Practical effectiveness — Benchmark for studying and following President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example

In a discussion with a reporter from Nhan Dan Newspaper, Dr Luong Ngoc Vinh — Secretary of the Party Cell and Dean of the Faculty of Communication at the Academy of Journalism and Communication — emphasised that a key aspect of implementing the Party’s resolutions and directives, specifically Directive 07, is to build and strengthen trust, ensuring that these mandates become deeply embedded in everyday life.

Above all, it is essential to steadily advance their implementation in a consistent and synchronised manner, from the central level down to the grassroots, to ensure the practical effectiveness of studying and applying Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics, methodology, and style, particularly amid rapid digital transformation.

Q: In the current landscape, how are Directive 07-CT/TW, issued by the Political Bureau on July 13, 2026, on promoting studying and practising Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics, methodology, and style in a new phase of development, and Resolution 25-NQ/TW, issued on August 22, 2026, concerning the strategy for ideological work in a new context, interconnected?

Dr Luong Ngoc Vinh: These two documents are intrinsically linked, intertwined, and mutually reinforcing. Specifically:

Under Directive 07, one of the five key tasks is to revamp research, dissemination, and education on Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics, methodology, and style, ensuring these efforts are grounded in practical reality and aimed at ensuring satisfaction among the people and the business community.

In Resolution 25, the Party further emphasised the need for a robust transformation in both the mindset and methods of ideological work to meet evolving conditions.

Studying and putting into practice the ideology, ethics, methods, and style of Ho Chi Minh constitutes a core component of the Party’s ideological work. Implementing Directive 07 is, in essence, a realisation of efforts to modernise these methods, a task particularly relevant in the current era of digital transformation. Both documents share the ultimate goal of building a clean, strong Party and bolstering the people’s trust in its leadership.

Q: In practice, official documents and resolutions, when introduced into daily life, can sometimes be overly formalistic or employ dry, abstract language that is difficult for people at the grassroots level to engage with. In your opinion, how should this be addressed, especially amid ongoing digital transformation?

Dr Luong Ngoc Vinh: That is correct. Often, when we attempt to disseminate political or administrative documents couched in dry, abstract, and macro-level language, the public shows little interest, and the content proves difficult to grasp, especially at the grassroots level. For resolutions, directives, and policies to take firm root in daily life, they must be clearly linked to the practical interests of the people.

Today, we increasingly leverage digital tools and artificial intelligence in our outreach and educational efforts; however, the most crucial task is to make the Party’s perspectives accessible, simple, and relevant to everyday life. Overly abstract or complex language acts as a significant barrier, a hurdle that journalists and those involved in communication work must decisively overcome.

For those engaged in outreach and advocacy, the most vital qualities are conviction and enthusiasm. These individuals serve as conduits for the Party and State’s policies and guidelines; they are, in essence, purveyors of belief. When discussing any given issue, communicators must possess a profound, genuine conviction, a commitment that radiates through their expressions, gestures, and tone of voice. It should never be merely a matter of fulfilling administrative quotas, tasks, or KPIs, or simply tallying the number of sessions held and attendance figures.

Furthermore, to ensure the public understands, one must first know how to listen. In today’s landscape of intense information competition, if a message’s presentation lacks appeal or engagement, people will not pay attention. Therefore, those engaged in public communication must offer clear explanations and provide evidence, grounded in both science and practical reality, to persuade their audience.

Q: From the perspective of research and training within the Faculty of Communication at the Academy of Journalism and Communication, how do you assess leveraging digital transformation trends to bring the Party’s guidelines and policies closer to the people, while overcoming the challenges that arise?

Dr Luong Ngoc Vinh: Every human invention or innovation has two sides. The greatest advantage of digital technology in public communication is that it reduces the workload for officials, journalists, presenters, and communicators.

Thanks to these tools, we can rapidly retrieve information, ranging from headline suggestions to the core issues addressed in Party documents, making it easier and more systematic to develop outlines, gather arguments, and find supporting evidence.

Technology is merely a supporting tool. Those involved in public communication must transform information into their own voice, infusing it with a personal touch and genuine emotion; only then can they create a powerful and lasting impact.

However, the downside is that an over-reliance on technology can erode critical thinking and authentic expression. If we depend entirely on AI to draft statements or write articles, the resulting output will lack heart, resonance, and passion, the essential qualities for anyone working in ideological and political communication.

Ultimately, technology is nothing more than a means of support. Those engaged in communication work must translate information into their own language, infused with a distinct personal touch and genuine emotion, to generate a compelling, enduring impact.

Thank you very much!