Time of strategic significance
The term of the 13th Party Congress (2021-2025) marked many important policies, helping to "turn danger into opportunity". Strategic resolutions on science and technology, institutions, international integration and economic and cultural fields have created a premise for rapid and sustainable development. Strategic breakthroughs are implemented on three pillars: Institutions, infrastructure and human resources, contributing to transforming the development model. The fields of culture, society and environment have also made many advances, improving the quality of life of the people and consolidating the foundation for sustainable development.
GDP growth in 2025 reached 8.02%, averaging 6.3% in the period, belonging to the high group of the region and in the world. The economic scale increased from 346 billion USD (2020) to 514 billion USD (2025), ranking 32nd in the world; GDP per capita reached more than 5,000 USD, bringing Vietnam into the group of high-middle-income countries (completing one of the major milestones set by the 13th Party Congress).
Stepping into 2026, the country is facing a time of special strategic significance: the 14th National Congress of the Party. This is not only an important political event every 5 years, the 14th Congress is seen as a historical milestone opening a new stage of development, where the national vision to 2030, and beyond 2045 is planned. The results of the 13th term and throughout the 40-year Doi Moi process are an important premise for the country to enter a new era of development for the country.
The draft political report of the 13th Party Central Committee at the 14th Party Congress clearly states the main development goals and targets for 5 years 2026-2030. In which, striving to achieve an average gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate for the period 2026 - 2030 from 10%/year or higher; GDP per capita by 2030 reaching about 8,500 USD; proportion of processing and manufacturing industry reaching about 28% of GDP; proportion of digital economy reaching about 30% of GDP. Contribution of total factor productivity (TFP) to economic growth reaching over 55%. Labor productivity growth rate reaching about 8.5%/year.
Starting a new stage of development
At the National Conference of the Government and local authorities in early January 2026, General Secretary To Lam emphasized: 2026 marks the beginning of a new development phase, associated with the implementation of the Resolution of the 14th Party Congress and the Socio-Economic Development Plan 2026-2030. This is a very important year to shape the country's long-term development model and growth trajectory.
The GDP growth target of 10% or more is very challenging. Therefore, the next period requires fundamental innovation in development thinking, management methods and resource allocation, strong decentralization and delegation of power, with sufficiently deep, sufficiently strong, and sufficiently drastic reforms" - the General Secretary emphasized.
Dr. Le Trung Kien (Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics) analyzed: "Economic growth in the period 2021-2025 reached an average of over 6%/year; in 2025 alone, it reached about 8%, creating a premise for entering a higher growth phase in the next term. This is an important practical foundation for the 14th Congress to set a breakthrough growth target for the period 2026-2030.
Mr. Nguyen Tuc - Member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front - said that the draft documents of the 14th Congress are built on the basis of a deep synthesis of practice and long-term strategic forecast, clearly showing the aspiration of the nation to rise up. The draft documents of the 14th Congress not only inherit the achievements of innovation, but also design a qualitative shift in development thinking.
The 14th Congress is a step to realize that vision with a new growth model and breakthrough policies. This is no longer a term goal, but a half-century strategy. For the first time, the Congress document integrates a long-term vision with a specific action program, shortening the gap between planning and implementation. This is what makes the stature of "shaping the national future" - Mr. Tuc emphasized.
With the foundation of achievements of 40 years of National Renovation, with high social consensus, with elaborately prepared strategic documents, the 14th Congress will create a new development momentum, strongly starting from the beginning of 2026, bringing the country into a new era, the era of national striving.
At the National Conference of the Government and local authorities in early January 2026, General Secretary To Lam requested to both solve urgent issues to promote growth and implement long-term strategic reforms. Key tasks include: Removing institutional bottlenecks, transforming the growth model based on productivity and innovation, building modern strategic infrastructure, improving the capacity to implement the apparatus, developing high-quality human resources, focusing on culture and social security, responding to climate change, protecting the environment, consolidating national defense and security, and implementing independent and multilateral foreign affairs to create a stable environment for development.
