Dear comrades leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front, Government leaders, leaders of Central Committees, Ministries, and Branches,
Dear comrades leaders of provinces and cities at the bridge points,
Dear representatives of domestic and foreign associations and businesses,
Dear comrades attending the conference.
Today, I am very pleased to attend the Government's online conference with localities to assess the results and limitations of the first 6 months of the year and deploy tasks and solutions for the last 6 months of the year and the coming time. On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I send to all comrades my warmest greetings and best wishes.
Comrades,
2026 is the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 14th Party Congress, the year of launching a new stage of development for the country, requiring the entire political system to be drastic and urgent, creating clear changes in rapid, sustainable, self-reliant development and improving the resilience of the economy, and improving the real living standards of the people.
We deploy tasks for the first 6 months of the year in the context of a world economy facing many difficulties, geopolitical risks, energy and trade increasing, directly impacting economies with high openness such as Vietnam. Conflicts in the Middle East, US tariff policies, have increased oil prices, freight rates and production costs, creating great pressure on inflation. World trade prospects continue to be difficult, many uncertainties, global investment capital flows are shifting according to new criteria. However, the results achieved in the first 6 months of the year are very commendable. That is the result of the efforts of the entire political system, the business community and people nationwide. I especially acknowledge the efforts of the Prime Minister, Government Leaders, and Ministers of the 16th term, who have only been in office for nearly 3 months but have many new features in leadership, direction, and administration thinking, with some creative, scientific, drastic, and timely ways of doing things, bringing practical results. I summarize 6 outstanding results.
First, the macroeconomy is basically stable, inflation is controlled in the context of increasing global inflation and great pressure (the average CPI for 6 months is estimated to increase by 4.5%). Economic growth continues to maintain positive growth momentum. Processing and manufacturing industry, construction, services, tourism and exports all have good changes. GDP in the second quarter is estimated to increase by 8.39%, bringing the growth rate for 6 months to 8.18%. 9 localities (accounting for approximately 18.6% of the country's GDP) have double-digit growth, namely Ha Tinh, Ninh Binh, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Tay Ninh. State budget revenue in 6 months reached about 62% of the estimate, an increase of 17.2% compared to the same period, while 89 trillion VND of tax has been exempted or reduced. Import and export turnover increased by 27.1%, reaching more than 550 billion USD. FDI continues to be a bright spot; newly established and returning businesses increased higher than the number withdrawn from the market, reflecting the confidence of businesses and investors in
Second, infrastructure development has many breakthroughs, including the commencement of many strategic infrastructure projects, housing policies with many new and appropriate orientations such as developing rental houses, semi-detached houses, policy houses... Projects and cases that are backlogged and prolonged have been resolutely handled (reviewed, classified, proposed authority and solutions to remove 3,438/4,606 obstacle projects).
Third, the work of perfecting institutions, reforming administrative procedures and removing bottlenecks is being promoted more drastically. The reduction of time, compliance costs, handling of obstacle projects, completing the decentralization and delegation of power mechanisms and the operation of local authorities at 2 levels are increasingly smooth and effective; gradually unlocking resources for development, it is estimated that it has reduced about 53% of time and 55% of compliance costs.
Fourth, science and technology, innovation and digital transformation continue to make new progress, especially in the development of data infrastructure, digital infrastructure, strategic technology and digital economy sectors, the National Data Center has gone into operation, Project 06 has been innovated and strongly implemented, spreading to most industries, fields and all aspects of social life. The quantity and quality of online public services have been increased.
Fifth, cultural and social fields continue to be concerned, especially taking care of people with meritorious services, poor households, vulnerable groups, education, health and people's lives (nearly 90 trillion VND of policy credit has supported over 1.2 million households and beneficiaries; ensuring the source of base salary increase from July 1). Investing in building 229 inter-level boarding schools in border communes, training new human resources, health care, environmental protection, searching for and repatriating martyrs' remains are actively implemented (with the 500-day-night campaign to search, repatriate and identify martyrs' remains).
Sixth, national defense and security are maintained; foreign affairs and international integration continue to expand, contributing to enhancing the country's position and creating more development space (in 6 months, relations with 6 countries have been upgraded and elevated, bringing the number of partners from comprehensive level up to 45 countries).
On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I commend the Government, ministries, branches, localities, the business community and people nationwide for their efforts to overcome many difficulties, both responding to external fluctuations and implementing many new, difficult and unprecedented tasks. This is an important foundation to strive to achieve the highest goals in 2026 and better prepare for the next stage.
Besides the achieved results, we frankly acknowledge that there are still limitations and difficulties, summarizing 6 major challenges:
First, economic growth is approximately 8.2%, not reaching the set target of 9.7%. There are 25/34 localities with growth lower than the 6-month target, of which Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have not met the requirements. To achieve the double-digit growth target, the last 6 months of the year must increase by 11.9% - which is a very big challenge. The progress of disbursement of public investment capital, the implementation of strategic infrastructure projects, national target programs and some key projects is still slow compared to the requirements; and 7 Ministries and central agencies have disbursement rates below 5%. Disbursement for science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation also only reaches about 10% of the total assigned capital. (I request the Government to review carefully once again and resolutely cut the expected capital because "there is money but it cannot be spent" to save capital for other places).
(The year-end report needs to more clearly assess the quality of growth, actual income of workers, population groups, employment,... Hereby, I also request statistical agencies at the central and local levels to continue to improve capacity, supplement and complete the new system of indicators. Statistical data must be complete, comprehensive, objective, accurate, and measurable closely to reality to better serve the work of analysis, forecasting, and policy planning).
Second, growth has not yet spread evenly. Some processing and manufacturing industries that use a lot of labor such as textiles, garments, footwear, woodworking, and food processing are still facing difficulties. Large service industries such as retail, transportation, accommodation, and finance-banking are all lower than the scenario. This shows that the sector that creates many jobs and people's real income has not improved correspondingly.
Third, the trade structure still has many risks. Exports increase sharply but imports increase faster. The domestic sector only increased exports by about 2.5%, while the FDI sector increased by nearly 25%. Trade deficit for 7 consecutive months (about 17 billion USD - a phenomenon to note). The FDI sector has a trade surplus, but the domestic sector still has a trade deficit. The economy is therefore both dependent on external supply chains and easily exposed to risks of origin, trade fraud and trade remedy in key export markets.
(In the above, we have only mentioned the balance of goods trade but have not paid much attention to the continuous deficit of the service balance over the years. For example, the service balance in 2024 was in deficit of more than 12.3 billion USD, in 2025 it was in deficit of nearly 10.23 billion USD; in the first 6 months of 2026 it was in deficit of 5.54 billion USD, of which international transport was the largest deficit, up to more than 5.15 billion USD. In the first 6 months of the year, we earned more than 9 billion USD from international tourists, but Vietnamese people going abroad also spent generously, more than 8.05 billion USD, so tourism only had a surplus of 950 million USD (tourism sector in 2025 had a surplus of 480 million USD, in 2024 it was a deficit of 380 million USD, many years before also had a deficit). Therefore, it is proposed to further analyze the service balance and have a rebalancing strategy in the coming years. To have a higher tourism surplus, we must upgrade this industry to make foreigners come to spend more, while the tourism sector still has a surplus.
Fourth, domestic demand has not really recovered. After excluding the price factor, total retail sales in 6 months only increased by 8.2%, not as expected. This is a sign that income and consumer confidence of a part of the population have not recovered. Social investment in 6 months only reached 35% of capital needs for the double-digit growth target (about 5.1 million billion VND).
Fifth, the investment and business environment has improved but has not met development requirements, the time and costs for procedures are still high. There is still a situation of slow issuance of guiding documents for the implementation of the Law and Resolutions of the National Assembly. Investment has not been converted commensurately into new production capacity. Disbursement of public investment has not met expectations. Many projects are still entangled in planning, land, site clearance, materials, procedures... In more than 4,400 projects reviewed, only about 1/3 have been completely removed. Meanwhile, the macroeconomic management space is shrinking, if management is not tight, inflation, exchange rate, interest rate and liquidity pressures may appear simultaneously.
Sixth, the operation of 2-level local government in some places is still clumsy. The lives of a part of the population are still difficult. The construction of the first phase of 100 boarding schools in border communes (starting in 2025) is behind schedule. High-quality human resource training in science and technology, innovation is still inadequate. The teacher shortage is still common in most localities (as of June 2026, the whole country still lacks more than 104,500 teachers at all levels). Urban pollution, lack of housing for workers, natural disasters, drought, saltwater intrusion, flooding, water shortage... continue to be direct challenges for social stability and sustainable development.
Comrades,
The above limitations require the last 6 months of the year to focus on handling bottlenecks. Basically agreeing with the direction and key tasks for the last 6 months of the year in the report. I propose that the Government must organize a special action program for the last 6 months of the year, with the spirit of clarifying tasks, clarifying people, clarifying responsibilities, clarifying deadlines, clarifying results and clarifying inspection mechanisms. I emphasize 8 key task groups:
First, immediately remove bottlenecks to promote growth by at least 10%, while maintaining macroeconomic stability. Promptly handle slow projects, blocked projects, abandoned land and stagnant resources due to procedures, planning, site, materials or evasion of responsibility. Unlock traditional growth drivers and create breakthroughs in new growth drivers. Synchronously manage fiscal, monetary, and price policies, direct credit towards production, exports, high-tech industry, supporting industries, innovation, housing and essential infrastructure, while controlling speculation and bad debts, ensuring healthy banking operations and controlling systemic risks. Strictly manage the budget, combat revenue loss, over-collection, nurture revenue sources for small individual business households; combat transfer pricing and wastefulness, prioritize resources for development investment, science and technology, education, health and strategic infrastructure.
Use selective tax and fee tools to encourage green production and consumption, technology innovation, and limit speculation but not create unreasonable burdens for businesses and people. Closely monitor inflation, prices, exchange rates, liquidity, energy prices and capital flows, adjust prices of essential goods and services on a roadmap, and strictly handle speculation, hoarding, and price manipulation.
Along with that, it is necessary to open up and effectively exploit new development spaces: high-rise urban space in suitable areas, underground space, low-lying space, digital space and marine space. In particular, it is necessary to develop the marine economy in depth, sustainably exploit new marine economic sectors such as offshore wind power, high-tech marine farming, marine biology technology, desaltification, green carbon credit and marine ecosystem restoration. This is a new growth engine, contributing to expanding the development space and improving the autonomy of the economy. (We will implement a strong marine national development strategy with the orientation "Extend East - Spread West" from now to 2030, vision 2045 and beyond).
Second, promote the leading role of public investment, unlock private investment and improve the capacity of domestic enterprises. Public investment must be seed capital to open up development space, focusing on strategic infrastructure and highly scalable projects such as transportation, seaports, high-speed railways, urban railways, digital infrastructure, databases and projects serving APEC 2027. Unlock capital flows and investment environments for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, enterprises with orders but lacking capital; support market access, digital transformation, meeting green standards and participating in supply chains. Large enterprises, state-owned enterprises and FDI enterprises must attach responsibility for developing domestic suppliers.
Third, protect the export market, reduce dependence and improve domestic industrial capacity. Meeting standards on origin, intellectual property, environment and labor must be considered an issue of economic security. Building an early warning mechanism to support businesses in handling trade remedies, traceability, meeting green standards and preventing origin fraud. At the same time, diversify markets, supply sources, transport routes and investment partners; develop the domestic market of 100 million people into an important driving force. Focus on developing supporting industries, mechanical engineering, electronics, new materials, digital technology, data, AI and energy technology. Localization must focus on design, manufacturing, inspection and technology mastery capabilities. Selectively attract FDI, prioritize projects with technology, linked with Vietnamese enterprises, human resource training and technology transfer.
Fourth, ensuring synchronous energy security, food, water resources, data and digital sovereignty. Not allowing shortages of electricity, gasoline, essential raw materials and water for production and life in any situation. Accelerate power source and grid projects, energy reserves, gas power, and suitable renewable energy; and at the same time use energy economically and efficiently. Proactively invest, prevent and adapt to drought, saltwater intrusion, flooding, storms, landslides and water shortages, especially in the Mekong Delta, Central, Central Highlands, Northern mountainous areas, coastal areas and large cities. Besides traditional security of energy, food and water resources, data, network security and digital sovereignty must be considered the new security infrastructure of the nation. Building a clean, interconnected, and safe national data infrastructure, serving the effective management, economic development and provision of public services.
Fifth, continue to improve institutions, improve the business environment and ensure that local authorities at 2 levels operate smoothly. Promptly conduct a general review of the legal system, handle overlapping regulations, especially on land, planning, investment, construction, bidding, environment, public assets and decentralization; immediately overcome the delay in issuing 34 guiding documents of Laws and Resolutions, not leaving legal loopholes. Continue to cut administrative procedures, business conditions, and reduce compliance costs. Review decentralization and delegation of powers, ensuring that they go hand in hand with resources, implementation conditions and clear responsibilities. Continue to improve cadre evaluation work.
Sixth, develop culture, society and people, ensuring that all people enjoy the fruits of development. Growth is only meaningful when it goes hand in hand with jobs, income, housing, education, healthcare and a better living environment.
Continue to search, repatriate and identify martyrs' remains. Promote retraining, improve skills, and support vocational conversion. Develop social housing, rental housing and worker dormitories in industrial parks and large urban areas. For rental housing, this is a general policy, but when implemented specifically, sectors and localities must carefully assess actual needs, market absorption capacity and investment efficiency; ensure supply-demand balance under appropriate regulation by the State. Do not deploy in a movement style, chasing achievements.
Effectively implement the policy of free periodic health check-ups at least once a year and establish electronic health records. Consider investment in health and education as investment in the country's long-term development capacity.
Regarding preparations for the 2026-2027 school year, the Conclusion Notice of the Central Office dated June 24, 2026 on the preparation for the 2026-2027 school year and the implementation of Resolution 71 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in education and training development has been stated quite fully and specifically. I emphasize 4 requirements.
First, soon complete the criteria and standards for recognizing national standard schools, pilot new management models. Localities must ensure sufficient schools, classes, teachers, books, minimum equipment and school building safety; recruit all assigned staff; review and transfer teachers to each commune and ward; reduce unnecessary education management staff, increase direct teaching staff.
Two, ensure a safe educational environment, prevent violence, abuse, drugs, e-cigarettes and risks in cyberspace.
Three, planning and synchronously building schools and social infrastructure in accordance with population size and local characteristics; removing obstacles regarding land funds and school construction investment procedures; not allowing urban areas to develop but lack schools and classrooms. Boarding schools in border communes must ensure progress and synchronization in terms of teachers, dormitories, clean water, kitchens, equipment and effective operation.
Fourth, urgently guide the conversion of functions of redundant public buildings and headquarters of state agencies into educational institutions and medical facilities; organize the 2026-2027 school year opening ceremony and the inauguration ceremony of inter-level boarding schools in land border communes on the morning of September 5, 2026, ensuring solemnity, joy, safety, economy, and practicality.
Seventh, continue to consolidate national defense and security potential, maintain political security, social order and safety, proactively prevent and handle risks early and remotely, not to be passive or surprised, ensuring a peaceful and stable environment for national development. Building a strong all-people national defense, a solid defense posture for military regions and regions; developing a self-reliant, dual-use, modern defense and security industry, improving the overall strength of the armed forces. Promoting economic diplomacy, technology diplomacy, closely combining defense and security with economic development; preparing well to successfully organize the APEC 2027 Summit. Seriously and effectively implementing commitments and international agreements signed, transforming them into resources to serve national development, enhancing Vietnam's international position and prestige. (Need to closely urge progress, periodically assess, and promote the responsibility of the intergovernmental committee and heads).
Eighth, continue to build the Party Committee, Party committees at all levels and the system of state administrative agencies to be truly clean and strong; resolutely prevent and combat corruption, wastefulness, and negativity; build a contingent of cadres, civil servants, and party members, especially heads who are capable and on par with their tasks. At the same time, continue to streamline the internal apparatus, review and rearrange, avoid duplication of functions and tasks, overcome the situation of fragmentation and fragmentation in state management, delays and obstacles in decentralization and delegation of power. Quickly overcome inadequacies in the operation of local governments at two levels.
Develop a 2027 plan right from the third quarter of 2026, placed in the vision of the entire 2026-2030 period. The plan must not only assign targets but also be based on correctly assessing bottlenecks, with specific operating scenarios. Early identify policy priorities, tasks and resources. The head must be responsible for the quality of planning.
I propose that the Government urgently concretize the above tasks into action programs with monthly and quarterly progress, clearly identify the presiding agency, the person in charge and publicize the implementation results. The head must directly direct major tasks, difficult tasks, inter-sectoral tasks and prolonged bottlenecks. End the situation of mentioning difficulties but without handling plans, whichever level is under its authority, that level must solve them, beyond its authority, it must be reported promptly, with specific proposals.
Growth is a common responsibility but must be linked to the personal responsibility of each minister, head of sector, secretary, and chairman of the locality. At the same time, it is necessary to encourage officials to dare to do for the common good, along with tightening discipline, preventing and combating corruption, wastefulness, group interests and the situation of avoidance and shirking responsibility.
Comrades,
The country is facing great development opportunities, but opportunities only become reality when we have high determination, correct thinking, open institutions, effective operating apparatus, cadres dare to do, businesses strengthen, and people are united. The general spirit is to have higher determination, stronger actions, and more drastic implementation; both striving to achieve the highest goals in 2026, and creating a solid foundation for 2027 and the new development stage of the country.
I believe that with the tradition of solidarity, self-reliance, and the involvement of the entire political system, the business community, and the people of the whole country, we will overcome difficulties, take advantage of opportunities, and successfully complete the assigned tasks, bringing the country to develop quickly, sustainably, prosperously, democratically, fairly, and civilized.
Thank you very much, comrades!
