Confidently advancing into new era

The banner of Renewal (Doi Moi) has guided the Vietnamese people through remarkable milestones filled with great opportunities, yet not without immense challenges. Perhaps the most formidable challenge arose in the early 1990s, when the "political earthquake" caused the dissolution of the socialist system in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. At that time, Vietnam faced tremendous domestic difficulties. Its inflation soared to over 700%. The country, predominantly agrarian, struggled with chronic food shortages. In addition, workers' monthly wages barely covered a few days of expenses, and essential goods were rationed. Everywhere, people lined up — day after day, house after house, person after person.

"Renew or perish?" was not a slogan but a heartfelt and intellectual call to action. Later, when reviewing the 10-year, 20-year, and 30-year milestones of the Renewal, many newspapers published series of feature articles that boldly revisited the "eve of Renewal" and confidently declared that Renewal is both a verb and a proper noun. Looking back on 35 years of Renewal, the 13th National Party Congress affirmed: "The nation has achieved tremendous and historically significant accomplishments, developing comprehensively and robustly compared to the pre-renewal period. The scale and level of the economy have been elevated. The material and spiritual lives of the people have markedly improved. Our country has never had such fortune, potential, position, and international prestige as it does today."

The year 2024 has just passed, drawing us ever closer to the 40-year milestone of Doi Moi, the aforementioned assertions continue to hold true, reinforced by the remarkable achievements of the past year. The macroeconomy remained stable, inflation was controlled, economic growth surpassed its targets, and key economic balances were maintained. With an estimated annual growth rate exceeding 7%, Vietnam ranked among the fastest-growing economies in the region and the world, earning high praise from major and reputable international organisations. The ‘Year of the Dragon’ was marked by several outstanding accomplishments, such as completing over 2,000 kilometres of expressways; the rapid completion of the 500kV power transmission line from Quang Binh Province to Hung Yen Province in just over six months; and the nationwide effort to eliminate makeshift and dilapidated housing.

Travelling to the Northwest in early spring, where maize and rice are already green and peach blossoms are peeking out along the mountain slopes, one cannot help but feel a swell of emotion meeting the residents of Nu Village in Phuc Khanh Commune, Bao Yen District. These villagers, who survived a catastrophic landslide caused by Typhoon Yagi (Storm No. 3), now live in newly built homes. The stones may have tumbled, but the village remains steadfast. While the storms and floods have passed, human kindness endures. These meaningful homes, built thanks to the support from the Vietnamese Hearts Fund and rapidly constructed by the soldiers of Brigade 12 within just over three months, stand as symbols of solidarity. In times of hardship and challenge, the bonds of the nation and the spirit of community shine even brighter. They also highlight the overarching policy of the Party and State: economic development must always go hand in hand with cultural advancement, ensuring social justice, love, and respect for humanity — placing the people at the centre and as the ultimate goal of sustainable development. The statistics for 2024 are truly remarkable as Vietnam's Happiness Index rising by 11 ranks, according to the World Happiness Report 2024 by the United Nations.

The past forty years have been filled with profound sentiment and accomplishments. These four decades have seen the accumulation of strength and resources, laying a firm foundation for the Party and people of Vietnam to stride confidently on the grand path of integration, standing shoulder to shoulder with global friends. Now is the critical moment to take action on significant national endeavours and realise the aspiration of a prosperous nation. This aspiration is not merely an individual dream but must resonate as the collective ambition of the community and all the people of Vietnam. Such aspirations generate immense, dynamic internal energy and unparalleled strength, empowering the nation to confidently advance into the new era.

The theoretical framework for the New Era —the era of nation’s rise — is an evolution of thought and recognition of the country's new developmental stage. In recent speeches and writings, Party General Secretary To Lam has emphasised that the new era is an era of growth and prosperity, achieved under the leadership of the CPV. It is the era of building a successful socialist Vietnam — a nation characterised by wealth, strength, democracy, fairness, and civilisation, standing proudly among the great powers of the world.

According to historians, the 20th century saw Vietnam create two of its most remarkable historical eras including the Era of National Independence and Socialist Construction (1930-1975) and the Era of National Reunification and Renewal (1975–2025). From this spring onwards, the country enters the final stretch toward the Era of the Nation’s Rise, commencing with the 14th National Party Congress. The eras represent the dialectics of development, succeeding one another in alignment with the laws of Vietnam's revolutionary process under the leadership of the Party, continuously advancing and perfecting national independence and socialism.

The vision and goals are clear. The challenge lies in devising timely and synchronised strategies to transform determination into revolutionary action. These include the strategy for the country’s industrialisation and modernisation in the context of accelerating the Fourth Industrial Revolution, in which globalisation allows no one to "stand alone in the marketplace" and everyone must strive to surpass themselves and race against time to harness it. This is also the strategy for the development of science, technology, and innovation, demanding the prioritisation of talent and intellect as guiding principles for life, focusing on three pioneering domains: the development of the digital economy, green economy, circular economy, and knowledge-based economy; innovation, entrepreneurship, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution; and the development of high-quality human resources and artificial intelligence (AI). Finally, there is the strategy for rapid and sustainable development.

Rapid development requires high economic growth rates to narrow the development gap with countries in the region and the world. Sustainable development, on the other hand, requires high efficiency and labour productivity without sacrificing social equity, progress, or environmental sustainability in exchange for economic growth. By successfully implementing these strategies, Vietnam can avoid the harsh "middle-income trap", a scenario whereby a country stagnates for decades after escaping poverty.

Some liken this to the metaphor of Saint Giong, the legendary boy hero of Vietnam, who would have remained a three-year-old child forever without his miraculous growth — a transformation fuelled by patriotism and compassion for the people, communal solidarity, and the indomitable will to resist foreign invaders.

The path ahead remains fraught with steep cliffs, deep chasms, and prolonged challenges. History is not merely a series of unbroken victories; if it were, it might lull people into complacency, resting on the laurels of past glories. According to John Dewey (1859–1952), an American philosopher and education reformer, history serves as a means to reflect on yesterday to understand today and prepare for tomorrow. He argued that history is a means to understand the structure of social life and uncover the influences that have shaped it. The best way to predict the future is to create it. This demands that every individual, every community, and, by extension, the entire nation, remain alert and continuously reinvent themselves with each step forward in the evolution of humanity and the times. This vigilance helps avoid repeating past mistakes and setbacks. Among these pitfalls are stagnation, weakness, and even regressions on paths recently traversed. Persistent threats like economic underdevelopment, deviation from socialism, "peaceful evolution", corruption, wastefulness, and negative behaviours remain, while at times becoming particularly severe. The Party has consistently pursued self-renewal and self-correction, demonstrating unwavering determination in combating corruption with no tolerance or exceptions. The principle of "punishing one to warn many" has been applied, addressing individual wrongdoing to safeguard the broader system and restore public trust in the Party. While some lessons have been unexpectedly painful, they have awakened the collective conscience, reinforcing faith in the Party's commitment to serve the people.

A strong Party, a prosperous nation, and an enduring people are both the goals and driving force in the new era. It is the profound, enduring, and radiant revolutionary inspiration that shines brightly in this spring, as the Party celebrates its 95th anniversary.