Vietnam: From the aspiration for independence to the aspiration for national strength.

The aspiration for a strong and prosperous Vietnam is standing at a new stage of development: as growth drivers heavily reliant on capital, cheap labor, and expanded inputs gradually reach their limits; as growth in total factor productivity shows signs of slowing down; and as technological competition, economic uncertainty, and global geopolitical tensions intensify, the need for innovation in the development model becomes urgent.

A groundbreaking institutional foundation for a new era.

In this context, the groundbreaking institutional resolutions issued continuously and systematically by the Politburo from the end of 2024 to the present have opened up a new impetus for reform: removing barriers to development, unleashing productive forces, unlocking resources, and creating a foundation for a new growth model, enabling Vietnam to confidently enter a new era of national development.

If the autumn of independence in 1945 solved the problem of national self-determination, Vietnam's development journey today faces a different challenge: How can a middle-income, lower-middle-income economy break through and avoid falling into the "middle-income trap" that few developing countries have overcome? After decades of growth based on capital accumulation, the expansion of cheap labor, and resource-intensive exports, these traditional drivers are clearly showing their limitations in the face of the demands of a new stage of development. This is not outside the predictions of neoclassical growth theory.

The Solow model explains economic growth based on capital accumulation, labor force growth, and technological progress, but views the rate of technological advancement as an external factor. More radical, later endogenous growth theories assert that technology, innovation, and human capital are the decisive drivers of long-term growth.

In response to this demand, the 14th National Congress of the Party, opening the 2026-2031 term, called for a systemic reform rather than isolated policy adjustments, directly addressing specific bottlenecks in the old growth model. This can be seen as a synchronized "institutional architecture" approach, designed with a solid scientific foundation to respond promptly to the objective demands of development rather than being an expression of subjective will.

From the end of 2024 to the present, a series of key resolutions have been issued by the Politburo, realizing the aspiration for national strength and transforming Vietnam into a developed, high-income country by 2045. These include Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation, and national digital transformation; Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW on international integration in the new situation; and Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW on reforming the work of lawmaking and enforcement to meet the requirements of national development.

Furthermore, the two strategic pillars driving growth and national prosperity in Vietnam's socialist-oriented market economy have been identified: the state-owned economy (Resolution No. 79-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of the state-owned economy) and the private economy (Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of the private economy). Resolution No. 68 identifies the private economy as the most important driving force of growth, while Resolution No. 79 affirms that the state-owned economy plays a leading role, performing the function of guiding and regulating the economy.

The resolutions are organically linked within a unified whole: The institutional framework under Resolution No. 66 paves the way for the development of the state economy (Resolution No. 79) and the private economy (Resolution No. 68); the private sector becomes the driving force in applying science and innovation (Resolution No. 57), thereby enhancing competitiveness in international integration (Resolution No. 59). This approach is also consistent with many international research findings on economic growth and development: the rule of law, investment, and trade openness are strong drivers of growth. At the same time, institutional quality is the foundation that governs most other endogenous factors of growth.

A strategic shift, a century-long vision.

On July 28, 2026, Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW of the Third Plenum of the 14th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on reforming Vietnam's development model was issued with five guiding principles, showing three major shifts in development thinking.

First of allThere is a shift in growth drivers, from heavy reliance on capital expansion, labor, and input factors to an increasing reliance on science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and the quality of human resources.

MondayThis represents a shift in governance methods, from a mindset focused on "management and control" to one focused on "creating and leading development," while simultaneously harmonizing the relationship between the State, the market, and society.TuesdayThis represents a shift in the way resources are mobilized, combining internal and external forces, with internal forces playing a decisive role and external forces creating breakthroughs for development.

These shifts are geared towards a long-term roadmap. By 2030, Vietnam aims to complete the foundations of a new development model, creating breakthroughs in institutions, national governance, science and technology, strategic infrastructure, and high-quality human resources. By 2045, the goal is to become a developed, high-income country with a self-reliant, innovative, humane, sustainable, and deeply integrated development model. Further ahead, the resolution sets a vision to establish the foundation for the next 100 years of national development, from 2030 to 2130.

The core issue is not just mobilizing more resources, but improving the efficiency of their use and allocation. Therefore, the focus is on reforming the financial system, upgrading the stock market and national credit rating, and restructuring the allocation of public resources. This process resonates with major policy decisions on land institutions (Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW on the viewpoint and orientation for amending the Land Law and related laws) and the maritime economic space (Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW on building and developing Vietnam into a strong maritime nation). This is also a point emphasized by many economists: public investment, if focused on key projects with significant spillover effects instead of being spread thinly, will be a crucial lever for growth.

Looking at the overall picture, a policy framework is becoming increasingly clear: the "Four Pillars" lay the institutional foundation, Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW continues to shape the national development model with a vision to 2045 and beyond. However, the aspiration for national strength will only truly become a reality when these policy decisions are translated into higher productivity, stronger businesses, more efficient resource allocation, and a better quality of life for the people.

Eighty-one years ago, the greatest aspiration of the Vietnamese people was to achieve independence, freedom, and self-determination. That aspiration continues today through a series of coherent and consistent institutional reforms, aiming to become a developed, high-income nation by 2045. The unifying thread from the autumn of independence to the era of development remains the Vietnamese people's will to master their own destiny. The difference is that this journey is now guided by an increasingly systematic, scientific, and consistent reformist mindset and vision. This is the basis for believing that Vietnam's aspiration for national strength is not just a wish, but is becoming an inevitable trend and is gradually being realized.