At a discussion session on urban development, experts affirmed that developing an integrated urban model, promoting Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) infrastructure, and ensuring policy consistency are key solutions for Ho Chi Minh City to attract and retain high-quality international talent.

Integrated Urban Areas and a Comprehensive Living Ecosystem for Talent

Speaking at the discussion, Mr. Angus Liew, Chairman of Gamuda Land Vietnam, argued that high-quality human resources do not only care about housing, but also place strong emphasis on the surrounding living environment—from transportation and infrastructure to education and healthcare.

According to him, the integrated urban model is the optimal solution to provide a full suite of amenities serving high-caliber personnel who come to live and work long-term. Attracting experts involves not just the individual employees, but must also account for their entire families, including educational environments for their children and elder care facilities amid an aging population.

Echoing this view, experts at the seminar noted that retaining talent requires a comprehensive "all-in-one" ecosystem approach. The city must offer not only good employment positions, but also create a high-quality, safe, and synchronized living environment—spanning housing, healthcare, education, and cultural-community spaces.

Unclogging Administrative Bottlenecks and Building a "Talent City Brand"

Beyond living spaces, administrative hurdles remain a major challenge in recruiting international experts. Speakers pointed out that while the regulations prescribe a work permit processing time of about 10–20 days, the actual recruitment and administrative completion for C-suite positions—such as General Director—can take anywhere from 6 months to a year.

At the same time, the city needs to roll out a "Talent City Brand" strategy, similar to how corporations build employer branding. This should be accompanied by homecoming programs targeting overseas Vietnamese intellectuals in key technology sectors, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the semiconductor industry, and high-tech manufacturing. This talent pool holds a distinct edge due to their deep understanding of local culture and language combined with international expertise and experience.

The TOD Model and Practical Insights from Urban Rail Networks

Regarding infrastructure development, Mr. Angus Liew suggested that the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) model, combined with Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), could help Ho Chi Minh City mobilize additional social resources. Under this model, the private sector participates in infrastructure investment and the development of land funds and urban spaces connected to transit hubs.

He cited Gamuda’s experience in implementing the urban rail system in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. According to him, the company served as a project delivery partner involved from design through implementation, successfully completing approximately 100 km of metro lines within 6 years.

With Ho Chi Minh City’s plan to develop around 255 km of urban rail by 2030, Mr. Angus Liew stated that progress will heavily depend on policy stability and coordination among stakeholders. "This goal is achievable if policies remain consistent and stable over the long term," he said.

Institutional Synchronization: A Lever to Expand Development Resources

From a planning and regulatory perspective, experts emphasized that transitioning from pilot mechanisms to enacting long-term, stable laws and resolutions is fundamental to providing investors with the confidence to collaborate. Empowering Ho Chi Minh City through thorough decentralization via City People’s Council resolutions allows the locality to proactively resolve practical bottlenecks, creating an unencumbered legal corridor to mobilize all social resources.

Alongside "hard infrastructure"—such as transportation networks, seaports, and new urban areas—"soft infrastructure" (including institutions, incentive policies, administrative procedures, and the efficiency of the public administrative apparatus) plays a decisive role.

Mr. Angus Liew concluded that stable policies, synchronized infrastructure, and a complete urban ecosystem will form the foundation for Ho Chi Minh City to compete more effectively in attracting high-quality talent and international capital flows.