cC3 ka:? hoa:!ch, la; trC,nh Da; 
  _____  

 Via;t kia;u tha:%y DF0a;#c sa;1 ba:#o ha; ca;'a nhC nF0a;c. NhF0 va:-y, sa;)c hC:t sa:= la;n hF!n vC ma;i Dem la:!i hia;u qua:# thia:?t tha;1c. 

  <http://vnexpress.net/Vietnam/Xa-hoi/2008/02/3B9FEF9B/AYE_0123.jpg> 

Via;t kia;u luC4n mong mua;n DF0a;#c gC3p sa;)c xC"y da;1ng Da:%t nF0a;c. a:"nh: HoC ng HC .

- CC3 C= kia:?n cho ra:1ng, tha;i gian qua Via;t kia;u va; nF0a;c Da sa; cao tua;i, theo tC-nh cha:%t "lC! ra;%ng va; ca;i", nha;/ng ngF0a;i tra:; tua;i quC! C-t. Cng nghD) gC, va; DC!nh giC! nC y?

- NgF0a;i giC mong mua;n va; Da:%t ma:9. Cng bC , cha ma:9 va; thC, trF0a;c sau con chC!u cE)ng sa:= na;i gC3t va; va;i ca;i ngua;n. LC:c DC3 ha; sa:= cC3 DC3ng gC3p ca;% tha; 

  _____  

. Da;i va;i nha;/ng ngF0a;i tra:; tC i nD 
  _____  

ng, chC:ng ta pha:#i tia:?p ca:-n tC,m hia; 
  _____  

u xem ha; cC3 mong mua;n, ta:%m lC2ng, nhia;t huya:?t hay khC4ng. Na:?u DF0a;#c thC, ta ca:'n kia:?n ngha;
 ChC-nh pha;', tC9y Da;
a bC n, con ngF0a;i Da; 
  _____  

 cC3 cha:? Da; DC#i nga; thC-ch ha;#p.

- Ma;t sa; qua;c gia nhF0 Trung Qua;c, HC n Qua;c DC# cC3 nha;/ng chC-nh sC!ch F0u DC#i ra:%t ta;t nhF0 xC"y nhC , xC"y trung tC"m nghiC*n ca;)u cho cC!c kia;u bC o va; nF0a;c lC m viC*c... ChC:ng ta cC3 rC:t ra DF0a;#c bC i ha;c gC, ta;+ cC!c nF0a;c ba:!n?

- Trung Qua;c lC bC i ha;c kinh nghia;m la;n. Kinh ta:? Trung Qua;c trong nha;/ng nD 

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m qua phC!t tria; 
  _____  

n ma:!nh nC*n va; cF! ba:#n DC# cC3 Da;' la;1c Da; 
  _____  

 DC!p a;)ng tF0F!ng Da;i ta;t yC*u ca:'u ca;'a kia;u bC o. ChC:ng ra hia;n cC2n thia:?u tha;n nC*n trF0a;c ma:/t sa:= DC!p a;)ng nha;/ng yC*u ca:'u cF! ba:#n. Sau khi tha;1c hia;n cha:? Da; mia;n tha;
 tha;1c, chC:ng tC4i Dang tC-nh Da:?n cha:? Da; DC#i nga; ca;'a ha; khi tham gia Da:'u tF0, thua:? sua:%t... CC3 tha; 
  _____  

 sa:= cC3 ma;t sa; F0u DC#i trong tha;i gian Da:'u Da;i va;i cC!c da;1 C!n kha:# thi.

Na:?u so sC!nh ma;t cC!ch hC,nh tF0a;#ng thC, ca;ng Da;ng trC- tha;)c kia;u bC o nhF0 lC ma;t kho bC!u la; thiC*n. ChC:ng ta khC4ng ma:%t cC4ng tC,m kia:?m na;/a mC pha:#i lC m sao Da; 

  _____  

 tia:?p ca:-n, ta:!o sa;1 tin tF0a;ng Da; 
  _____  

 ha; tra; va; vC cC3 sC!ng kia:?n DC3ng gC3p cho Da:%t nF0a;c.

Nguya;n HF0ng tha;1c hia;n

-- 
Tran Dinh Hoanh, Esq., LLB, JD
Washington DC 

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