Nghe An has made a worthy contribution to the common aspirations of the nation.
The 14th National Congress of the Party took place amidst the profound confidence of the entire nation. This was not only a momentous political event, charting the course of national development until 2030 and beyond, but also a moment of convergence of national will, aspirations, and resilience to enter a "new era of self-reliance" with strategic independence, self-strength, and self-confidence.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hoai Son
(Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Social Affairs)
Present: Hong Toai• January 25, 2026
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The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam is taking place amidst the profound confidence of the entire nation. This is not only a momentous political event, charting the course of national development until 2030 and beyond, but also a moment of convergence of national will, aspirations, and resilience to enter a "new era of self-reliance" with strategic self-sufficiency, self-strength, and self-confidence. For Nghe An – a land of outstanding people and rich history, the birthplace of President Ho Chi Minh, a place where patriotic traditions, indomitable will, a spirit of learning, and unique culture are embodied – the 14th Congress evokes even deeper expectations.
The 14th National Congress took place at a time when the world was undergoing rapid, complex, and unpredictable changes. Disruptions in supply chains, strategic competition between major powers, regional conflicts, energy crises, climate change, epidemics, cybersecurity… were not just matters of the “outside world,” but directly impacted every economy, every labor market, and every aspect of social life. At the same time, however, it was precisely in this context that opportunities for development became clearer: Digital transformation, artificial intelligence, the green economy, the knowledge economy, and creative industries were creating a new “runway” for nations that knew how to innovate their thinking and accelerate in the right way. The theme of the 14th National Congress emphasized “strategic autonomy, self-reliance, self-confidence, and strong progress in the era of self-improvement,” signifying a call to action: The country must break through using its internal strength, its resilience, and the power of its people and culture.
What struck me most was the phrase "strategic autonomy." It's a very modern expression, yet it embodies the familiar spirit of the Vietnamese people: independence, self-reliance, and unwavering determination. However, in today's context, "strategic autonomy" is not just about maintaining political independence; it also means mastering the development model, controlling the value chain, mastering technology, mastering human resources, and mastering national governance capacity. Especially as the world enters the digital age, strategic autonomy also encompasses cultural and value system autonomy – something that allows us to integrate deeply without being assimilated, open up strongly without losing our identity, and achieve rapid growth without compromising our beliefs and ethics. In other words, strategic autonomy is the courage to walk toward the future on our own two feet.
From here, a crucial question arises: What internal strength enables the country to rise? The answer doesn't lie in a single factor. Internal strength is the sum total of institutions, people, culture, science and technology, and social creativity. But if we have to choose the "deepest foundation," it is culture and people. Looking at Nghe An, that foundation is even closer. Nghe An is not only a land rich in development potential, but also a land of tradition and resilience. To speak of Nghe An is to speak of the birthplace of President Ho Chi Minh – a place that instills in each person a spirit of self-respect, resilience, simplicity, and profoundness. To speak of Nghe An is to speak of a land of learning, a place that has produced many talents for the country, where the spirit of learning is not only a family tradition but also a regional character. To speak of Nghe An is to speak of the heartfelt folk songs of the Vi and Giam genres, with its cultural heritage and a strong community foundation. These values are both valuable assets and soft power, enabling Nghe An to develop in the new era.
Nghe An is also facing the need for a stronger breakthrough. As a large province with a strategic location and potential in sea, forest, agriculture, industry, services, and tourism, especially with abundant human resources, the province has all the conditions to rise to become an important growth pole of the North Central region. However, to achieve a breakthrough, it requires not only projects, investment capital, or infrastructure, but also a developed cultural foundation and a strong human spirit capable of innovation, creativity, and dedication.
I believe that, from Nghe An's perspective, the greatest expectation after the 14th National Congress is that it will create a strong shift in institutional frameworks and action discipline. We have good strategies and correct resolutions, but if implementation is slow, and the apparatus lacks decisiveness, responsibility, and efficiency, then all goals will be difficult to achieve. The people expect the success of the 14th National Congress to usher in a period in which "from will to action" becomes the core principle. Every major policy must have a specific action plan. Every task must have clear responsibilities. Every result must be measurable in practice.
In this picture, culture plays a special role. Nghe An, wanting to achieve breakthroughs, cannot rely solely on "hard" strength, but must also develop "soft" strength. Folk songs (ví and giặm); festivals, historical relics; traditional craft villages; community cultural spaces; the tradition of studiousness; the spirit of overcoming difficulties… if organized and exploited with modern thinking, will become resources for the development of tourism, services, and cultural industries. Culture will create brands. Culture will create attraction. Culture will create pride. It is this pride that will draw people closer to their homeland, motivating young people to aspire to build careers and create on the land where they were born.
I also expect that after the 14th National Congress, a "new wave" will be created in human development, igniting a spirit of dedication. For Nghe An, this is both an urgent and long-term challenge. Nghe An has a large workforce, with many talented and successful people from all over. But for Nghe An to develop rapidly and sustainably, it must create an environment where talented people want to return, dare to return, can return, and are valued. The opportunities for local development in the new era depend heavily on the quality of its workforce: administrators, entrepreneurs, intellectuals, engineers, skilled workers, etc. If there is an open mechanism, good policies, a transparent working environment, and a culture of valuing talent, then Nghe An will create a very strong impetus.
The successful 14th National Congress continues to rekindle faith in the goal of development linked to the happiness of the people. Development is not just about new roads or new urban areas. Development must mean a better life, more stable social security, higher quality education, better healthcare, a cleaner environment, and especially kindness in social relationships and strong community bonds. These things, once again, return to culture. Culture is the "depth" of development. Culture creates the quality of life. Culture creates the dignity of a society. Culture creates the enduring strength for a nation to overcome all difficulties.
In this historic moment for our nation, from Nghe An – a land of "Lao winds and white sands" but never without aspirations – I believe that the country will enter an era of self-improvement, powered by both tradition and innovation. And Nghe An, with its unwavering resilience, its tradition of learning, its cultural depth, and its spirit of overcoming difficulties, will continue to be a spiritual pillar of the nation; and at the same time, a space of immense potential for development, making a worthy contribution to the common aspiration: a self-reliant, self-sufficient, confident, and powerfully rising Vietnam under the glorious banner of the Party.