Hanoi to pilot new governance model

THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi stands ready to serve as a controlled testing ground for new models of governance, institutions, organizational structures, innovation and digital transformation so that the Party Central Committee can review practical results.

Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong stressed this point in his speech at the 14th National Party Congress today [January 21].

According to Phong, the Hanoi Party Committee has made four major commitments to the Party Central Committee, including taking the lead in piloting new models for review and wider application.

The city has also set the goal of leading the renewal of Party leadership methods in the new era and considers this a core political task that runs through all activities of the capital’s Party organization.

Phong said the municipal Party Committee bears political responsibility before the Party and the people for its results and is determined to overcome the mindset of avoidance, fear of mistakes and responsibility.

The city aims to become a model of a modern, clean and action-oriented ruling party that fosters development so that the capital’s Party organization is worthy of being the national political and administrative center and the heart of the country.

“Hanoi will pioneer with the whole nation in entering a new era of strength, prosperity, civility and happiness for the Vietnamese people,” he said.

Hanoi currently has nearly 500,000 Party members, the largest number nationwide. In the past term, the city recorded many comprehensive and breakthrough achievements. Economic growth averaged 6.57% a year over five years and reached 8.16% in 2025. The size of the economy stood at US$63.5 billion, ranking second in the country.

In 2025, Hanoi collected VND711 trillion ($29 billion) in budget revenue. Average income reached VND180 million ($7,350) per person per year. The city is focusing on removing five major bottlenecks, including traffic congestion, urban order, flooding, environmental pollution and food safety.

From practice, Phong highlighted lessons on unity, determination and close supervision, especially the spirit of the “six dares”: daring to think, daring to speak, daring to act, daring to take responsibility, daring to innovate and daring to confront difficulties.

He stressed that leaders must be ready to take the lead, especially in major and unprecedented tasks.

Quoting President Ho Chi Minh’s words that “the whole country looks to our capital,” Phong said Hanoi must always set an example and live up to the trust of the nation.

The city must both remove long-standing bottlenecks and achieve breakthroughs. Phong noted that Hanoi will answer the question once raised by General Secretary To Lam: how will the capital shape its identity and development model to preserve the soul of Thang Long while rising as a creative, green and smart megacity connected to the world.

“Under the stated orientation, Hanoi will develop on the basis of innovation, with science, technology and digital transformation as the main drivers of growth,” Phong said.

Urban space will be reorganized toward a multi-center, and multi-layer model that is green, balanced and adaptive to climate change and improves quality of life. In the 2025–2030 period, the city aims for an annual growth of 11%.

Phong also emphasized that culture is a form of soft power alongside the preservation and promotion of a thousand years of tradition.

He said the people of Hanoi and the Thang Long culture will create a distinct competitive advantage.

“Hanoi will be an international city where talent, capital and global knowledge converge,” he said, adding that the capital’s new development models will serve as pilot examples that spread and move one step ahead for national review.

To govern a megacity, Phong said Hanoi must shift from command-based leadership to a modern model with a digital party organization, a facilitating government, pioneering enterprises and a society in consensus. All resolutions will aim for measurable results, clear evaluation and timely adjustment.

The 14th National Party Congress today entered its third working day after the preparatory session and opening ceremony at the National Convention Center. Yesterday afternoon, delegates met in their delegations to discuss Congress documents.