Every National Day on September 2 offers an opportunity to look back at the journey Vietnam has taken and to define more clearly the road ahead.

More than eight decades after the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the country has undergone transformations of historic significance. Having fought for independence and defended its sovereignty, Vietnam today faces a new task: turning independence and self-reliance into development capabilities, and transforming its aspiration for national strength into economic, scientific, technological, cultural and human capacity.

That is also the deeper meaning of the vision set out by the 14th National Party Congress. The goal is not simply to grow quickly, but to build the capacity that generates growth.

The 14th National Party Congress set the goals of maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, achieving rapid and sustainable development, improving people’s living standards, strengthening strategic autonomy and self-reliance, and advancing strongly into a new era.

For 2026-2030, Vietnam is targeting average annual GDP growth of at least 10%, GDP per capita of around $8,500 by 2030, a digital economy accounting for approximately 30% of GDP, total factor productivity contributing more than 55% to growth, and labor productivity increasing by around 8.5% a year.

These are highly ambitious targets. Yet the critical issue is not simply how fast the economy grows, but its capacity to generate that growth.

An economy cannot sustain high growth for long if it depends primarily on expanding capital, exploiting natural resources, cheap labor or extensive growth.

To move both fast and far, Vietnam must make every unit of capital generate greater value, every worker more productive, every business quicker to innovate and the state apparatus more efficient.

The defining question of this new phase, therefore, is no longer simply “How much will GDP grow?” but rather: What capabilities will Vietnam use to generate that growth?

It is a shift from pursuing short-term results to building long-term foundations.

Science and technology must become a productive force

One of the defining directions for the new period is a transition from a growth model heavily dependent on resources toward one increasingly driven by productivity, quality, efficiency, added value and competitiveness.

The Party’s strategic direction for the new era has made clear that developing science and technology, innovation and digital transformation is not merely one area of public policy. It is a foremost strategic breakthrough needed to prevent the country from falling behind.

In the 20th century, the competitive advantages of many countries were based largely on land, natural resources, labor and capital. In the 21st century, those advantages increasingly depend on data, technology, institutional quality, human resources and the capacity to innovate.

Competition for development is therefore no longer simply competition between businesses. It is increasingly competition between innovation ecosystems.

Vietnam can continue attracting international investment, but unless it improves the technological capabilities of domestic enterprises, develops high-quality human resources and raises the share of domestic value in production chains, rapid economic growth will struggle to translate into genuine economic strength.

Institutions must become a competitive advantage

If science and technology are a new engine of growth, institutions provide the foundation that allows that engine to perform.

Reforming the development and enforcement of laws is now being positioned as a “breakthrough of breakthroughs.” The central requirement is to move away from a management mindset heavily focused on restrictions toward one that facilitates development, encourages innovation and unleashes productive capacity.

This is decisive.

Businesses cannot accelerate when they face lengthy procedures, unstable regulations or officials reluctant to take risks in implementing policy.

When administrative barriers are removed, for example, and data systems are genuinely interconnected instead of requiring people to repeatedly obtain and submit documents, thousands of working hours and substantial compliance costs can be saved across society, directly freeing resources for economic activity.

Good institutions do more than save time and money. More importantly, they release resources that have effectively been “frozen” by overlapping procedures and a fear of responsibility.

A leaner state apparatus must deliver greater effectiveness

The restructuring of the state apparatus, the introduction of a two-tier local government system at provincial and commune levels, and stronger decentralization and delegation of authority are among the major reforms of the current period.

But streamlining government should not be measured solely by the number of agencies eliminated or the reduction in public-sector staffing.

The ultimate goal must be to unlock resources and improve the quality of governance.

A smaller apparatus that still makes decisions slowly and coordinates poorly does not create new development capacity. By contrast, if streamlining is accompanied by clear decentralization, clearly defined responsibilities and greater autonomy for local authorities, administrative reform can become a direct driver of growth.

The ultimate test is straightforward: Are investment opportunities being processed more quickly, and are citizens receiving better public services?

The private sector must become a major engine of growth

Vietnam’s approach to the private economy is also undergoing significant change, with particular emphasis on building institutional confidence so private enterprises can grow through genuine capabilities, mature through technology and compete through productivity.

The state has a role in creating institutions and infrastructure, but businesses are where resources are ultimately transformed into products, jobs and added value.

The important question is therefore not simply how many businesses Vietnam has, but whether the country can foster a generation of Vietnamese enterprises with modern management capabilities, strong brands and sufficient strength to participate deeply in global value chains.

Deeper integration for stronger autonomy

In an interdependent world, Vietnam cannot choose between international integration and autonomy. The challenge is to use integration to strengthen autonomy.

Vietnam’s approach to international integration under new circumstances reflects a broader strategic outlook. Rather than merely opening markets and attracting external resources, the country must now make the greatest possible use of those resources to build an independent and resilient economy while gradually gaining a voice in shaping the rules of the game.

Successful integration is not simply about being present in many markets. It means establishing a meaningful position within those markets and retaining a greater share of the value created.

Modern autonomy is the ability to diversify partners, withstand external shocks and develop core capabilities in areas where the country cannot afford to remain entirely dependent on external sources.

Foundations of growth: Energy, education, healthcare and individual capacity

A country seeking rapid growth over the next 10 to 20 years cannot focus on GDP alone.

Without secure and stable energy infrastructure, there can be no modern industry or green transition. Without a healthcare system receiving the attention it requires, sustainable development cannot be achieved.

Education is particularly fundamental.

A factory can be built within a few years, but a generation of engineers, scientists and skilled workers capable of competing internationally takes decades to develop.

Ultimately, national capacity is built from the capabilities of each individual.

An enabling state apparatus and a modern education system can achieve their greatest impact only when every citizen and every young person is willing to change their mindset, acquire new skills and have the courage to innovate.

The convergence point: Building a capable nation

Taken together, Vietnam’s recent strategic decisions reveal a coherent structure: institutions to unlock resources; government machinery to implement policy; businesses to create wealth; science and technology to increase productivity; international integration to expand opportunities; and education, healthcare and energy to develop people and secure the material foundations for growth.

These are not separate pieces. They form an ecosystem for building national capabilities and collectively address a larger challenge: creating new development capacity for the country.

Perhaps the greatest challenge of the new era is no longer whether Vietnam knows where it wants to go, but whether it has sufficient capacity to turn its direction into results.

Between a sound policy and a major achievement always lies the challenge of implementation.

A growth target of at least 10% a year leaves little room for an economy constrained by slow decision-making and a reluctance to take responsibility.

The 2026-2030 period should therefore be judged by tangible changes.

Do citizens find administrative procedures faster? Are businesses seeing the cost of doing business fall? Is it becoming easier for scientists to bring their research to market?

If the answer is increasingly “yes,” then new policies will truly have found their way into everyday life.

From National Day today to the 2045 vision

National Day is a time to look back at history, but the greatest value of looking back is that it allows a country to see its future more clearly.

If the goal in 1945 was to secure an independent nation, the goal for 2045 is to turn that independent nation into a developed, civilized and happy country, supported by a strong economy, effective institutions and an innovative society.

Twenty years is not a long time.

The 2045 vision cannot simply be a destination on the calendar. It must begin with capabilities accumulated today through every policy decision, every enterprise and every individual.

The 14th National Party Congress marks a turning point from asking, “What kind of country does Vietnam want to become?” to the more practical question: “What capabilities must Vietnam possess to become the country it aspires to be?”

And if there is one message worth reflecting on this National Day as Vietnam enters a new stage, perhaps it is this: Aspiration becomes reality only when it is transformed into capability. Vision matters only when it is turned into action. And a nation can go far only when every reform made today adds to the country’s capacity for tomorrow.

To Van Truong