'The people are the foundation': From policy decisions to public sentiment

CareTaking care of the people through concrete actions.

The principle of "putting the people first" is a consistent and overarching principle of our Party and State throughout the revolutionary leadership process. This is also the source of the immense strength of the Vietnamese nation. At the 14th National Congress of the Party, General Secretary To Lam continued to emphasize: "The people are the foundation" is the highest measure of all decisions. Accordingly, all guidelines, policies, and strategies must aim to improve the material and spiritual lives of the people; ensure the people's right to self-governance; and respect, listen to, and rely on the people in their implementation.

In Nghe An, this ideology is not just a matter of awareness or slogans, but is being realized through concrete and practical actions, especially in caring for the poor, households with particularly difficult circumstances, orphans, and vulnerable people in society. The Lunar New Year – a time when every family hopes for a prosperous and warm holiday – becomes a clear measure of the responsibility of the political system and the spirit of sharing within the community.

A clear example is that, despite the challenging economic context and the province's successive severe impacts from typhoons No. 3, No. 5, and No. 10, with social welfare resources prioritized for disaster relief and programs to eliminate dilapidated and temporary housing, the "Lam River Solidarity - Spring 2026" program, implemented vigorously and extensively, demonstrated the coordinated efforts of the entire political system from the provincial to the grassroots level, the exemplary conduct and responsibility of officials and Party members, and the joint efforts of the business community and philanthropists.

The spirit of "everyone contributes a little, the whole society shares" has spread strongly, creating a humane community force. Thanks to this, by February 10, 2026 (the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Horse), the entire province had mobilized over 182 billion VND, the highest amount in the 15 years of implementing the program.

In the mountainous commune of Muong Xen, where over 80% of the population are ethnic minorities and the poverty rate remains high, the spirit of "mutual support" is also being fostered through flexible and creative approaches.

According to Luong Van Bien, Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Muong Xen commune: The total resources mobilized to care for the poor and households with difficult circumstances in the area during Tet reached nearly 1 billion VND. Thanks to this, 100% of poor households, near-poor households, households with particularly difficult circumstances, and households with members suffering from serious illnesses all received Tet gifts, ensuring that "no one is left behind" during the transition to the new year.

Not stopping at immediate support, Muong Xen commune also connected businesses to help build houses for two poor households. Mr. Lu Van Thanh, from Binh Son 2 village - one of the two households receiving house construction support this time - emotionally shared: "My family's income is unstable, and our wooden house is dilapidated, but we don't have the means to repair it. Thanks to the concern of the local authorities and philanthropists, my family has more motivation to borrow money and build a new house. This Tet, having a more spacious and warm house gives my family more confidence to strive to improve our lives and escape poverty," Mr. Thanh expressed.

Along with Muong Xen, many localities such as Hoa Quan, Tam Hop, Tuong Duong, Do Luong, Con Cuong, Hoang Mai… have creatively organized cultural and sports programs to connect and call for resources to care for the poor.

Youth Unions, Women's Associations, and Farmers' Associations in many places have also implemented practical fundraising models such as car washing, selling goods, and organizing sports events; while maintaining programs like "Warm Winter," "Volunteer Spring," "Winter Volunteering," and "Warm Spring in the Border Region"... aimed at vulnerable groups.

Along with caring for the poor and vulnerable during Tet (Lunar New Year), according to Nguyen Duc Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee: The policy of the Party Committee, government, and Fatherland Front from the provincial to the grassroots level will focus on supporting livelihood models, strengthening vocational training, linking it with job creation, income generation, and improving the living standards of the people. Simultaneously, they will continue to promote movements to build new rural areas, modern rural areas, and civilized urban areas, aiming to strongly awaken the spirit of self-reliance and self-improvement to enhance the quality of life for the people themselves.

Focus on addressing people's livelihoods.

In Nghe An, the principle of "the people are the foundation" is further realized by focusing on resolving pressing social issues and legitimate aspirations of the people at the grassroots level. Practical experience shows that when Party committees and authorities truly listen to the people, respect their opinions, and leverage community resources, many long-standing problems are gradually resolved, creating consensus and strengthening trust among the people.

In Tien Dong commune, the Ky Thinh hamlet road, over 2km long, is severely degraded, affecting transportation, daily life, and production. Based on the people's requests, the commune has allocated budget and mobilized residents to donate land to upgrade the road, resolving difficulties in rural transportation.

Following the aspirations of the people of Thung Mon hamlet to utilize the abandoned land of the primary school branch as a playground and sports area for youth, the Party Committee and the commune government unanimously agreed to allow leveling the ground and mobilize the people to contribute to the formation of a community activity area. Comrade Le Thi Theu, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tien Dong commune, said: “The agreement on this policy stems from practical needs and the common good of the community, aiming to create a space for people to socialize and exercise.”

Comrade Nguyen Thi Thanh, Party Secretary and Head of Thung Mon Hamlet, shared: “This is not only a project that fulfills the aspirations of the people for many years, but also a vivid testament to the leadership method of the Party Committee and the government of Tien Dong commune, which is based on the principle of 'putting the people first'; all policies are presented to the people in meetings, opinions are openly gathered, and implementation is unanimous.”

In Nghia Hung commune, the principle of "the people are the foundation" is clearly demonstrated through the maintenance of direct dialogue between the head of the Party committee and the government with the people.

According to the Party Secretary of Nghia Hung commune, Le Thai Hung: Many pressing issues have been gradually resolved through these democratic dialogues. For example, at the dialogue conference with the people in October 2025, people reflected on the deteriorating condition of the irrigation canal system, affecting production. Based on that, the Party Committee directed the government to prioritize allocating resources to repair, upgrade, and build more than 1.5 km of canals, contributing to resolving difficulties and creating consensus among the people.

Nghia Hung also focuses on resolving issues related to land, issuing land use right certificates, and managing forest land – issues that directly impact the rights and interests of the people.

In the process of implementing socio-economic development policies and plans, and ensuring rural security, Nghia Hung commune always prioritizes the supervisory role of the people and the Fatherland Front, as well as political and social organizations. Through voter outreach, Party branch meetings, and village meetings, many suggestions and criticisms from the grassroots have been promptly received and adjusted, contributing to improving the quality of decisions made by the Party committee and the government.

Emphasizing the need to deepen the ideology of "the people are the foundation," Comrade Nguyen Dinh Hung, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province, stated: The important thing is to continue to improve and effectively operate mechanisms to enable the people to genuinely participate in the process of building, organizing, implementing, and supervising policies and guidelines at the grassroots level. Accordingly, the Fatherland Front at all levels will continue to promote its role of social supervision and criticism, acting as a bridge between the Party, the government, and the people; promptly gathering, reflecting, and proposing issues from the grassroots, contributing to the improvement of policies and enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of state management.

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To deepen the ideology of "the people are the foundation," it is crucial to continue improving and effectively operating mechanisms that enable genuine public participation in the process of formulating, implementing, and monitoring policies and guidelines at the grassroots level.

Comrade Nguyen Dinh Hung – Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province

The ideology of "the people are the foundation," and caring for the people's lives, championed by General Secretary To Lam, is not only a continuation of the Party's and President Ho Chi Minh's ideological traditions, but also a contemporary requirement in the context of reforming governance and development models.

From the experience of Nghe An, it is clear that when the people are placed at the center, cared for, listened to, and empowered, the strength of national unity is unleashed, becoming a solid foundation for the rapid and sustainable development of the homeland and the country.