Belief and happiness
Many Ambassadors and Heads of International Organizations in Vietnam shared their deep feelings about the country's outstanding development, and expressed strong belief in a new era of development for the Vietnamese nation. Many international diplomats in Hanoi shared the view that Vietnam is a society rich in living energy, where optimism, dynamism and happiness are present and spread in people's daily lives.
South African Ambassador Vuyiswa Tulelo said that Vietnamese people "feel everything very deeply", in which "festivals and memories are not only for special occasions but also a part of daily life". The South African diplomat also emphasized that the world is beginning to realize that the level of happiness of Vietnamese people is increasing and Vietnamese people do not keep it to themselves but share it with the world, "that is a wonderful quality of Vietnamese people".
Similarly, Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Marco della Seta shared that right from the moment he arrived in Vietnam, he noticed the dynamism and energy emanating from all walks of life, from officials, entrepreneurs to people on the streets.
Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki assessed Vietnam as the fastest and most dynamic developing country in Asia, with Hanoi being one of the most vibrant cities in the world. The Japanese diplomat was particularly impressed with the image of young people singing the song "As if Uncle Ho is there on the great victory day" in the early morning in Ho Chi Minh City on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification; showing that the young generation is truly enjoying peace and confident in the future of the country. According to him, the resilience and positive attitude of the people after Typhoon Yagi is proof of the unique strength of the Vietnamese people who will lead the country to a bright future. "Belief in the country, the resilience of the people is what I really want to share" - Ambassador Ito Naoki said.
Reference model for the world
According to diplomats, Doi Moi (Renovation) is the foundation for creating the "Vietnamese story" that the international community is interested in. In an article published in the Egyptian Diplomatic Magazine in March 2026, former Egyptian Ambassador to Vietnam for the 2010-2014 term Reda al-Taify expressed her impression of Vietnam's development experiences since the Doi Moi period, considering this an effective development model with international reference value.
The Egyptian diplomat pointed out: In 1986, the 6th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam planned the Doi Moi (Renovation) policy, opening up a comprehensive renovation campaign, helping the country escape the crisis and transform strongly in all fields. This is considered the starting point of a miraculous solution to bring Vietnam out of the serious economic and social crisis.
Ambassador Reda al-Taify said that the latest economic data promises a bright future as Vietnam is gradually moving towards joining the trillion-dollar economy club and becoming a leading destination for global investment, attracting hundreds of billions of USD of foreign direct investment capital since the beginning of the Doi Moi process in 1986.
Ambassador Reda al-Taify said that Vietnamese diplomacy - both a goal and a means - is the focus of the Doi Moi mission. Flexible, open, and skillful foreign policy has successfully brought Vietnam out of encirclement and embargo and become a dynamic country in the regional and international system, while helping Vietnam not only adapt to the changing regional and international system, but also affirm its positive and influential position in it.
In the article, Ambassador Reda al-Taify concluded that one of the key factors creating the success of Vietnam's development model under the Doi Moi policy is the leadership capacity of the Communist Party of Vietnam in maintaining political stability and internal security. This is the foundation for creating a favorable environment for attracting foreign investment, contributing and continuing to contribute to the comprehensive development process, at a fast and sustainable pace.
With international openness policies and the establishment of new partnerships, Vietnam still maintains its autonomy and core values of the nation. This has transformed Vietnam's development experience into a unique model with many valuable development lessons, perhaps most importantly, it has brought about an unprecedented qualitative change, making Vietnam a weighty factor on the balance of power not only in Southeast Asia but also in Asia.
Switching to the "overcoming" phase
If happiness reflects the depth of society, then the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam held in January 2026 is seen by diplomats as a strategic highlight for the future, opening a new chapter with historical changes for Vietnam.
Russian Ambassador Genady Stepanovich Bezdetko affirmed that Vietnam entered the 14th Party Congress with the position of a "reaching out" nation. Vietnam's current changes are the result of efforts to shift from the mindset of "developing to catch up" to "developing ahead", based on an independent, self-reliant modernization model and ensuring national interests. The Russian diplomat emphasized that the adoption of strategic documents on science and technology, innovation and digital transformation at the Congress will create a solid foundation for Vietnam to transform its growth model.
Agreeing with the viewpoint on the shift in Vietnam's growth model, Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh highly appreciated the strategic thinking in the draft document of the 14th Party Congress when identifying science and technology and national digital transformation as the main driving force. The Ambassador was impressed with the viewpoint of identifying the private economy as an important driving force, showing open and practical thinking in perfecting the socialist-oriented market economy institution, helping to effectively mobilize social resources.
Meanwhile, Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Vietnam Juan Carlos Fernandes Juárez assessed that Vietnam has achieved important results over the years, especially in the process of industrialization, economic growth and social benefits that a large number of Vietnamese people enjoy. The Venezuelan diplomat also assessed Vietnam as a role model not only for Venezuela but also for many developing countries.
