Hanoi, January 8, 2026
Dear leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front, leaders of central committees, ministries, and branches,
Dear leaders of provinces and cities at bridge points,
Dear all comrades.
In the joyful atmosphere of the first days of the new year 2026, towards the 14th Party Congress and preparing to welcome the Binh Ngo traditional Tet, I am very happy to attend the Government Online Conference with localities. This is a conference to both summarize and evaluate the results of 2025, and look back at the 5-year journey 2021-2025 - a difficult and challenging period, but our country has achieved many achievements and important imprints. On that basis, we will jointly arouse determination and confidently enter the era of building a rich, prosperous, civilized, and happy country.
On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I would like to send to the leaders, distinguished delegates and all compatriots and comrades across the country our warm greetings, sincere greetings and best wishes.
We have watched films about the socio-economic situation in 2025 and the 2021-2025 period of the country, listened to the frank, sincere, and responsible speeches of the Prime Minister, Government leaders, leaders of central and local departments, ministries, and branches. At this conference, I would like to mention some issues that are general and oriented for you to study together.
I. LOOKING BACK AT 2025 AND 5 YEARS 2021-2025
The context for the period 2021-2025 has many special aspects, but under the leadership of the Party, directly and regularly the Politburo, the Secretariat; the companionship of the National Assembly, the Vietnam Fatherland Front; the active participation of people and businesses, the support of international friends, the Government, and the Prime Minister have directed and operated decisively, flexibly, and effectively in all fields. Many policy decisions with the nature of "shifting the situation, changing the status, adapting to circumstances" have contributed to "turning danger into opportunity", many strategic resolutions on key areas such as science - technology, institutions - law, international integration, private economy, state economy, culture, attracting FDI, creating a premise for rapid and sustainable development both in the short and long term. Thanks to that, in 2025, we successfully completed and exceeded 15/15 key socio-economic targets; in the period 2021-2025, it is estimated that we will achieve and exceed 22/26 key socio-economic targets, approximately reaching the target of GDP in 2025.
First, the macroeconomy is maintained stably in the context of a volatile world, clearly showing the resilience of the economy. In the period 2021-2025, inflation is maintained below 3.6% (in 2025 alone about 3.3%); major balances are ensured; public debt and budget deficit are maintained within a safe threshold, consolidating medium-term stability. 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 scale of the economy 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 (achieve one of the major milestones set by the 13th Party Congress). Maintaining a 10-year consecutive trade surplus (in 2025, the trade surplus was over 21 billion USD). Public debt and deficit are within a safe limit (public debt in 2025 decreased to about 36% of GDP, the allowed limit is 60% of GDP). Tourism recovered strongly, in
Second, strategic breakthroughs are implemented simultaneously on three pillars: Institutions and organizational structure, infrastructure, human resources, creating a fundamental shift for the development model. The thinking from "management" to "creative development" is gradually being concretized, especially after Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW of the Politburo was promulgated, contributing to removing many prolonged bottlenecks, unlocking resources and improving the investment and business environment. Reforming the organizational structure and the 2-level local government model associated with decentralization and delegation of power is promoted, creating an important shift in management methods in the direction of delegating power along with responsibility, promoting proactiveness and creativity, helping the apparatus to be more streamlined, operating in localities more proactive, and compliance costs gradually reduced.
In the field of infrastructure, more focus has been placed on synchronization and linking strategic projects to expand development space and improve land use value (such as highway infrastructure, airports, ports, high-speed railways, urban railways, international financial centers, free trade zones...) showing that development thinking has been directed towards creating a foundation for long-term growth, with the increasing participation of the private economic sector. Along with that, social infrastructure and digital infrastructure are invested more synchronously, promoting digital transformation and improving the quality of public services. In the long term, human resources are placed in the center, especially in key technology and new industries; labor productivity has initially improved, (but the challenge is still to closely link training with the actual needs of the economy and the requirement to innovate the growth model).
Third, cultural, social and environmental fields have clear changes in both awareness and action, directly improving the quality of life of the people and consolidating the foundation for sustainable development. The work of preserving and promoting cultural and heritage values is approached in a more proactive and creative direction, associated with the development of the cultural industry and creative economy. Many heritages and documents are honored by UNESCO; large-scale and professional cultural, artistic and sports activities contribute to forming products and services with high added value and widespread social spread, while strengthening the soft power of the nation. Important political and historical events are organized solemnly and effectively, not only with commemorative meaning but also arous patriotism, consolidating the great national unity bloc and especially the trust of the whole society. According to international assessments, the human development index continues to improve, the happiness index increases sharply (37 places, from rank 83 in 2000 to 46 in 2025), reflecting the actual progress of human development.
Social security policies are implemented comprehensively and consistently with high spending levels (17% of total budget expenditure) to "not leave anyone behind"; early completion of the goal of eradicating temporary housing, strongly developing social housing (334,000 houses, social housing, more than 100,000 apartments in 2025), rapidly reducing the multidimensional poverty rate (only 1.3%), affirming the State's consistent priority for people, especially vulnerable people and social justice. In education and health, many long-term policy orientations have been implemented, from exempting and supporting high school tuition fees, building more schools, increasing investment in education in difficult and border areas, to consolidating the health system, both solving long-standing backlogs and preparing the foundation for improving the quality of comprehensive people's health care. Environmental protection, resource management and adaptation to climate change are more important in management and administration. Faced with increasingly extreme natural disasters, unified direction from the Central to grassroots levels and mobilizing both
Fourth, science and technology, innovation and digital transformation are being drastically implemented, gradually becoming new pillars of the country's development model. Policies to support science, technology, innovation and digital transformation are being implemented more synchronously and systematically. The national innovation system and startup ecosystem are more clearly defined, with close links between the State, businesses and research institutions. The operation of the National Innovation Center and the National Data Center demonstrates a new approach in organizing, mobilizing, and coordinating innovation resources at the national level; and at the same time forming a number of science and technology organizations that meet international standards and promote projects and cooperation in the field of new technology and core technology.
The Global Innovation Index in 2025 ranked 44/139. Digital transformation associated with administrative reform is being promoted in the direction of putting people and businesses at the center; building a digital government, digital citizens, and digital society is gradually becoming more substantive. Project 06 creates fundamental changes in the provision of public services, helping to save about 3,000 billion VND in social costs each year; the e-Government index increased by 15 places compared to 2020, ranking 71/193, showing clear progress in digital governance. (However, the results are new in the early stages; digital transformation and innovation have not spread evenly. The challenges in the coming time are to shift from widespread implementation to improving efficiency and depth, so that science, technology and digital transformation truly become the main driving force to improve productivity, competitiveness and quality of growth).
Fifth, the potential for national defense and security continues to be comprehensively consolidated, creating a solid foundation for political stability and national development in the context of a regional and international security environment with many fluctuations. Political security is maintained; the national defense posture of the whole people, people's security and the "people's heart posture" are strengthened, showing the close connection between the task of protecting the Fatherland and strengthening social trust. The construction of revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern armed forces is implemented with focus; investment resources for national defense and security are strengthened, prioritizing strategic and long-term fields, showing proactive preparation from early on, from afar. Order and social safety are ensured; in 2025, social order crimes decreased by over 24%. Traffic safety and fire and explosion prevention are deployed synchronously, contributing to creating a safe living and business environment. Foreign affairs of national defense and security are promoted in a proactive and substantive direction, serving the goal of protecting the Fatherland.
Sixth, foreign affairs and international integration continue to be bright spots, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment and expanding the development space for the country. Relations with strategic and comprehensive partners are expanded and deepened, closely linking politics, economy, defense - security and cultural exchange. Economic diplomacy is deployed proactively, substantively, and directly serving development; in 2025 alone, nearly 350 agreements and cooperation commitments were signed, thereby attracting resources, expanding markets and enhancing the resilience of the economy. Vietnam's role, position and international responsibility continue to be affirmed in regional and global multilateral mechanisms, contributing to enhancing prestige and the ability to participate in shaping the rules of the game. The foreign affairs network is increasingly widespread and balanced, diplomatic relations with 195 countries, including 42 comprehensive and strategic partners, clearly reflecting the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, and diversification in accordance with the country's development needs.
Seventh, Party building and political system work continues to be promoted in the direction of steadfastness, inheritance and innovation, directly improving the leadership capacity of the Party and the operational effectiveness of the State. The arrangement and streamlining of the organizational structure in 2025 not only reduces focal points and overcomes overlaps, but more importantly improves the efficiency, effectiveness, and efficiency of governance, meeting development requirements in the new period. The work of preventing and combating corruption, wastefulness, and negativity continues to be a bright spot, being implemented drastically and synchronously, with the spirit of "no forbidden zones, no exceptions", thereby consolidating discipline, order and social trust. Notably, corruption prevention and combat is increasingly associated with handling structural bottlenecks of the economy, overcoming inadequacies in management, especially in the fields of finance - banking, resources and large investment projects. The handling of 5 weak banks, removing long-term loss-making projects and many key energy projects shows a shift in approach from
Eighth, preside over and coordinate with agencies to develop major guidelines and policies of the Central Government, the Politburo, and the National Assembly such as reports and proposals of the Central Government and the National Assembly on socio-economic development annually and for 5 years; strategic and pillar resolutions of the Politburo and resolutions of the National Assembly on specific mechanisms and policies to implement resolutions of the Politburo; major policies on building the North-South high-speed railway, railway connecting with China, urban railway in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City...
Based on objective assessments and specific data, which can be verified, it can be affirmed that amidst global uncertainties, in a context of more difficulties and challenges than opportunities and advantages, we have not only maintained stability, including macroeconomic stability, but also achieved quite comprehensive achievements in all fields, contributing to consolidating and strengthening the trust, spiritual and material life of the people and enhancing Vietnam's position and prestige in the international arena, creating momentum, strength, and foundation for the following years, including the goal of promoting double-digit economic growth in the coming period.
On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I warmly welcome, acknowledge, congratulate, and commend the Government, the Prime Minister, Party committees, authorities, unions, business communities, cadres, party members, compatriots, soldiers nationwide and overseas Vietnamese for their efforts and achievements in 2025 and especially in the period 2021-2025.
Dear all comrades!
Besides the achieved results, with the spirit of looking straight at the truth, properly assessing the truth, it is necessary to seriously recognize that there are still many shortcomings, limitations and challenges, some are prolonged, some are new, reflecting structural bottlenecks in the development model and national governance system. I would like to mention 8 basic limitations as follows:
First, the macroeconomy is basically stable, but risks are still latent in the context of narrowing fiscal and monetary policy space. Some key markets such as real estate, corporate bonds, and asset markets are still operating inefficiently, and there is still a defensive and speculative mentality.
Second, growth is still heavily based on expanding inputs, especially investment and land exploitation, while labor productivity, total factor productivity (TFP) and technology content improve slowly. Linkages between the FDI sector and domestic enterprises are still weak; supporting industries are developing slowly; innovation has not spread evenly. Therefore, some localities achieve high growth but lack sustainability, still depend on individual projects and short-term resources, and even some localities are still confused in their growth targets.
Third, slow disbursement of public investment capital, low efficiency (showing a high ICOR coefficient of nearly 6, while industrialized countries are only about 3 successful); waste in land management, resources and public assets is still large. Many projects are prolonged, overrun, low efficiency, reflecting limitations in project preparation, priority selection and accountability mechanisms. Many projects have capital but cannot be implemented due to site clearance problems, planning adjustments, and design changes. Mobilizing private resources still faces barriers due to the risky legal environment and high compliance costs.
Fourth, the legal system is still overlapping and lacks synchronization, although we have made great efforts.Administrative procedures, especially in the fields of land, investment, construction, and environment, are still cumbersome and prolonged, increasing costs and risks for businesses.There are projects that take many years to complete procedures, while each stage is under one agency's responsibility and there is no overall responsibility mechanism.Notably, some regulations have not kept up with reality, distorting price signals and increasing risks for businesses (for example, the mechanism for announcing construction material prices is slow and not close to the market, causing contractors to easily lose money or get into trouble with finalization and inspection.This reflects passivity in institutional design, state management, and market operation that are not in line with market principles).The capacity to organize policy implementation is not uniform, there is still a situation of evasion, pushing back, and fear of responsibility in a part of officials.The slow removal of institutional bottlenecks and market operation is still a problem.
Fifth, the arrangement and streamlining of the organizational structure and the implementation of the 2-level local government model in some places are still clumsy, lacking synchronization, generating delays in operation, causing difficulties for people and businesses. Decentralization and delegation of power have not gone hand in hand with allocating resources and improving cadre capacity, creating a gap between assigned authority and actual implementation capacity.
Sixth, there is still a shortage of high-quality human resources, especially in key industries such as high technology, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and strategic infrastructure.The quality of training and the connection between training and labor market demand still have a significant gap, increasing the situation of both labor shortage and surplus.
Seventh, environmental pollution, traffic congestion and infrastructure overload in large cities have not been fundamentally addressed. Adapting to climate change is still passive in some areas, resource management and environmental protection have not kept up with the pace of urbanization and industrialization, increasing the risk of unsustainable development.
Eighth, security and order in some areas still hide complex factors; high-tech crime, cross-border fraud and network security are increasing, posing new challenges for state management and social protection in the digital environment.
The above-mentioned shortcomings and limitations show that the core challenge of the next period is not lack of resources or external instability, but mainly in the quality of institutions, implementation capacity and the vitality of the development model. This is both pressure and a driving force for reform, if correctly identified and decisively acted. The new period requires a strong shift from creating a foundation to accelerating quality and scale, from handling situations to fundamental reform, from short-term management to building long-term driving force; only in this way can market confidence be ignited, social resources are liberated and the country enters an era of faster, more sustainable and higher, fiercer competition.
II. IN TERMS OF DIRECTION AND TASKS FOR 2026
2026 marks the beginning of a new development phase, associated with the implementation of the 14th Party Congress Resolution and the 2026-2030 Socio-Economic Development Plan. 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. In the context of traditional growth drivers declining, limitations in productivity, quality of growth and competitiveness are clearly revealed, the old way of doing things no longer meets new requirements. Therefore, the next phase 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.
In that spirit, we must both effectively solve immediate problems to create growth momentum and implement strategic and long-term reforms to transform the development model. I emphasize 7 key directions, tasks, and solutions in the coming time, as follows:
First, focus on removing bottlenecks and inadequacies of institutions to unlock bottlenecks in resources. It is necessary to strongly and substantively shift from "management" thinking to "development creation", ensuring that each task has a focal point responsible, ending pushing and avoiding; if removal is slow, it will inhibit growth right from the beginning of the term. In parallel, there is a determination to maintain macroeconomic stability, control inflation, ensure major balances; manage fiscal and monetary affairs in close and flexible coordination, technical management based on market principles, avoiding abuse of administrative measures. manage interest rates and exchange rates appropriately; restructure credit into production and business and priority sectors, limit speculation and non-productive activities.
Continue to strongly improve the investment and business environment; expand decentralization, delegation of power, and review to reduce procedures, create a greater decision-making and accountability space for officials and civil servants, and at the same time reduce compliance time and costs for people and businesses. Absolutely give up the mindset of "if you can't manage, then ban", strictly protect property rights and freedom of business, absolutely not take advantage of inspections, examinations, and investigations to harass people and businesses. It is necessary to especially ensure the stability, consistency, and predictability of policies, minimizing sudden changes, retroactivity, or lack of unity in implementation. Encourage the testing of new mechanisms and models (such as the data market, encrypted assets); reduce administrative procedures based on digital data, not require people and businesses to provide back digitized papers. Along with that, proactively innovate information, propaganda, and mass mobilization work, promote patriotic emulation movements, and strengthen social consensus.
Stabilize and sanitize key markets of the economy, fully respect the laws of the competitive market economy, the law of supply and demand, the law of prices... Pay special attention to stabilizing markets with systemic impact such as real estate (focusing on planning and legal), corporate bonds, credit markets, capital markets, asset markets (gold, foreign currency...), ensuring the market operates smoothly, transparently, safely, thereby preventing risks from spreading and strengthening the confidence of investors, businesses and people. At the same time, develop a medium and long-term capital market in depth, in parallel with restructuring the credit market in a sustainable direction, addressing the root weaknesses of credit institutions, cross-ownership, underground ownership, and lending relationships. Research a controlled dissolution mechanism for weak banks, allowing the establishment of new banks and microfinance institutions, in order to improve the competitiveness, safety and diversity of the financial system.
Second, fundamentally transform the growth model based on productivity and innovation. In the coming period, it is necessary to place improving productivity and quality of human resources, science and technology and innovation at the center of the development strategy, considering this as a key condition to break the middle income trap and maintain high and sustainable growth. Restructure the economy in a green, digital, circular direction; take science and technology, innovation and digital transformation as new growth drivers, and as factors to innovate traditional growth drivers. The mechanism to encourage technology application must be based on results, not comprehensive support. Focus on developing core industries, spearhead industries, internalizing the "Make in Vietnam" strategy, effectively exploiting new development spaces such as the marine economy, green ocean economy, space economy (air and ground), sharing economy...; selective FDI attraction, associated with technology transfer, learning and absorption, and improving technological biological capacity.
Third, build a modern and synchronous strategic infrastructure system, creating a foundation for national competitiveness. In the coming period, it is necessary to focus resources on strategic and breakthrough infrastructure projects, especially national highway, railways, airports, seaports, energy and digital infrastructure. In 2026, it is necessary to create clear progress, including the commencement of key items of the North-South high-speed railway, accelerating the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong route, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City urban railways, regional inter-regional expressways, linking localities after consolidation, ensuring the progress of Long Thanh and Gia Binh International Airports. Along with that, ensure energy security, especially clean energy, absolutely not to run out of electricity; urgently deploy important energy projects, including the Nuclear Power Plant. At the same time, promote new generation digital infrastructure, expand 5G coverage, research 6G, develop data centers and gradually participate deeply in the price chain.
Strongly innovate the method of implementing public investment in the direction of developing, spreading and activating private resources, thereby striving to reduce ICOR to 4 in the coming period.
Fourth, improve the executive capacity of the apparatus in the context of strong decentralization and delegation of power. Develop high-quality human resources and improve the level of skills of the whole society.
It is necessary to closely link authority with resources and accountability, ensuring smooth operation from the Central to grassroots levels. Continue to arrange a streamlined, strong, efficient, effective, and efficient organizational structure; improve the responsibility of heads, tighten administrative discipline and order, end the situation of evasion and fear of responsibility; improve the mechanism for evaluating cadres, replacing cadres, and valuing cadres with good capacity. Strictly implement Conclusion 226 of the Secretariat on rectifying working styles, improving the operational efficiency of the political system; and at the same time remove obstacles in the operation of local government at two levels, focusing on improving the capacity of cadres and party members at the grassroots level, especially communes, wards, and special zones; 2026 should be taken as the "year to improve the quality of grassroots cadres". Have solutions to exploit wasted public assets, and handle redundant public headquarters after arrangement, thereby improving the proactiveness, autonomy, and efficiency of the state apparatus.
It is necessary to implement an education and training strategy closely linked to the needs of the labor market and key technology and industry sectors; and at the same time improve basic skills, especially digital skills, for the labor force. Focus on improving labor productivity in the spirit of Resolution 71 of the Politburo, promote labor structure shifts, increase the proportion of non-agricultural labor; promote English to become the second language in schools, gradually bring artificial intelligence and robots into general education; and at the same time have breakthrough mechanisms to develop national universities, excellent higher education institutions and strategic technology research programs, creating a human resource foundation for long-term development.
Fifth, focus on comprehensive and synchronous development of cultural and social fields, improving people's lives and ensuring social security. Continue to preserve, restore and promote national cultural values; and at the same time develop the cultural industry with a focus on cinema, cultural tourism and performing arts, considering this as a new economic spearhead. Effectively implement breakthrough solutions on protecting, caring for and improving people's health in the spirit of Resolution 72 of the Politburo. Strive to complete over 110,000 social housing units in 2026, reaching the target of 1 million units in 2028 early; complete 248 inter-level schools in border communes.
Sixth, proactively adapt to climate change, prevent and combat natural disasters, strengthen resource management and environmental protection. Focus on improving forecasting, warning and disaster response capacity, especially flash floods, landslides, and extreme weather phenomena. Accelerate the construction and completion of the national database on land and real estate, contributing to effective resource management and transparent market development. Thoroughly treat environmental pollution, especially in large cities; effectively implement climate change adaptation programs in the Mekong Delta region and flood, landslide, and drought prevention and control in the Central, Central Highlands and Northern regions. At the same time, effectively exploit rare earth resources, serving the development of new industries associated with environmental protection and sustainable development.
Seventh, firmly consolidate national defense and security, maintain social order and safety; firmly adhere to the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification, creating a peaceful and stable environment for national development. Continue to build a strong all-people national defense, a solid regional and military defense posture; develop the defense industry, self-reliant security, dual-use, modern, and improve the overall strength of the armed forces. Ensure absolute security and safety for important political events, especially the 14th Party Congress and the election of the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term; strengthen the protection of state secrets, especially in cyberspace and in digital transformation. At the same time, promote economic diplomacy, technology diplomacy, closely combine national defense and security with economic development; prepare well to successfully organize the APEC 2027 Conference. Continue to do well in citizen protection, promote cultural diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy, scientific and technological diplomacy.
Dear all comrades!
In recent years, the entire Party, army, and people have united, strived to overcome difficulties and challenges and achieved many important achievements. Practice proves that the more difficult, the more the will, bravery, and spirit of solidarity of our nation are tempered and promoted. It can be affirmed that, up to this point, the country has gathered enough strength and strength, enough will and determination to enter the era of rich and prosperous development of the nation.
New opportunities are opening up, but opportunities only become reality through effort and action. I believe that the Government, ministries, branches and localities will continue to unite, unite, and act decisively with the highest responsibility, successfully completing the goals and tasks of 2026 and the following years with the entire Party, people, and army.
On the occasion of the 2026 New Year and preparing to welcome the Binh Ngo Spring, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, I wish leaders, distinguished delegates and all compatriots, comrades, and soldiers nationwide a new year of abundant health, happiness, peace, prosperity and many new victories.
Thank you very much!
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