He explains that these scholars can blend modern tools such as GIS mapping or laboratory analysis with the traditional wisdom of their own villages – for example, knowing why a community forest must never be cut down or remembering where a medicinal plant grows.

To make this blend work, he proposes an innovation ecosystem that offers small research grants, open data, incubators and other support, while also guaranteeing that the local community participates and shares any benefits.

In a November 2023 debate on the Land Law, he called for a legal framework that creates land reserves for ethnic minority groups, stressing that terraced rice fields are not only for growing rice but also create landscape value and tourism opportunities.

By linking indigenous knowledge with modern science and policy, ethnic minority intellectuals can turn centuries‑old practices into marketable products, protect cultural heritage, and help shape inclusive development strategies for the whole country.

In short, their ability to act as translators between community experience and national innovation makes them a vital resource for Vietnam’s future growth.