Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau met Prof. Hongbin Cai, dean of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) Business School, in Hanoi on Oct. 20 to discuss the proposal and strengthen academic cooperation.

The University of Hong Kong sign at the university campus in Hong Kong, Sept. 30, 2026. Photo from the university's Facebook page

Chau praised HKU's international standing and the contributions of its representative office in Vietnam, which has helped secure more than US$4.7 million in scholarships for Vietnamese students since 2022 and provided training in AI management and digital transformation for a high-level National Assembly delegation.

He said developing high-quality human resources is one of Vietnam's three strategic breakthroughs, while the Politburo has called for stronger international cooperation and investment in higher education.

Chau welcomed the plan to establish an HKU Business School campus in Hanoi as a platform for international business education and research. He noted that the government has set out conditions for foreign higher education institutions to establish branch campuses in Vietnam.

He proposed a phased approach, beginning with joint training programs with reputable Vietnamese universities or pilot courses to assess demand before expanding enrollment and proceeding with the investment and licensing procedures for a full campus.

Chau also called for broader academic collaboration, including inviting HKU faculty to teach and supervise doctoral students in Vietnam, conducting joint research, co-authoring scientific publications and commercializing research results.

Other proposals included increasing scholarships, supporting the training of Vietnamese lecturers and education managers, and creating priority admission arrangements for outstanding Vietnamese students and young scientists.

Potential cooperation areas include artificial intelligence, data science, semiconductors, green finance, financial technology, business administration and public health.