HO CHI MINH CITY, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City has adopted a policy on attracting experts and scientists, particularly those in the fields of information technology, biotech, logistics, nanotech and the support industry, in the 2018-2020 period.

Under the policy, the city will provide initial subsidy of 80-100 million Vietnamese dong (3,500-4,400 U.S. dollars) to each scientist or expert after they sign a contract, local daily newspaper Vietnam News reported Monday.

They will receive a monthly salary based on the coefficient used to calculate the pay of senior experts under a governmental decree. Experts and scientists who are professors will be paid at a coefficient of 9.4, while the others will be paid at a coefficient of 8.8.

In addition, experts and scientists will receive an allowance of 50 million Vietnamese dong (2,200 U.S. dollars) to 1 billion Vietnamese dong (44,000 U.S. dollars) per person per research project.

The city authorities will also provide housing or support 50 percent of the rent (up to 7 million Vietnamese dong, or 308 U.S. dollars, per month) for the experts and scientists.

The city's current policies on attracting highly skilled professionals have resulted in the hiring of only 15 experts between 2015 and 2017, five of whom are foreigners.?