Vietnamese students in Hong Kong, Macau eye Party Congress for reform momentum

January 16, 2026 - 09:54
Nguyễn Thị Xuân Huệ, a graduate in applied English linguistics from the University of Macau, said young intellectuals are closely tracking the congress.
Nguyễn Thị Khánh (far right), a postdoctoral researcher at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, participates in the Global Forum for Young Vietnamese Intellectuals in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo

HONG KONG — Ahead of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV), Vietnamese students and researchers based in Hong Kong and Macau (China) shared their views, confidence and expectations for the event in their interviews granted to Vietnam News Agency.

Nguyễn Thị Xuân Huệ, a graduate in applied English linguistics from the University of Macau, said young intellectuals are closely tracking the congress.

They expect the incoming leaders to sustain the reform agenda and a tough stance on anti-corruption, and demonstrate strategic vision to steer the country amid an increasingly complex global landscape.

Huệ highlighted particular interest among students in policies related to deeper global economic integration, foreign investment attraction and quality workforce training.

Many overseas Vietnamese students, she said, hope for more concrete and practical policies to harness talent trained abroad.

These include support mechanisms for returnees, better job matching based on expertise, opportunities for intellectual contributions during studies abroad, and simplified pathways for graduates and postgraduates to support national development effectively after their studies.

In recent years, the Party and State have stepped up practical engagement with overseas Vietnamese (OV) communities, Huệ continued, citing Resolution 36 on OV affairs in 2024, along with the Politburo’s similar conclusion affirming that OVs form an inseparable part of the nation.

Huệ noted that students feel this shift through active outreach from the Vietnamese Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau, including community gatherings during holidays and assistance during challenges.

Students expressed confidence in the Party’s guidelines and hoped that policies on national unity will continue to be translated into concrete actions, so that OVs feel connected and empowered to contribute to national development.

Nguyễn Thị Khánh, a postgraduate at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), expressed pride in Việt Nam's Đổi Mới (Renewal) achievements under the Party’s leadership, particularly sustained economic growth and deepening global integration.

She expected that the incoming leadership will blend strategic foresight with global experience to guide Việt Nam through the challenges of globalisation and the fourth industrial revolution, while accelerating innovation, digital and green economies, and quality investment flows.

She stressed the need to continue anti-corruption efforts, improve the capacity of public officials, safeguarding democracy, and keeping citizens at the centre of policymaking.

Khánh called for stronger legal frameworks for OVs, enabling them to contribute intellectual and financial resources more effectively to national development.

As a researcher, she anticipated more opportunities for collaboration between overseas scholars and domestic scientists, plus greater access for foreign-based researchers to domestic research funds to address Việt Nam’s development challenges.

According to her, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau has long supported and protected citizens’ rights, fostered community ties; showcased Việt Nam, its language and culture, and boosted international cooperation.

Việt Nam has recently introduced a series of new, more open policies to untangle bottlenecks in recruitment procedures, compensation and working conditions, to attract overseas talent and experts to contribute at home.

In July 2025, Khánh attended the Global Forum for Young Vietnamese Intellectuals in Hà Nội, an event that brought together overseas-based experts to discuss and propose solutions to Việt Nam’s pressing issues.— VNA/VNS

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