The findings of Viet Nam Migration Profile 2023 highlight the significance of migration data in the formulation of policies and legislation related to migration, as well as Viet Nam’s ongoing efforts in migration governance to make migration work for all.

HANOI, October 29, 2024 – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), held a workshop to officially launch Viet Nam Migration Profile 2023 in Ha Noi.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu, Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, highlights several key findings of Viet Nam Migration Profile 2023 compared to the two previous editions published in 2011 and 2016. These include, for the first time, analyses on migration flows of foreign nationals into Viet Nam; policies and legislation related to the migration of foreign nationals; and the collection and analysis of an international migration data system with a wider range of statistical categories. The Migration Profile also provides a more comprehensive assessment of policies and practices in ensuring the rights of women during migration, and it offers information and results regarding Viet Nam’s implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM).

Mr. Nguyen Minh Vu emphasizes that promoting legal migration, preventing and stopping migration through informal channels, ensuring safe migration, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of migrants, including both Vietnamese citizens migrating abroad and foreign nationals migrating into Viet Nam, have always been consistent policies of Viet Nam. He affirms that Viet Nam seeks to enhance cooperation with other countries, United Nations agencies, and international organizations to strengthen the exchange of experiences in migration governance, develop and manage migration data systems, and implement measures to promote safe and legal migration while minimizing the vulnerabilities faced by migrants during the migration process.

Speaking at the workshop, Ms. Mitsue Pembroke, Officer in Charge for IOM, states, “The Viet Nam 2023 Migration Profile Report provides us with a more multi-dimensional perspective on various aspects of migration through data and evidence-based analysis”. She added, “In a constantly changing world, along with globalization and integration, understanding the issues surrounding migration will enable countries to formulate more effective, evidence-based policies. The Migration Profile Report is as a guidebook that helps us better understand trends, and also grasp the remaining challenges related to this issue.”

Viet Nam Migration Profile 2023 was compiled under the leadership of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the participation of various agencies, as part of the project “Supporting Evidence-Based Policy and Programmes in the Context of Cross-Border Mobility in Viet Nam”. This project was jointly implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam and IOM, with funding from the IOM Development Fund (IDF). The Migration Profile provides a comprehensive analysis of migration flows, including both Vietnamese citizens migrating abroad and foreign nationals migrating into Viet Nam, and the relevant policies and laws concerning migration during the period of 2017–2023. The Migration Profile highlights the crucial role of migrants in promoting social development and economic growth, both in Viet Nam and in other related countries (countries of origin and destination). It concludes that if managed effectively, international migration can serve as a catalyst for sustainable development, contributing to the socio-economic development of each country, locality, community, and the migrants themselves.

According to data from the Viet Nam Migration Profile 2023, during the period of 2017–2023, labor migration continued to be the predominant form of migration in Viet Nam, with nearly 860.000 workers going abroad for employment under contract, averaging more than 100.000 workers per year mainly in Japan, Taiwan Province of the People’s Republic of China and Republic of Korea. Educational migration also saw a similar increase; although exact figures are not yet available, it is estimated that over 250.000 Vietnamese students are currently studying abroad, primarily in the Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, the United States, Taiwan (China), Canada, China, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The proportion of Vietnamese migrants who are female is on the rise. The inflow of foreign nationals into Viet Nam has also been relatively diverse, with labor migration being the most significant category, as 475.198 foreign nationals were granted work permits between 2017 and 2022.

In addition, the data from Viet Nam Migration Profile 2023 also highlight several challenges, such as ensuring safe migration, preventing migrant smuggling, combating cross-border human trafficking, reducing vulnerabilities, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of migrants against the backdrop of alarming issues such as online job scams promising “easy and high-paying jobs”, migrant smuggling for unlawful jobs, and human trafficking for forced criminality at casinos and online gaming businesses in the region. The issue of “brain drain” and new challenges arising from the development of artificial intelligence, which is starting to replace low-skilled labor, are also areas of concern. Although no official data is available, it is estimated that 70-80% of self-funded international students do not return to Viet Nam after completing their studies, opting instead to remain abroad for higher-paying jobs and better benefits. The Profile recommends that the Vietnamese government adopt comprehensive and breakthrough solutions to mitigate this issue. At the same time, it suggests transforming challenges into opportunities by embracing the new concept of “brain mobility” which allows migrants to contribute in various ways without necessarily having to return to their home country.   

As one of the leading countries in implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM), through Viet Nam Migration Profile 2023, Viet Nam has demonstrated a strong commitment to practical solutions that promote safe migration. This highlights the necessity of developing evidence-based policies, in line with the Objective 1 of the GCM.  Viet Nam Migration Profile 2023 serves as an important policy tool, contributing to the improvement of Viet Nam's legal framework on international migration across various areas such as labor migration, migration for study migration, marriages and child adoption involving foreign elements, and human trafficking prevention and combat, etc. The Profile recommends to establish an international migration management mechanism based on effective coordination and information sharing among relevant ministries and agencies, while fostering close cooperation with countries and partners, with a view to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of migrants and enhancing the positive impacts of migration on sustainable development.

At the workshop on the launch of Viet Nam Migration Profile 2023 in Ha Noi, nearly 80 delegates from various ministries, agencies, foreign embassies, and international organizations actively discussed prominent migration trends in recent years. Presentations were delivered by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Overseas Labor Management of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, the Population Department of the Ministry of Health, and the Department of Drug and Crime Prevention of the Border Guard Command, Ministry of National Defense. Following the workshop in Ha Noi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and IOM will continue the official launch of Viet Nam Migration Report 2023 in Ho Chi Minh City on November 1, 2024.

For media enquiries, please contact

Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Hau, Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam – Tel/ Email: 0904388348

Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Tram, IOM Viet Nam, ĐT : +84 (0) 912893964 . ngocnguyen@iom.int .