Ho Chi Minh City weighs easing state employment rules to draw talents

Ho Chi Minh City plans to skip the residency status requirement in employment of civil jobs to attract more talents, officials said.

“There’s no reason that experts right inside the country have to go through the residency status requirement,” Nguyen Van Dung, the director of the city's Department of Science and Technology, told a meeting last Friday, citing the city's current rules offered to attract foreign experts, including overseas Vietnamese.

The city is in severe shortage of public school teachers.
The city is in severe shortage of public school teachers.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest and also the country's business hub, has already been paying as high as VND150 million ($6,580) per month to foreign talents, a senior Interior Department official said at the meeting. The government's basic salary for state employees now stands at around VND1.2 million a month.

Dung proposed to abolish the permanent residency requirement, which is applied for most state jobs including teachers. 

The city’s top leader Dinh La Thang dismissed the demand for permanent residency as “unreasonable,” adding that the city can totally change the rule to draw more talented workers.

Ho Chi Minh City is in severe shortage of primary and secondary school teachers, especially for music, sports and computer skills, so an open policy is needed to meet the workforce demand, Thang was quoted by the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper as saying at the same meeting.

The Department of Interior said it will collect more opinions and propose a new rule to the municipal government.

Vietnam is one of the few countries where the “ho khau” (residency) system is applied, which borrows heavily from China’s hukou. The system, started in the 1950s to control counter revolutionaries and criminals, requires Vietnamese citizens to live where they are registered or seek government permission for relocation.

After the war, many people relied on the system as they needed to receive basic goods and services once subsidized by the government. Now “ho khau” is still maintained partly to curb migrants in major cities.

Many private businesses do not demand the residency status when hiring. In several public sectors, cities still give exceptions to highly qualified migrants.

VnExpress

Other News

Private economic sector poised for breakthrough growth

Private economic sector poised for breakthrough growth

More than a year after the Politburo's Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW on private sector development came into effect, expectations now extend beyond increasing the number of enterprises. The goal is to build a stronger business community with greater resilience, larger ambitions and the capacity to compete in global supply chains.

Vietnam remains ASEAN growth leader in 2026 despite global headwinds: WB

Vietnam remains ASEAN growth leader in 2026 despite global headwinds: WB

Vietnam is expected to remain one of ASEAN’s fastest-growing economies in 2026, supported by resilient exports, strong investment inflows and an ambitious reform agenda, despite mounting global uncertainties, according to the World Bank’s latest Vietnam Economic Update released on May 15.

Ministry establishes monitoring framework for carbon market

Ministry establishes monitoring framework for carbon market

Under a new circular, the exchange of greenhouse gas emission quotas and carbon credits is conducted on the domestic carbon credit exchange through the carbon trading system, which is interconnected with the national registration system.

Biofuel ready for nationwide rollout

Biofuel ready for nationwide rollout

For biofuels, particularly E10, to develop successfully, stronger and more coordinated policies are needed, especially pricing mechanisms capable of creating a sufficiently attractive gap between E10 and mineral-based petrol, an expert has said.

Vietnamese farm produce promoted at African investment, trade forum

Vietnamese farm produce promoted at African investment, trade forum

The 12th Africa Forum for Investment & Commerce (AFIC 12) opened in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, on May 9, drawing around 2,000 participants, including officials, economists, businesses, financial and development organizagtions from 43 African countries and international partners, including Vietnam.

Int'l medical, pharmaceutical expo opens in Hanoi

Int'l medical, pharmaceutical expo opens in Hanoi

The exhibition, which runs until May 9 at the Hanoi International Centre for Exhibition, showcases advanced products and technologies across a range of fields, including pharmaceuticals, drug manufacturing machinery and equipment, medical devices, hospital and clinic services and dental equipment.

Mega projects to transform Ho Chi Minh City urban landscape

Mega projects to transform Ho Chi Minh City urban landscape

Leading the charge in this massive building spree is the new central city square in the core of the Thu Thiem new urban area. Spanning more than 20 ha, it’s the crown jewel of the Central Square and new administrative center complex.

Vietnam establishes itself as one of region’s most dynamic manufacturing and supply bases

Vietnam establishes itself as one of region’s most dynamic manufacturing and supply bases

The country’s stable political and economic environment provides a critical foundation for long-term sourcing strategies. At the same time, Vietnam has demonstrated a strong ability to scale up manufacturing, supported by a continuously expanding industrial base capable of meeting both high-volume demand and increasingly complex technical and quality requirements.

Vietnamese pomelos gain broader access to Australian market

Vietnamese pomelos gain broader access to Australian market

The update by Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to its Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) on April 10, officially setting out import conditions for Vietnamese pomelos, is regarded as a major milestone in market access efforts.

Vietnam's industry spearheads transition to circular economy

Vietnam's industry spearheads transition to circular economy

The circular economy is no longer just a policy choice. It has become an inevitable trend for delivering sustainable and green growth, sharpening competitiveness at home and abroad, and meeting Vietnam’s net-zero emissions target by 2050. It is now a prerequisite to sustain long-term economic expansion, particularly in industrial production and supporting industries.

Nearly 100 tonnes of Vietnamese fruits, vegetables airlifted to UAE

Nearly 100 tonnes of Vietnamese fruits, vegetables airlifted to UAE

Vietnamese fresh produce and processed foods are increasingly recognised for their quality, with items such as cashew nuts, coffee and spices gaining popularity among Middle East consumers. In 2025, Vietnam’s farm produce exports to the UAE exceeded 445 million USD, up nearly 24% year-on-year.