1. Double target achieved: macro-economic stabilization and economic restructure focusing on growth quality
The government aggressively pushed for stronger reform of the growth model towards sustainability, innovation, business environment improvement, and enhancement of productivity, quality, national effectiveness and competitiveness. All 12 socio-economic targets set by the National Assembly were fulfilled or surpassed. Many of them were achieved ahead of schedule. The national GDP growth rate reached a decade high of more than 7%. Other records were set: export-import revenue topped 500 billion USD, giving Vietnam a trade surplus of 9.1 billion USD. In 2019 Vietnam enjoyed trade surplus for the fourth consecutive year.
Vietnam’s economy maintained high growth and stability. Its economic restructure continued on track. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased just 2.57%, a 3-year low.
2. Commemorating 50 years of implementing President Ho Chi Minh’s Testament; studying and following his thought, morality, and lifestyle combined with Party building and rectification
The 50th anniversary of implementing President Ho Chi Minh’s Testament marked a milestone in Vietnam’s revolutionary cause led by the Party. It affirmed that in any circumstances, the entire Party, people, and army remain united and persist on the chosen path toward becoming a strong, fair, democratic, and prosperous country filled with happy, affluent people. The implementation of President Ho Chi Minh’s Testament was combined with the implementation of the Party Central Committee’s Resolution on Party building and rectification and the Politburo’s Directive on studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and lifestyle, making the Party stronger in politics, ideology, organization, and morality.
3.Reforming, fine-tuning, and streamlining state apparatus
Pursuant to the Party Central Committee’s Resolution and amendments to the Law on Civil Servants, Law on Government Organizations, and Law on Organization of Local Administration, Vietnam cut five district-level administrative units, more than 560 commune-level administrative units, four centrally-run focal point agencies, hundreds of district focal point agencies, seven general departments, 81 departments, 73 central state units, more than 2,600 divisions, 2,000 brigades of sub-departments, more than 4,160 units of state agencies, 2,200 focal points of state units, and nearly 15,200 head and deputy head positions. The Central Military Commission and the Central Police Commission of the Party applied aggressive, scientific, and effective working methods.
Over the past two years, 236,039 state employees were laid off, saving 430 million USD of the state budget per year. Organization and personnel for Party congresses towards the 13th National Party Congress were well prepared.
4. Strengthened corruption prevention and control attains major results
Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and other leaders were resolute in fighting corruption and wrongdoings. Hundreds of people involved in major economic cases were tried, especially for corruption, including high-ranking officials and generals in the army or police forces.
The Politburo issued a regulation to keep power in check in personnel work and fight the use of money and influence to get positions of power, institutionalizing the 12th National Party Congress Resolutions and Resolutions of the Party Central Committee and the Politburo on Party building and personnel work.
5. Numerous achievements in foreign affairs
Vietnam was elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council by an absolute majority vote of 192 to 1. Vietnam was given the ASEAN Chairmanship for 2020 and hosted the 2nd Summit between the US and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in a considerate and responsible manner. Vietnam’s international integration and economic diplomacy for development created a breakthrough. The country began implementation of the CPTPP and signed the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and Investment Protection Agreement.
6. Agricultural sector drastically shifted toward large-scale production to improve productivity and quality
Vietnam has to deal for the first time with African swine flu, which caused great loss for pig farmers and a year-end shortage of pork supply. Agricultural export revenue exceeded 41.3 billion USD with a trade surplus of 10.4 billion USD, forest coverage was 41.8%, 54% of communes were classified as new rural areas; and 111 district level units achieved new district area status.
Vietnamese rice variety ST25 surpassed Thailand, Cambodia and US varieties as the most delicious in the world, raising Vietnam’s profile in the world rice market, and encouraging Vietnamese farmers to invest in high-yield varieties.
7. Vietnam pursues its persistent, resolute, and appropriate measures to defend national sovereignty and sovereign rights in the East Sea
In July 2019, China deployed its ship Haiyang Dizhi 8 and escort vessels to perform a so-called “survey mission” in the Vanguard Bank, infringing upon Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. The government, the Foreign Ministry and related authorities have consistently pursued its peaceful measures while resolutely demanding for an earnest enforcement of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, firmly defending Vietnam’s waters. Vietnamese and foreign public opinions were vigilant and alerted to preventing China’s “cultural invasion” with repeated attempts to normalize its false “9 dash line” claim through movies and cultural publications all over the world.
8. Resounding success for Vietnam at SEA Games 30
Vietnamese athletes won 98 gold medals to finish 2nd in the medal tally of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 30). Most impressively, both female and male football teams won gold medals. Swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang broke the SEA Games record in the 400 and 1500 meter free-style, Tran Hung Nguyen broke the record in the men’s 400 meter individual medley. Track and field athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh broke the women’s 3,000-meter hurdle record. 4 records were set in weight lifting made by Lai Gia Thanh (55kg), Vuong Thi Huyen (45kg), Hoang Thi Duyen (59kg) and Pham Hong Thanh (64kg). Swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien won 6 gold medals and Ly Hoang Nam won Vietnam’s first gold medal in tennis.
When the year 2019 came to an end, the national football squad finished 1st in the qualifying round for the World Cup, fueling dreams for a spot in the 2nd qualifying round of the upcoming World Cup.
9. Revised Labor Code raised retirement age and removed lifelong public service
The 8th session of the 14th National Assembly approved a revised Labor Code, which will adjust the retirement ages to 62 for men by 2028 and 60 for women by 2035.
A revision of the Law on Civil Servants replaced life-long service with a timed contract. Exceptions include public officials in public agencies, those who are recruited as public officials working in disadvantaged areas and those with non-specified duration work contracts prior to the law revision.
10. Agencies weaknesses revealed by environmental problems
Environmental problems such as floods in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Vinh and Phu Quoc, and red-level air pollution in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and some other major cities triggered calls for greater responsibility on the part of management and executive agencies, businesses, and people involved in environmental protection.