Motivation for work among university faculty is a decisive factor for the quality of education and research, as well as the competitiveness of higher education institutions in today’s globalized context. This paper aims to summarize the factors that motivate university faculty, including salaries and benefits, academic autonomy, the working environment and academic culture, and opportunities for promotion and professional development, through document analysis. Based on a synthesis and analysis of international experiences from countries such as the United States, the Netherlands, Australia, Finland, Singapore, the paper compares these with the situation in Vietnam. The analysis shows that Vietnam needs to substantially improve its income mechanisms, genuinely empower academic autonomy, invest heavily in facilities and research, and diversify faculty career pathways to integrate into and enhance the quality of higher education.