Vietnam Marks Four Decades of Reform with Broad Economic and Social Progress

Four decades after its Doi Moi (Renovation) policy, Vietnam is marking significant progress across various sectors beyond economic growth. Administrative procedures are being streamlined through amendments to 10 laws concerning agricultural and environmental sectors, and revisions to provisions on Vietnamese guest workers. This aims to improve the business climate and protect workers' rights. In cultural exchange, a Vietnamese-language public speaking contest for Thai students, organized by Udon Thani Rajabhat University in cooperation with the Vietnamese Consulate General in Khon Kaen, celebrated the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Thailand diplomatic relations. Meanwhile, Vietnam's Vice President, Vo Thi Anh Xuan, during her visit to Kyrgyzstan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Plus Summit, discussed bilateral relations with the Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and senior officials, and met with the Vietnamese community in Bishkek. Local economies are also thriving. In Phu Dinh commune, Thai Nguyen province, tea production is becoming a sustainable livelihood through modern farming techniques, VietGAP standards, and upgraded OCOP products, boosting incomes for cooperatives and farmers. The Pham Van Dong Farm in Quang Ngai province is being preserved and promoted as a potential agricultural and community tourism destination due to its historical significance. Dak Lak province is developing the Phu Yen Geopark with a view to seeking UNESCO Global Geopark status, aiming to preserve geological, natural, cultural and historical heritage while promoting sustainable tourism and improving local livelihoods. In education, newly built boarding schools in Da Nang's western border areas are providing modern learning environments, opening up greater opportunities for children to learn and grow. Innovative approaches like virtual reality are bringing Vietnam's history closer to younger generations, fostering national pride and a sense of responsibility. In Hanoi, an immersive experience called "Patriotic Tour: Touching Memories of a Bygone Era" recreates daily life in the capital during the 1970s and 1980s. Domestic consumption is being boosted by campaigns like "Vietnamese people prioritise using Vietnamese goods," with digital platforms creating new opportunities for Vietnamese products to increase their competitiveness alongside traditional trade fairs. In the energy sector, Quang Tri province is leveraging renewable energy, with rooftop solar and wind power becoming a new driver of growth, cutting costs and adding clean, locally generated power. Social welfare efforts include Khanh Hoa province's accelerated campaign to search for and repatriate the remains of fallen soldiers, despite challenging terrain and harsh weather. Ho Chi Minh City is exploring outlet centers not simply as places offering discounted goods, but as part of an integrated retail, service, and tourism ecosystem to expand consumer space and boost retail growth. National leaders are overseeing infrastructure projects, with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam inspecting a section of Ring Road No. 1 and a high school project in Hanoi, urging timely completion and quality facilities. Procedures for foreigners in Vietnam are increasingly moving online, making services like visa applications and electronic identification faster and more convenient, as Vietnam works towards a more connected, secure, and user-friendly digital ecosystem for foreigners. As part of a working visit to the United States, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang met with US senior officials on August 27-28 to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and promote cooperation in economics, trade, finance, and technology. The "Xom Doai" cultural and arts space, built with collected and restored traditional architectural elements, has opened in Hanoi as part of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2026, offering a new way to bring heritage back into contemporary life through architecture, art, and community creativity. Vietnam is shifting its focus from simply attracting foreign investment to using it more effectively to strengthen domestic capacity, enhance competitiveness, and bolster economic self-reliance, a key message from Politburo Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW. Source: VietnamPlus English