The General Secretary called for urgent proposals to develop, reward, and effectively utilize experts, alongside implementing the Talent Attraction Strategy through 2030 with a 2050 vision. The plan should define criteria, working regulations, incentives, and unique recruitment processes for chief engineers and chief architects leading national-level breakthrough initiatives.

One proposed approach is to base expert and scientist salaries on the existing senior expert scale, with coefficients of 8.8, 9.4, and 10, making the highest level equal to a minister’s salary - about 23.4 million VND (approximately USD 920) per month - plus allowances, housing, and transport benefits.

While this might seem reasonable at first glance, it falls short when examined closely. Borrowing the senior expert pay scale does not reflect the spirit of the General Secretary’s directive for exceptional incentives. Experts and scientists are true talents, and if they join the public sector, they can deliver exceptional results, accelerating innovation and national progress.

Although working conditions, environment, and patriotism matter, salary remains the most decisive factor in attracting top talent to the public sector. Applying administrative pay hierarchies - treating external experts as if minister-level pay is a “special privilege” - risks deterring talent.

Sports offer a parallel: without competitive salaries, Vietnam could not have recruited football coaches like Park Hang-seo, Philippe Troussier, or Kim Sang-sik.

Realistically, a 24 million VND salary plus allowances is unlikely to attract domestic experts, and certainly not foreign ones, where ordinary workers in Europe or the US earn USD 2,000 or more monthly.

Lessons from Japan over 150 years ago

In 1868, Emperor Meiji began reforms to make Japan a global power. His “Five-Article Oath” included the pledge to “Seek knowledge throughout the world to strengthen the nation,” forming the foundation for attracting foreign experts when Japan lagged far behind the West.

In 1870, the government issued the “Regulations on Accepting Foreign Experts,” defining contracts, benefits, budgets, and termination terms. The focus was on the expert’s depth of knowledge, applicability to Japan, qualifications, and dedication.

This policy drew 2,000–4,000 foreign experts to Japan, with about 800 still working there by 1899. The Ministry of Industry hired the most, especially engineers for major projects like railways, telegraphs, and ports. Other ministries targeted expertise in medicine, natural sciences, linguistics, policing, and finance.

Japan paid generously. In 1874, it spent 2.272 million yen - 33.7% of the national budget - on expert salaries. Some earned as much as ministers, prime ministers, or army generals; a few earned more. For example, British chief engineer Cargill received 2,000 yen/month, and engineer Kinder at Osaka’s mint earned 1,045 yen/month, while the prime minister earned 800 yen.

Japan’s example shows the importance of a consistent national policy, strategic selection of expertise in critical fields, and extraordinary incentives to attract top talent. For Vietnam, without a breakthrough in policy thinking, there will be no measures strong enough to draw experts and scientists - especially those abroad - into the country’s service.

Dr. Dinh Duy Hoa