Although Vietnamese communities around the world are leaving their mark in many fields, their stories have yet to deeply resonate within the domestic public.

Geographical borders are no longer limits for the movement of Vietnamese people. Over the decades, millions have left their homeland to study, work, or seek new opportunities, forming a global community spread across continents. Today, around six million Vietnamese live in more than 130 countries and territories.

In the past three decades, overseas Vietnamese have sent home over 190 billion USD in remittances — equivalent to nearly 90% of total disbursed FDI in the same period. In 2023 alone, remittances reached a record 16 billion USD, up more than 32% from the previous year — a testament to the enduring connection between the global Vietnamese community and their homeland, even amid a volatile world economy.

Yet the influence of Vietnamese people abroad cannot be measured by remittances alone. They are increasingly visible in research institutes, tech firms, financial organizations, universities, and creative industries worldwide. According to the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, roughly 600,000 Vietnamese intellectuals and experts are working in more than 70 countries. However, their achievements often remain confined to specialized domains — meaning the public at home still knows little about them.

“Many Vietnamese living abroad hold important positions but rarely appear in the media,” noted Ms. Luu Bao Huong, Chairwoman of GG Corporation (GGC). “That makes domestic perceptions of Vietnamese people on the international stage sometimes incomplete.”

This gap reveals a lack of storytelling about the global Vietnamese experience — across research, arts, entrepreneurship, and innovation — leaving domestic audiences with only fragmented glimpses and few opportunities to connect or be inspired by the overseas community.

In Ireland, for example, the Global Irish Network brings together over 300 business leaders and professionals from 30 countries, serving as a bridge between the Irish diaspora and government agencies in investment, trade, and education. India hosts its biennial Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Day of the Indian Diaspora) to honor distinguished expatriates and foster dialogue between the government and overseas Indians on economic, scientific, and cultural cooperation.

In Vietnam, both the public and private sectors are also working to strengthen connections with overseas intellectuals and professionals. The Vietnam Innovation Network (VNI), founded in 2018, exemplifies this effort — linking Vietnamese experts and scientists at home and abroad to share knowledge, support research, entrepreneurship, and technology development. Initiatives like these are gradually shaping Vietnam’s human infrastructure for the integration era, though the focus still leans heavily toward science, technology, and economics.

Meanwhile, “soft heritage” — the spiritual, artistic, and cultural dimensions of Vietnamese identity — remains underexplored. These values not only reflect how Vietnamese culture is represented globally but also help bridge generations and communities across the world.

Recognizing that gap, Ms. Luu Bao Huong and GG Corporation initiated the Living Heritage project, which honors accomplished and inspiring Vietnamese individuals on the global stage while connecting them more closely with audiences at home. Beginning as an online database and annual publication, Living Heritage is gradually expanding into a series of professional activities and artistic events — spaces where knowledge and emotion converge.

“Highlighting outstanding Vietnamese figures abroad isn’t about personal glorification,” said Ms. Huong. “It’s about allowing both Vietnamese and international audiences to see real journeys — that generations of Vietnamese have stepped out into the world, studied, worked, and taken on complex responsibilities, all within their capabilities.”

Living Heritage begins its journey with a concert — and it’s no coincidence that the central figure is jazz pianist Niels Lan Doky, a Vietnamese-Danish artist of mixed heritage. Twenty years after his last performance in his father’s homeland, Doky will once again sit at the piano in Ho Chi Minh City, at the IMMERSED concert on November 15.

A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Niels Lan Doky has released 46 albums, performed at renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall (New York) and Royal Albert Hall (London), and collaborated with jazz legends John Scofield and Pat Metheny. For his lasting contributions to the arts, he was knighted by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.

Yet in Vietnam, his name remains little known — a clear example of the “recognition gap” Ms. Huong referred to. The IMMERSED concert, therefore, is not only Doky’s return to his roots but also a chance for an overseas Vietnamese artist to bridge that distance with his homeland through music.

For Ms. Huong, Living Heritage is not merely a series of artistic events. It is a living archive — documenting outstanding Vietnamese individuals so that their values and stories can be preserved and passed on to future generations.

“Living Heritage is not only about remembering the past; it’s a space to nurture heritage for the future,” Ms. Huong shared. “Music is the fastest way to reach people’s hearts. Through melodies, we believe the humility, elegance, and resilience of the Vietnamese spirit can be shared with generations to come.”

Source: VOV