The 2025-2026 period has marked an important transformation for Vietnam, with major breakthroughs in institutions, infrastructure, the economy and society.
Overcoming a range of challenges, Vietnam is pushing ahead with landmark projects that are not only reshaping the country’s infrastructure but also embodying the ingenuity, aspirations and spirit of self-reliance of the Vietnamese people in a new era.
The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam was held in Hanoi from Jan. 19-23. The Congress adopted documents reflecting renewed and modern thinking, setting out comprehensive development directions for 2026-2030 and a vision through 2045.The Congress reached a high level of consensus on personnel matters and efforts to streamline the organizational apparatus, while identifying three strategic breakthroughs: stronger institutions and law enforcement; digital and green infrastructure; and high-quality human resources linked to science and technology, semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and central mass organizations, and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, casts her ballot in the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels at Polling Station No. 7 in Xuan Dinh Ward, Hanoi, on March 15, 2026.On March 15, elections for deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term were held democratically and in accordance with the law, producing a number of notable results. The composition of elected representatives was improved with a focus on quality, a higher proportion of full-time deputies and broad representation of different segments of society.
Vietnam’s two-tier local government model, consisting of provincial and commune/ward levels, officially came into operation nationwide on July 1, 2025. The system has since stabilized, reducing intermediary administrative layers, streamlining the apparatus and strengthening the direct decentralization and delegation of authority to local governments.
Residents visiting commune- and ward-level People’s Committees to complete administrative procedures, submit applications or receive documents related to everyday affairs now have greater convenience. Residents are pictured taking queue numbers and waiting to complete administrative procedures at the People’s Committee of Thu Duc Ward in Ho Chi Minh City.
Hanoi has officially issued a plan and begun piloting a “socialist commune and ward” model in Phuc Thinh and Thu Lam communes, aimed at improving residents’ quality of life and happiness. Thu Lam Commune in Hanoi is pictured.
The idea of developing a “socialist commune and ward” model was proposed by General Secretary and President To Lam during a working session with the Standing Committee of the Hanoi Party Committee on March 30. At a meeting with voters on May 4, he again raised the possibility of starting with a single commune or ward to draw lessons, clarify the organizational model and assess its ability to meet residents’ everyday needs. Pictured are the headquarters of the Thu Lam Commune People’s Committee and the commune’s Digital Public Service area.
The Me Tri Lake, or Dong Bong 2, project on To Huu Street in Dai Mo Ward, Hanoi, is one of seven flood-control lake projects that have been under accelerated construction. In its first phase, the lake has already demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing flooding.The seven emergency projects have addressed immediate needs while significantly strengthening Hanoi’s flood-control capacity.On Dec. 22, 2025, the IC2 interchange in Hung Phu Ward and IC5 interchange in Vi Thuy Commune, Can Tho City, officially opened, allowing vehicles to enter the Can Tho-Hau Giang section of the expressway.The Can Tho-Ca Mau Expressway forms part of the eastern North-South Expressway network. Stretching approximately 110.9 kilometers, the project has a total investment of more than $1 billion. Its main route has opened to traffic, strengthening connectivity across the Mekong Delta and cutting travel time between Ca Mau and Ho Chi Minh City to around 3.5-4 hours.The Vietnam Exhibition Center in Hanoi was designed as a venue for major political, economic, cultural and tourism events at both national and international levels.The Vietnam Exhibition Center officially opened on Aug. 19, 2025, in Dong Anh, Hanoi. Covering more than 900,000 square meters, it is the largest exhibition complex in Southeast Asia and ranks among the world’s 10 largest.The Quang Trach-Pho Noi 500kV Circuit 3 transmission line involved the largest construction workload and the most extensive application of new technologies among Vietnam’s 500kV Circuit 3 power transmission projects. The power sector achieved another remarkable feat by completing construction in just seven months.Long Thanh International Airport is being developed on more than 5,000 hectares in Dong Nai City. The project has an estimated total investment of more than $16 billion and is divided into three phases.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam recently sent a document to the Ministry of Construction and the steering committee responsible for preparations to operate Long Thanh International Airport regarding plans to put the airport into operation from Dec. 1, 2026.The Lach Huyen deep-water port complex in Hai Phong is the largest deep-water port in northern Vietnam and continues to expand with modern new berths. The port can accommodate some of the world’s largest generations of container ships, providing direct connections to Europe, the Americas and trans-Pacific shipping routes.Saigon Marina IFC Tower was among 80 key projects inaugurated or launched to mark the 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on Sept. 2, 2025. The project also marked an initial milestone in the development of an International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City, envisioned as a hub for banks, financial institutions, technology companies and logistics groups, with more than 10,000 professionals expected to work there each day.
Pa Tan boarding school for primary and lower secondary students in Pa Tan Commune, Lai Chau Province, is scheduled to open on Sept. 5, coinciding with the start of the 2026-2027 academic year.
The system of integrated boarding schools in border areas is a strategic initiative of the Party and State to build 248 primary and lower secondary boarding schools across 248 land-border communes nationwide.
Vietnamnet.vn
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