Image reproduced from 中國台灣網

On the morning of July 1, 2023, the sound of drums and bells resonated from temples across Vietnam, symbolizing the dawn of a new era. Starting that day, in addition to the operational restructuring of 34 provincial and municipal administrative regions, a series of new policies came into effect, among which the most notable was the relaxation of nationality application requirements and the conditions for overseas citizens to reacquire citizenship.

Vietnam's Minister of Justice Nguyen Hai Ninh stated, "This relaxation is aimed at making the conditions more open and transparent, with the goal of attracting more overseas Vietnamese and high-tech talents to acquire or restore Vietnamese nationality." The Vietnamese government hopes to significantly enhance the competitiveness of its technology industries, including artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors, by 2030. However, the country has historically had stringent restrictions on dual nationality. The new law not only aims to attract international talents and investments, but also targets Vietnamese expatriates who possess strong economic power abroad, hoping to encourage more of them to return home with their capital, skills, and experience.

Many Taiwanese immigrants who married into Taiwanese families and have already renounced their Vietnamese citizenship have expressed optimism regarding this policy. Fan Mei-rong, the chairperson of the Taiwanese New Residents Party, said, "I hope the new law can be implemented quickly, providing a direction for overseas Vietnamese sisters, as acquiring citizenship will significantly enhance their financial capacity and willingness to invest." According to official statistics, if we also consider the post-war descendants of immigrants, there are about 6 million overseas Vietnamese, with around 80% residing in developed countries. Furthermore, the total remittances to Vietnam are projected to reach $16 billion in 2024, marking a 32% increase from 2022, firmly positioning Vietnam among the top 10 countries worldwide for remittance reception and within the top 3 in the Asia-Pacific region.