The model that powered Vietnam’s rise for nearly four decades is approaching its limits. The next transformation will depend on knowledge, innovation and better governance.

To drive new growth, Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW calls for modern digital infrastructure, high-quality Internet access and large-scale data centres to underpin a national data platform.

The world has determined that the 21st century will witness a very strong shift of development drivers to the ocean.

Now that various special mechanisms have been granted, local authorities must have innovative development mindsets, fully leverage their distinct advantages, and foster a favorable business environment to achieve double-digit economic growth.

Vietnam continues to attract new businesses, but rising market exits and weak profitability highlight the challenges facing much of the private sector.

Resolution 10 marks a shift from attracting foreign capital at scale to building a high-quality FDI ecosystem, with stronger links to Vietnamese businesses and global value chains, experts say.

The number of businesses joining the market continues to rise, and newly established companies are launching with larger amount of registered capital.

Resolution 36 has opened the right door, but to step through that door, the country needs a fundamental shift in institutions and development mindset, according to Dr. Tran Dinh Thien.

Vietnam believes the growth model that fueled four decades of success has reached its limits, prompting a broader transformation of its national development strategy.

The demand of about 38.5 quadrillion VND of investment capital in the 2026-2030 period raises the need to open more new capital mobilization channels, reducing dependence on bank credit.

Overall, strong first-half performance has prompted several international institutions, including Standard Chartered, UOB and DBS, to raise their growth forecasts for Vietnam. Standard Chartered projects GDP growth of 9.5% in 2026 and 11% in 2027.

To achieve a GDP per capita of around $8,500 by 2030, as set out in the 14th National Party Congress, the economy must sustain annual growth of more than 10 percent throughout 2026-2030.

Two million active enterprises by 2030 is an ambitious target for Vietnam.

Vietnam's economy is in a relatively favorable position in the first half of 2026. Growth remains high, key growth drivers are operating in tandem, and several underlying indicators point to stronger-than-expected resilience.

Under the new development model, Vietnam will be self-reliant, innovative, humane, sustainable and globally integrated, with people at the heart of development.

Looking beyond 2026, economists argue that Vietnam's focus should shift from achieving a single year of double-digit growth to creating conditions for sustained high growth over the 2026-2030 period and beyond.

Vietnam is entering the largest infrastructure investment program in its history, with capital demand reaching nearly $1.5 trillion over the next five years.

Vietnam's maritime ambitions depend on integrated ocean governance, stronger scientific capacity, digital transformation and protecting marine ecosystems as the foundation of sustainable growth, says Dr. Vu Thanh Ca.

Vietnam's maritime economy can become a new engine of growth only if supported by modern governance and businesses capable of creating value across the global ocean economy.

Vietnam's merchandise trade balance posted an estimated trade deficit of 16.65 billion USD in the first six months, as compared to a trade surplus of 7.95 billion USD in the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO).