Ho Chi Minh City is expanding its foreign non-governmental network and seeking to use overseas Vietnamese resources for socio-economic development, officials said at the 2026 people-to-people diplomacy conference on October 6.
Between July 2025 and June 2026, the city coordinated 163 people-to-people diplomacy events, including national-day celebrations, bilateral anniversaries, cultural festivals, delegation exchanges and humanitarian-aid activities.
Foreign non-governmental assistance
HUFO Vice President Le Thi Dieu Linh said the city had 117 registered foreign NGOs in 2026, five more than in 2025. They work in healthcare, education, social protection, community development and environmental sustainability.
By September, the municipal People's Committee had approved 30 aid packages with a total committed value of more than VND302.4 billion (US$12.1 million). Twenty project packages were worth VND137 billion, while 10 non-project packages were worth VND165 billion.
The aid supports vulnerable groups and reduces pressure on the local social welfare budget, according to the report.
Overseas Vietnamese resources
The city has 5.3 million overseas Vietnamese, and more than half maintain strong ties with Ho Chi Minh City. Remittances to the city exceeded US$10.3 billion in 2025, compared with nearly US$18 billion nationwide. In the first half of 2026, inflows reached more than US$4 billion.
HUFO called for closer cooperation among municipal departments, police and financial authorities. It also said people-to-people diplomacy should be integrated into wider international cooperation projects in line with Decree No. 313/2025/NĐ-CP on aid management.
Sources: Viet Nam News
