Pioneering and making breakthroughs in new era, developing a civilised, modern and happy capital

Ha Noi is not only the nation’s centre, but also the pioneering standard-bearer that blazes a trail for renewal, where the aspiration for a strong, prosperous and happy Viet Nam is kindled.

In that special spirit, the 18th Congress of the Ha Noi City Party Committee, taking place from October 15 to October 17, 2025, is a major political event for the Party organisation, authorities, armed forces, and people of the capital.

With the motto “Solidarity–Democracy–Discipline–Breakthrough–Development”, the congress is determined to build on the millennia-old tradition of civilisation and heroism; to unite in building a clean, strong Party organisation; to pioneer breakthroughs in the new era; to develop a civilised, modern and happy capital; and to make an important contribution to achieving the country’s two centennial goals.

Creating new position and momentum for the capital to enter a new era

Over 80 years since national independence, 71 years since the Liberation Day of the capital, and nearly 40 years of Doi Moi, under the leadership of the Party, the capital has persevered in building and developing, becoming the national political–administrative centre, the heart of the country, and a major hub for the economy, culture, education–training, science–technology and international integration. On that proud journey, the 17th tenure of the Ha Noi Party Committee made important contributions.

Faced with difficulties and challenges greater than anticipated, the Party organisation, authorities, armed forces and people of the capital promoted solidarity, mettle, intellect and creativity to decisively fulfil the resolution of the 17th Congress with 10 work programmes, 5 key tasks and 3 strategic breakthroughs; achieved comprehensive, positive results; completed 16/20 targets set by the 17th Congress Resolution, of which 4 targets surpassed the plan and were completed 1 to 2 years early, thereby creating new position and momentum for the capital to stride forward in the nation’s era of rising.

To build a clean and strong capital Party organisation is to consolidate the roots of trust, because the capital’s strength begins with the people’s will and the Party’s resolve. During the tenure, Party and political system building saw many innovations, creative measures suited to the capital’s particular conditions.

Political, ideological and ethical work has been substantive and tied to responsibility commitments, fostering integrity and a service ethos. Mass mobilisation has seen many innovations, embodying the viewpoint that “the people are the root”, with thousands of “smart mass mobilisation” models.

Cadre work has been renewed towards building a database on the workforce, making appointments under the principles of “find people for the work”, “assign people based on the work”, using output, effectiveness and citizens’ satisfaction as the yardsticks for evaluation.

Ha Noi not only exceeded targets for admitting new Party members but also took the lead in recruiting students — highly educated “red seeds”, the country’s future owners — into the Party.

Inspection and supervision have been strengthened, with timely and strict handling of Party organisations and members involved in complicated, prolonged cases assigned by the central level. Internal affairs and the fight against corruption, wastefulness and negativity have been ensured to proceed “unceasingly, without pause”, with “no prohibited zones, no exceptions.”

As of August 22, 2025, Ha Noi has completed congresses for 136/136 superior-level Party organisations for the 2025–2030 term ahead of schedule (including 10 directly subordinate Party organisations and 126 commune and ward Party organisations).

Leadership methods of Party committees at all levels have continued to be renewed. Pioneering in thinking, making breakthroughs in action, and aiming for the people’s happiness — that is the mettle of a modern, civilised and humane capital.

The Ha Noi Municipal Party Committee has undertaken practical summaries and theoretical research, proposing that the central level issue many guidelines, mechanisms and policies specific to the capital, notably: Politburo Resolution No. 15-NQ/TW (dated May 5, 2022) on orientations and tasks for developing Ha Noi to 2030 with a vision to 2045; the Capital Law 2024; the Capital Master Plan for 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050; and the Overall Adjustment of the Ha Noi Capital General Planning to 2045, with a vision to 2065.

Developing the capital today goes beyond the goals and tasks of developing a locality; it also means nurturing the nation’s stature and spreading Viet Nam’s aspirations in the new era.

Ha Noi has taken the lead in reorganising administrative units and the administrative apparatus following the two-tier local government model; restructuring from 526 units to 126, with over 97% public approval.

The capital’s economy has continued robust growth, with average GRDP growth of 6.57% per year, 1.1 times higher than the national rate; an economic size of about 63 billion USD, 1.42 times that of 2020, accounting for 41.54% of the Red River Delta region and 12.6% of the country; and GRDP per capita estimated at 7,200 USD.

Ha Noi completed its new-style countryside programme two years ahead of schedule, leading the nation in building new-style countryside programme, advanced new-style countryside programme and model new-style countryside programme.

The urban landscape has continued to improve with ever more developed transport and social infrastructure networks. The city has started construction of Ring Road 4 – Capital Region; put two urban railway lines into operation (Cat Linh–Ha Dong and the elevated section of Nhon–Ha Noi Station); commenced Metro Line No. 2 (Nam Thang Long–Tran Hung Dao); started construction on five bridges over the Red River — Tu Lien, Ngoc Hoi, Van Phuc, Thuong Cat, and Tran Hung Dao; inaugurated the Viet Nam Exhibition Centre — the largest in Southeast Asia; and started construction of the Ha Noi Opera House.

Ha Noi’s breakthrough does not lie in the scale of works, but in institutional vision, governance thinking and the innovative power of its people.

The city leads the country in the Information Technology Industry Index, e-governance, and innovation. Culture and society continue to advance. Ha Noi was honoured by Time Out magazine as the world’s leading cultural destination in 2025.

The city has invested heavily in the restoration and embellishment of historical and cultural relics; maintained a leading position in healthcare and education; and completely eliminated multidimensional-poor households in 2024, one year earlier than planned.

Embodying the principle of putting people at the centre of development, Ha Noi now has the country’s highest Human Development Index (HDI) at 0.829, with the average life expectancy at 76.5 years, up 1.0 year from 2020.

Under the direction of the Central level and General Secretary To Lam, Ha Noi is the first locality in the country to support day-boarding meals for primary school pupils from the 2025–2026 school year.

The city is also a “bright spot” in disaster and epidemic response capacity, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic and Typhoon Yagi in 2024.

Ha Noi continues to prioritise environmental pollution control, launching movements to make environmental sanitation a habit; orienting development and implementing “green” models such as “forests in the city”; adding parks and gardens; and fundamentally addressing waste treatment with two waste-to-energy plants.

Particularly, through decisive and synchronous solutions implemented at “lightning speed”, Ha Noi has gradually brought To Lich River back to life.

The city remains a leading destination for security and safety; at the same time, it is pushing administrative reform and boldly piloting the “one-tier Public Administrative Service Centre” model, creating an investment and business environment that is increasingly innovative, reliable, and attractive.

Ha Noi today embodies both the elegance of a millennial civilisation and the spirit of a new era — refined, compassionate, creative, and responsible.

The grand celebrations, parade, and march to mark 80 years of the August Revolution’s success and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam created a nationwide “festival of the nation”, leaving a stirring and proud afterglow that inspires and energises the whole country — an eloquent testament.

Alongside the achievements, implementation of the 17th Congress Resolution still has limitations and shortcomings, as clearly identified in the draft Political Report submitted to the 18th Congress of the Ha Noi Party Committee.

Building a “Civilised–Modern–Cultured” capital — a peaceful city with happy people

Entering a new stage of development, alongside opportunities, Ha Noi faces many difficulties and challenges. Bottlenecks have accumulated, and population ageing, climate change, natural disasters, and epidemics persist, as do the “four risks” identified by the Party: falling behind, corruption, “peaceful evolution”, and “self-evolution”.

On August 21, chairing a Politburo working session with the Standing Board of the Ha Noi Party Committee to comment on draft documents and personnel plans for the 18th Congress, General Secretary To Lam emphasised the requirement to build the image of a green, smart, liveable capital with strong appeal domestically and internationally.

Acting on that spirit, Ha Noi has concretised and applied the seven strategic Politburo resolutions to the capital’s practice, setting the goal that by 2030 Ha Noi will be a “Civilised–Modern–Cultured” capital — green and smart, a convergence of cultural quintessence, deeply integrated internationally, highly competitive, and at a level of development comparable to the capitals of developed countries in the region; a centre and driving force for development of the Red River Delta and the northern area; a growth pole leading the nation’s economy with regional influence; a major economic and financial centre; a leading centre for culture, education and training, healthcare, science, technology, and innovation; with political and social stability, a peaceful city and happy citizens.

We have also defined a vision to 2045: Ha Noi will be a globally connected city with a high standard and quality of life as well as comprehensive, distinctive, and harmonious development in the economy, culture, and society, representative of the nation. It will achieve a level of development comparable to the capitals of developed countries in the region and the world. GRDP per capita will exceed 36,000 USD.

To realise these goals, the city has set 43 targets to 2030, focusing on the economy, society, urban–environmental development and Party building.

These include striving for an average GRDP growth of 11.0% or more per year during 2026–2030; GRDP per capita of over 12,000 USD; the digital economy’s added value to reach 40% of GRDP; the cultural industry’s share at around 8% of GRDP; and total social investment implemented in the city to reach 5.0 quadrillion VND.

The Human Development Index (HDI) is to reach around 0.88; the Happiness Index (HPI) to reach 9/10; the share of trained workers to reach 80% or more.

Each year, at least 11,000 new Party members will be admitted; the rate of Party members and Party organisations successfully completing tasks or better each year will be over 90%.

With the spirit of a “new vision — new global thinking, capital thinking and Ha Noi action”, the political report submitted to the 18th Congress identifies 10 groups of key tasks and solutions.

In particular, the city will focus on three strategic breakthroughs to concretise and resolutely achieve the above goals and targets.

Determined to take the lead in building a streamlined, clean, effective and efficient state; a government “of the people, by the people and for the people”, the Ha Noi City Party Committee will create a breakthrough by focusing on institution-building for development. First, to complete the concretisation of the Capital Law; to build mechanisms and policies to remove bottlenecks, overcome limitations, and unlock, mobilise and utilise resources effectively for development. The city will pioneer piloting new mechanisms and policies, with a focus on developing science and technology, innovation, digital transformation as well as developing the private economy, education and training, and healthcare. It will promote decentralisation, delegation, and authorisation under the principle “localities decide, localities implement, localities take responsibility.”

Ha Noi will also make breakthroughs in developing, exploiting and effectively using high-quality human resources and attracting talent. Specifically, it will focus on building a contingent of cadres — especially leaders and managers at all levels of the Capital — with mettle, ambition to rise, dedication, strategic thinking, and the capacity to organise and implement resolutions, with mechanisms to encourage and protect cadres who dare to innovate and take responsibility for the common good. The city will attract and utilise outstanding leaders and managers, talented experts and scientists, and highly skilled workers at home and abroad, in both the public and private sectors.

The city will prioritise developing modern, smart and connected infrastructure to create a development breakthrough. This includes investing in synchronised transport systems, with long-term vision for integrated inter-regional and international networks: expressways, national highways, ring roads, gateway interchanges, bridge systems over the Red River and Duong River, urban rail connecting satellite towns with the central area and neighbouring provinces; and a logistics system linking economic corridors and belts.

The city will develop urban areas according to Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and exploit underground spaces. It will build digital, scientific, technological, and innovative infrastructure that is synchronised and modern; and interconnect major databases on planning, population, healthcare, culture, education, insurance, land, and housing, thereby laying the foundation for sustainable development and enhancing the capital’s competitiveness in the digital era.

With the role and mission of a pioneer in the new era — the era of the nation’s rise — the Party organisation, authorities, and people of the capital affirm their steadfast resolve to realise the vision of a “civilised capital—globally connected—elegant and refined—harmoniously developed—peaceful and prosperous—service-oriented government—contributing enterprises—trusting society—happy people.”

Resolutions must be accompanied by action programmes; actions must be specific to each scheme, project, work, and plan, with clear assignment of responsible collectives and individuals, defined implementation roadmaps and completion timelines, ensuring the motto of “Six Clarities” — clear person, clear task, clear timeline, clear responsibility, clear product, and clear authority.

Each step forward in Ha Noi spreads confidence nationwide, affirming Viet Nam’s position, mettle, and intellect on the international stage.

From thousand-year-old Thang Long to today’s Ha Noi, one spirit shines eternal: daring to think, daring to act, and daring to take responsibility for the people’s interests.

We firmly believe that, with the attention and direction of the central level — directly from General Secretary To Lam — and the support and companionship of ministries, sectors, and provinces/cities, especially the solidarity and determination of the capital’s Party organisation, authorities, armed forces, and people, the 18th Ha Noi Party Congress, 2025–2030 term, will be a resounding success, paving the way to realise the aspiration to pioneer alongside the nation into a new era — an era of strong and prosperous development.

Ha Noi — City for Peace, Creative City — will forever be a symbol of Viet Nam’s confidence, aspiration and mettle in the nation’s rising era.

From the spirit of the 18th Congress, a new faith is being kindled — a belief in a modern Ha Noi that preserves its elegant character; a dynamic capital suffused with cultural depth; a globally integrated metropolis that still fully safeguards Vietnamese identity. “Pioneering—Breakthrough—Development—Happiness” — this is not simply a goal, but also Ha Noi’s sacred pledge today to the future.