Speaking at the 11th National Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in Hanoi, To Lam said the congress was taking place at a particularly important moment as Vietnam enters a new development phase that demands greater effectiveness and efficiency from the political system and stronger public service delivery.

According to To Lam, the congress marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Fatherland Front with “a new position, a new organizational model and new responsibilities.”

He said the organization must clearly define how it can continue serving as a gathering point for public trust, a channel for reflecting citizens’ aspirations and a force protecting the legitimate interests of the people while strengthening national unity.

“To history has repeatedly proven a fundamental truth: when the nation stands united, when the people are aligned and when collective will is unified, Vietnam can overcome every challenge, defeat every enemy and achieve enduring accomplishments,” To Lam said.

He described national unity as a precious tradition, a strategic policy of the Communist Party and the foundation of Vietnam’s strength.

According to the Vietnamese leader, the Fatherland Front cannot remain strong if it becomes distant from the people, cannot reform through rhetoric alone and cannot truly represent citizens if it fails to hear their authentic voices.

In the new era, To Lam said national unity must go beyond spiritual tradition and become a driver of national development capable of unlocking resources, encouraging creativity, creating social consensus and protecting the country from risks early and from afar.

He added that unity in the current period also means respecting lawful and legitimate differences, harmonizing interests and rallying citizens around the shared goal of building a peaceful, independent, democratic, prosperous and civilized Vietnam.

Reviewing achievements from the previous term, To Lam praised the Fatherland Front and its member organizations for restructuring their operations, improving public mobilization, participating in Party and state building, strengthening social criticism and supporting social welfare programs.

He highlighted the completion of more than 334,000 temporary and dilapidated housing replacements nationwide, disaster relief contributions exceeding VND4.2 trillion ($164 million) and VND315 billion ($12.3 million) in donations supporting Cuban citizens.

At the same time, the Party chief acknowledged several shortcomings, including formalistic campaigns, ineffective oversight in some areas and limitations in monitoring public sentiment, particularly on digital platforms and social media communities.

He also said digital transformation within the organization remains uneven.

To Lam outlined five key priorities for the 2026-2031 term, beginning with the principle that “the people are the root” and that citizens must remain at the center of all Front activities.

“The effectiveness of Front work should not be measured by the number of meetings, documents or campaigns, but by the trust and satisfaction of the people,” he said.

The Vietnamese leader also urged the Fatherland Front to modernize how it mobilizes and engages the public by becoming more practical, more people-centered and more responsive to issues citizens genuinely care about rather than relying on slogans or formalities.

On social criticism and oversight, To Lam stressed the importance of identifying issues that truly concern citizens, conducting criticism proactively and ensuring that “legitimate public opinions do not fall into silence.”

He additionally called for stronger digital transformation efforts within the Fatherland Front, including the development of digital platforms that allow citizens to submit feedback and recommendations anytime and anywhere.

Among the initiatives mentioned were a “24/7 Digital Front Portal,” a nationwide “Month of Listening to the People” campaign and a provincial-level social trust index.

Concluding his speech, To Lam expressed confidence that the Vietnam Fatherland Front in the new term would become stronger, more practical and more effective while continuing to serve as the central force uniting the nation and a trusted bridge between the Party, the state and the people.

Thanh Hue