The 14^th National Congress of Viet Nam’s Communist Party will take place in Ha Noi from 19-25 January, 2026. This is an important political event of decisive significance for Viet Nam’s future development in the new era. The Congress not only reviews the development path of the past five years and defines goals and tasks for the next five years, but also shapes strategic thinking, vision, and development orientations for the country through the mid-21st century.

Over 80 years, Viet Nam, under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, has achieved historic victories. These include national independence, reunification, and the building of socialism, transforming the country from a poor nation into a developing country deeply integrated into the global community, with impressive economic growth, and increasingly improved living standards for its people.

           Macroeconomic stability was maintained, with inflation, public debt, and budget deficits effectively controlled. The trade balance consistently recorded a high surplus. Average GDP growth for 2021-2025 was approximately 6.3% per year, among the highest globally. By 2025, GDP exceeded USD 510 billion (1.47 times that of 2020), and per-capita income reached about USD 5,000, placing Viet Nam among upper-middle-income countries. Growth quality improved, and the economic structure shifted positively toward modernization as the shares of industry and services increased. Infrastructure was expanded synchronously, with numerous large-scale, key national projects put into operation. The private sector was facilitated to develop further, becoming an important driver of the economy, with several large private corporations emerging and attaining international competitiveness.

           Cultural, human, and social development made significant progress, with notable advances across many areas; social security and people’s living standards improved markedly. Policies on comprehensive human development were implemented in a substantive manner. Viet Nam’s Human Development Index (HDI) rose significantly (to 0.766, up 14 places, ranking in the “high” category), while its Global Happiness Index ranking climbed 33 places to 46th out of 143 countries. Education and training underwent fundamental reforms; science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation were promoted. Economic growth became more closely linked with social progress and equity; welfare and social security received strong attention. The material and spiritual well-being of the people improved clearly, with the poverty rate declining sharply from 4.4% (2021) to 1.3% (2025), meeting the goal of “leaving no one behind.” The health system developed positively, effectively controlling epidemics and mastering many advanced medical technologies; private health care expanded; health-insurance coverage reached 95.2% of the population (up from 90.9% in 2020), and average life expectancy reached 74.8 years (including about 67 healthy years).

           National defense and security capacities were further strengthened; national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity were firmly safeguarded; social order and safety were ensured. The Party and State invested in building the People’s Army and People’s Public Security into revolutionary, regular, elite forces moving step by step toward modernization, with a number of services, arms, and units advancing directly to modern standards. The reorganization and restructuring of the Army and Public Security toward lean, streamlined, and strong forces were basically completed.

           Viet Nam has consistently pursued a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, while diversifying and multilateralizing its external relations. External activities took on a pioneering role, helping maintain a peaceful and stable environment and opening up an unprecedented development landscape for the country. Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy were carried out comprehensively and in a well-coordinated manner, achieving notable results. Relations with countries and partners, including Sri Lanka, and multilateral organizations, including the Colombo Plan— were deepened, stabilized, and grew in a sustainable manner.