In the tranquil atmosphere of incense burning, whether cleaning the ancestral altar or looking back the previous year, the traditional “bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new” approach, passed down through generations, reflects on the journey so far, affirming a path forward, a direction for progress, a vision for development, and faith in moving forward.
A year has passed, closing a congressional term, leaving behind memories of months of effort, confrontation, resilience, perseverance, and innovation to affirm ourselves.
We have weathered the first three years with four devastating waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought about catastrophic damage. We also overcame the last two years of devastating natural disasters, including storms and floods, with approximately 100 trillion VND in damage in 2025 alone, equivalent to 0.7-0.8 percentage points of GDP in 2025. The efforts of the military, police, and the entire political system on the front lines of rescuing people, the decisive and coordinated solutions of the government, and, as a symbol, the swift “Quang Trung Campaign” to build and repair houses for people in storm-affected areas to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year), are testaments to the responsibility of a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
The campaign to “strengthen the building, rectification, and self-renewal of the Party so that it truly becomes ethical and civilised,” coupled with the fight against corruption, wastefulness, and negative phenomena, continues to deepen with the resolute handling of cadres who violate Party discipline and state laws, especially some high-ranking officials, including key officials, in a strict, thorough, and timely manner. This shows that the fight against “internal enemies” has not “stagnated or slowed down.” The truth is that this struggle does not hinder but promotes socio-economic development; handling errant cadres does not weaken the Party but makes it stronger, as General Secretary To Lam clearly pointed out.
In the context of epidemics, natural disasters, recession, and instability, GDP growth in 2025 is estimated to have reached 8.02%; Viet Nam’s GDP reached 514 billion USD, ranking 32nd in the world. A per capita income exceeding 5,000 USD, placing Viet Nam in the upper-middle income group during the 2021-2025 period, can be considered a remarkable achievement. For the first time, the Party has issued a resolution on the private economy, opening the door for the most dynamic economic sector to develop.
A new wave of awareness regarding the state-owned economy, science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation has laid the foundation for unlocking Viet Nam’s intellectual capital. Efforts to break down institutional barriers and inertia are expected to create a modern, open, and beneficial legal framework for the nation. Elevating and developing foreign relations not only requires a “proactive and positive” approach but also one that is “commensurate with the historical, cultural, and national stature” — this is a new way of thinking that emphasises the values of Viet Nam and its people in integration.
Forty years ago, a draft political report was rewritten at the “last minute” after a journey of confronting the truth, speaking the truth clearly, and formulating a comprehensive, profound, and thorough reform policy. This shift in perception and action created the revolutionary nature of the 6th Congress — the Congress of Doi Moi (Renewal).
Now, that spirit continues to be elevated to a new level in the comprehensively reformed draft political report of the 14th Congress, from the thinking behind document construction closely aligned with reality, the development of theoretical thinking and the Party’s organisational implementation, to the concise, easy-to-understand, and easy-to-implement integration of three core documents.
From the historic decision to streamline the political system and organise local governments into two levels, “reorganising the country” to open up new development opportunities, to the issuance of eight strategic resolutions by the Politburo; directing the drafting of documents and preparing personnel for the Party Congress, all have demonstrated that incorporating the “theory of the reform line” as a constituent part of the Party’s ideological foundation is a historically significant development, opening the possibility of dynamic and creative development in line with the country’s realities and the trends of the times.
When the will of the people, the nation’s position, and the demands of reality confluence in the aspiration to build a prosperous, happy, and powerful country, then shouldering responsibility becomes the mission of the ruling Party before the nation and history! As General Secretary To Lam emphasised in his 2026 New Year message: “Stability for development – discipline for breakthroughs – unity to overcome challenges.” He also called for: “Leveraging Vietnamese wisdom and courage to move forward strongly in the new era of development!”
In any upward movement, there is never only smooth sailing. As General Secretary To Lam clearly stated in his 2026 New Year’s message, new opportunities come with great challenges, requiring the unity and determination of the entire Party, army, and people — the decisive factors in the success or failure of the revolution.
With the mindset of “The Fatherland in our hearts"” — a great and vast Fatherland encompassing all homelands and origins — no matter where we are or what position we hold, if every action and deed is for the benefit of the people and the nation, the destination will not be far away!
