On January 20, 2026, the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) was officially opened at the National Convention Center in Hanoi. Held every five years, this is an important political event for the country, ushering in a new era of national development.
This congress brought together more than 1,500 delegates to discuss strategic issues for the country in the fields of politics, diplomacy, and economics.
The congress was attended by 111 ambassadors, chargés d’affaires of various countries, as well as heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations in Vietnam.
The opening session of the Congress was chaired by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on behalf of the Presidium. After that, Vietnamese President General Luong Quang delivered an opening speech to the Congress, in which he presented the main theses and tasks of the country’s development vision and emphasized the beginning of a new page in Vietnam’s domestic and foreign policy.
In his speech, the President stressed that Vietnam prioritizes economic development, building on the achievements of 40 years of reform and creating a solid foundation for the country’s further development in a new era, pursuing an independent, self-reliant, multilateral, and diversified foreign policy, harmoniously managing relations with partners, especially with major powers, neighboring countries, and important partners.
Therefore, one of the central topics discussed and decided at this congress was the focus on the goal of high economic growth over the next five years.
• The Vietnamese economy is currently in a boom phase with GDP growth rates of 7.09% in 2024 compared to the previous year and an estimated 8.02% in 2025.
• Vietnam aims to achieve annual economic growth of at least 10% over the next five years, while maintaining macroeconomic stability and controlling inflation.
• Unlike many countries, where strategic documents are often dependent on political cycles, Vietnam declares an approach focused on consistency, institutional continuity, and development in clearly defined stages.
Secretary General of the CPC Central Committee, Chairman of the Document Subcommittee Mr. To Lam presented the 13th Central Committee’s report on the documents of the 14th Party Congress.
In his speech, he reaffirmed the strategic vision, spirit of innovation, and need for decisive action for a new stage of national development. “The 14th National Party Congress marks an important event, opening a new chapter in the country’s development under new conditions, situations, and goals; it is a congress of strategic autonomy, independence, self-reliance, national pride, aspirations for progress, and unwavering faith in the path chosen by the Party, President Ho Chi Minh, and our people,” said the General Secretary.
To achieve the country’s development goals in the near term, emphasis is placed on key guiding principles that are considered a strategic “launch pad” for realizing the goal of transforming Vietnam into a developed country with a high income level by 2045, namely:
1. Strategic decisions on economic development and domestic policy, with an emphasis on technology, innovation, and digital transformation (Active introduction of digital technologies into all areas of life and governance, identifying them as a new driver of growth, linked to artificial intelligence (AI), digital government, and digital society).
The prioritization of science, technology, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence is in line with global trends.
At the same time, Vietnam declares its desire to combine technological modernization with the development of its own human resources and internal competencies. This approach is characteristic of countries seeking to transition from the role of production sites to participants in higher-level technological and innovation chains.
2. Institutional reforms and strengthening of public administration
Significant emphasis is placed on improving institutional architecture: optimising the administrative system, decentralisation and developing the legal environment.
In a comparative context, this brings Vietnam closer to development models where institutional capacity is seen as a key driver of sustainable growth, rather than just a supporting element of a market economy.
3. Energy transformation is seen not as an environmental policy, but as an economic prerequisite for maintaining export competitiveness.
The Joint Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and aggressive development of renewable energy should ensure compliance with the decarbonization requirements of global supply chains.
4. Anti-corruption campaign (“Blazing Furnace”) and management balance
The anti-corruption campaign will be shifted from political mobilization to an institutional format.
The key challenge remains overcoming the so-called “fear of signing” — bureaucratic paralysis that slows down the implementation of infrastructure and investment projects. The focus is expected to be on the digitalization of control and a clearer division of responsibilities.
5. Comprehensively develop the cultural and social spheres, improve people’s living standards, and ensure social security.
6. Confirm the course of independence and multi-vector foreign policy.
The confirmation of a multi-vector foreign policy indicates Vietnam’s intention to maintain strategic autonomy in the face of growing global competition.
Vietnam’s declared strategic course combines:
• long-term state planning;
• ambitious economic growth targets;
• institutional and administrative reforms;
• selective technological modernization;
• the pursuit of foreign policy balance.
Taken together, this forms a pragmatic development model that differs from both liberalized market approaches and rigidly centralized economic systems, reflecting an attempt to adapt to conditions of global uncertainty.
