This is not subjective optimism, but the result of a process of accumulating internal strength, institutional reform and strengthening market confidence.
In 2025, Vietnam's economy not only achieved but exceeded the growth target assigned by the National Assembly, in the context of the world economy still facing many instabilities, geopolitical conflicts, persistent inflation, and increasing protectionist trends. Overcoming those difficulties shows that the economy has better resilience, the growth structure gradually shifts from breadth to depth, and the quality of growth has improved.
Notably, 2025 is a year of institutional breakthroughs with key resolutions of the Politburo related to innovation, digital transformation, law-making and implementation, and private economic development. Especially resolutions are Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 on breakthroughs in science and technology development and national innovation and digital transformation; Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2025 on international integration in the new situation; Resolution No. NQ-66NQ/TW dated April 30, 2025 on innovation in law-making and implementation to meet the requirements of national development in the new era; Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW dated May 4, 2025 on private economic development and Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW dated August 22, 2025 on breakthroughs in education and training development; Resolution No. 79-NQ/TW dated January 6, 2026 on state economic development; Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW dated January 7, 2026 on cultural development of Vietnam. People and businesses are happy because they clearly see a new vitality being formed and a new development space being opened.
The content and spirit of the Resolutions go into life, directly hitting "bottlenecks" that have existed for many years such as cumbersome administrative procedures, high compliance costs, discipline and order in implementation are not strict, and the role of the private economy has not been properly promoted.
Removing institutional bottlenecks has paved the way for business confidence to recover. When the rules of the game are more transparent, unofficial costs are tightened, property rights and business rights are better protected, businesses will dare to invest in the long term, dare to innovate and accept risks to invest creatively.
This is an important foundation to move into 2026, growth drivers are not only stronger but also more sustainable. The GDP growth target of 10% is considered very ambitious, but not without basis. The issue lies in strongly promoting the "drivers" of the economy.
The first is large-scale public and private investment, led by a constructive and action-oriented State.
The outstanding event on December 19, 2025, the whole country simultaneously started construction, inaugurated, and technically opened traffic for projects to celebrate the 14th Party Congress, not only having political significance but also clearly reflecting the trend of the private economy becoming an investment pillar. In the total investment of 3.4 million billion VND of 234 projects, the private sector participated in 138 projects with 2.97 million billion VND, accounting for about 82% of total capital. These figures show that if properly "untied", the private sector can completely shoulder the leading role in growth.
Second, FDI attraction is shifting from "quantity" to "quality". Instead of chasing capital at all costs, Vietnam is increasingly emphasizing the criteria of technology, innovation, environmental protection and substantive links with domestic enterprises. When FDI is no longer an "oasis", but becomes a part of the production - innovation - innovation ecosystem, the spillover effect on productivity and competitiveness will be clearer in the coming period.
Third, the new growth engine comes from the digital economy, green economy and improving labor productivity. Digital transformation is not just about technology, but about changing management methods, production methods and service delivery methods.
The green economy is not only to meet international standards, but also an opportunity to restructure industries, reduce long-term costs and increase added value. Labor productivity - the "achilles' heel" of the Vietnamese economy, can only improve when the three pillars of institutions, people and technology are promoted synchronously.
An indispensable foundation for breakthrough is infrastructure, especially transport infrastructure. Bringing the total length of expressways to more than 3,000km in the 2021–2025 term not only helps reduce logistics costs, facilitate smooth traffic, but also creates management and implementation experience to aim for the target of 5,000km of expressways by 2030.
Infrastructure going one step ahead will lead to investment, production and labor migration, forming new growth poles.
Overall, 2026 is not a zero-sum start, but a time of convergence of accumulated internal strength, institutions have been "cleared" and confidence is returning. Challenges remain, external risks are not over, but opportunities are clearer than ever.
If institutions continue to be strictly implemented, businesses are trusted and given opportunities, and investment is led in the right direction, then the goal of high growth is not just a figure on paper but a reality in life.
2026 is the year Vietnam moves from "overcoming difficulties in growth" to "breakthrough growth". Breakthrough by quality, by productivity and by trust placed in the right place.
