Photo: Róbert Hegedüs
10/01/2026 08:00
In just a few days, Hanoi will host what is widely regarded as the most significant political event of Viet Nam: the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, scheduled to take place from 19 to 25 January 2026, with the participation of 1,586 delegates representing more than five million Party members nationwide.
This Congress is not merely a routine political event in the conventional sense; rather, it carries profound watershed significance and constitutes a particularly important milestone in Viet Nam’s development trajectory. For the first time in the history of the Party Congresses, Viet Nam officially affirms its entry into a “new era - the era of national rise,” following two major historical eras: the era of national liberation and the era of renewal (Đổi mới). This designation is not merely symbolic, but reflects a fundamental transformation in the country’s stature, position, and development mindset: from a nation emerging from war and poverty to one that is proactively shaping its future, pursuing rapid, sustainable, inclusive development and assuming greater international responsibility.
The 14th National Congress not only reviews the nearly 40-year journey of renewal, but also sets forth objectives, orientations, visions, and strategic decisions for the next stage of development - not only for the next five or ten years, but with a view toward the mid-21st century.
Against a backdrop of profound global volatility, intensifying strategic competition, shifting global order, and increasingly severe non-traditional security challenges, the clear identification of an “era of national rise” demonstrates the Party’s long-term vision and political resolve in leading the country into a new phase of development.
What makes the 14th National Congress particularly noteworthy to the international community lies in the rapidly changing, complex, unstable, and unpredictable global context, marked by escalating strategic competition and conflicts, as well as increasingly evident non-traditional security challenges. In this context, Viet Nam enters the 14th Congress facing a core question: how to maintain stability, sustain breakthroughs, and transform its “growth miracle” into sustainable development capacity for a modern nation, enabling the country to advance decisively in the new era.
A Journey of Rising from War and Poverty: Telling Numbers
If one were to cite several figures to help international audiences most clearly grasp the “Viet Nam miracle” in recent years, the average growth performance during the 2021 - 2025 period would be among the most compelling. Viet Nam has maintained macroeconomic stability, effectively managed major economic balances, and continued to achieve high growth rates compared with the region and the world. Average GDP growth during 2021 - 2025 reached approximately 6.3% per year; GDP size in 2025 exceeded USD 510 billion (1.47 times that of 2020); and GDP per capita reached around USD 5,000, placing Viet Nam among upper-middle-income countries.
However, development is not measured by GDP alone. Viet Nam emphasizes social progress and equity as core objectives of its renewal and development process. The Human Development Index (HDI) reached 0.766 (an increase of 14 places, placing Viet Nam in the high HDI group); the Global Happiness Index rose by 33 places, ranking 46th out of 143 countries; and the poverty rate declined sharply from 4.4% in 2021 to 1.3% in 2025, fulfilling the commitment to “leave no one behind.” Notably, healthcare indicators have seen significant improvement: health insurance coverage reached 95.2%, and average life expectancy increased to 74.8 years, including approximately 67 healthy years of life.
Notable New Features of the 14th National Congress
The 14th National Congress marks a new stage in Viet Nam’s political thinking, development strategy, and foreign policy orientation. Compared with previous Congresses, it stands out for several new elements of long-term strategic significance, reflecting the country’s transformation amid both international and domestic changes. The following highlights several key innovations:
The first and particularly significant innovation lies in the theme of the Congress: “Under the glorious banner of the Party, uniting in strength and solidarity to successfully achieve the national development goals by 2030; strengthening strategic autonomy, self-reliance, and confidence; advancing firmly in the era of national rise, for peace, independence, democracy, prosperity, civilization, happiness, and steady progress toward socialism.”
This marks the first official affirmation that Viet Nam has entered a “new era - the era of national rise.” It represents an important advancement in theoretical thinking and historical awareness. Whereas previous Congresses emphasized renewal, integration, and development, the 14th Congress shifts decisively toward a vision of elevation in national stature, position, and quality of development - reflecting the confidence of a nation that has accumulated sufficient strength and momentum after nearly four decades of renewal.
Alongside this, the concept of “strategic autonomy” is, for the first time, explicitly incorporated into the Congress theme, together with “self-reliance” and “self-confidence.” This underscores Viet Nam’s determination to take ownership of its development path, proactively integrate into the international community without dependence or entanglement in external geopolitical calculations, and to affirm internal strength as the decisive foundation for sustainable and resilient advancement.
The second major innovation is the addition of several new and important elements, including breakthrough guiding perspectives on foreign affairs and international integration. For the first time, the Congress documents clearly state that “strengthening national defense and security, and advancing foreign affairs and international integration, are key and regular tasks.” This reflects a conceptual shift in which foreign affairs are no longer viewed merely as a supporting instrument, but as a strategic pillar directly linked to national security, development, and international standing. The draft documents of the 14th Congress also, for the first time, emphasize the requirement to “develop foreign affairs in the new era commensurate with the country’s historical stature, cultural depth, and national position,” while highlighting proactive participation in shaping and building multilateral institutions, rather than merely participating and adapting. This marks a shift from “integration participation” to a mindset of “proactive contribution and global engagement.”
The third innovation drawing particular public attention is the first-time identification of “environmental protection” as a central task alongside socio-economic development. This approach signifies a major shift in development thinking - from prioritizing growth to pursuing sustainable development based on the three pillars of economy, society, and environment, without sacrificing long-term interests for short-term gains. It also provides an important political foundation for implementing Viet Nam’s international commitments on green growth and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
The fourth innovation is the clear establishment of a new growth model driven primarily by science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, with orientations toward digital government, digital economy, and digital society, increased investment in research and development, and prioritization of core technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things, and biotechnology. This represents a significant departure from previous development approaches that relied heavily on capital accumulation, natural resources, and low-cost labor.
The fifth innovation is the first-time designation of the private sector as “one of the most important driving forces” of the economy, accompanied by strong messages on institutional reform, protection of property rights, reduction of administrative barriers, and fair competition—factors that international investors and enterprises consistently regard as key “confidence benchmarks.” This reflects a profound shift in development thinking and trust in the role of domestic private enterprises amid global competition.
The sixth innovation is Viet Nam’s clear orientation toward selective foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction, prioritizing high-technology and low-emission projects, strengthening linkages between the FDI sector and domestic enterprises, and promoting technology transfer, managerial skills, and human resource development.
If the Renewal (Đổi mới) was Viet Nam’s historic transformation at the end of the 20th century, the 14th National Congress is expected to mark the opening of a “new era – the era of national rise of Viet Nam”: a transition from rapid growth to sustainable development; from labor-cost advantages to advantages based on technology, institutions, and human capital; and from extensive integration to high-quality integration. It is at this juncture that the “miraculous development” that once astonished the world will be tested by Viet Nam’s capacity to shape its own future in the years ahead. The 14th National Congress, therefore, is not only a major political milestone, but also a declaration of Viet Nam’s new stature, new thinking, and renewed aspirations in the 21st century.
