Placing People’s Happiness as Goal, Driving Force, and Measure of Development

	People’s Organizations and International Friends Express Confidence that 14th National Party Congress Will Open New Phase of Development for Vietnam
	International Partners Express Confidence in the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam

This era has been identified by General Secretary To Lam and the Party’s leadership as the “Era of national rise,” with its starting point being the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, scheduled to take place in early 2026.

Happiness - New measure of national progress

For decades, like many other developing countries, Vietnam has concentrated its resources on economic growth, industrialization, and poverty reduction. This path was inevitable and has yielded positive results. From being one of the poorest countries in the world, Vietnam has risen into the group of middle-income countries, with GDP per capita projected to exceed USD 5,000 by the end of 2025, according to data from the General Statistics Office (Ministry of Finance). However, as the country has reached a certain level of development, the question “development for what purpose?” has been posed more profoundly. Economic growth in itself is not the ultimate goal; rather, it must serve as a means to improve quality of life and bring happiness to the people.

Documents serving discussions and feedback by Party members at congresses of grassroots Party cells and organizations (communes, wards, townships, and equivalent units). (Photo: Hai Phong Newspaper)

Recognizing this clearly, the draft documents submitted to the 14th Party Congress mark an important shift in national development thinking. The concept of “happiness” has been elevated to the highest position in the chain of development objectives: “peace, independence, democracy, strength, prosperity, civilization, and happiness.” This is not a merely formal addition; it reflects a maturation in the understanding of sustainable development and a return to the most fundamental value of socialism - being for the people.

This shift is not only an orientation but has already begun to be reflected in concrete figures. According to the World Happiness Report, Vietnam’s happiness index has improved remarkably. During the 2020-2025 period, Vietnam rose by 37 places, reaching 46th out of 143 countries in 2025. Notably, Vietnam demonstrates a very high “conversion efficiency” from GDP to happiness. This indicates that, despite a relatively modest income level, Vietnamese people experience a level of life satisfaction higher than that of many countries with comparable incomes. According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Duc Loc, President of the Social Life Research Institute, this may stem from strong social capital rooted in traditions of community solidarity, resilient family structures, and the State’s enabling role in ensuring social welfare.

The inclusion of the happiness index in the Party documents has received broad support from experts and policymakers. Contributing opinions to the draft documents, Nguyen Thi Mai Hoa, Deputy Chairwoman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Culture and Society, proposed further clarification of the criteria for building a happy life for the people, from happiness within each family and each school to the workplace environment. Huynh Thanh Phuong, a National Assembly deputy, also suggested incorporating a specific target into the documents, striving for approximately 75 percent of Vietnam’s population to feel satisfied and happy with their lives by 2030. Quantifying this objective would translate the human-centered principle of “for the people” into a measurable goal that can be pursued and realized.

From policy orientation to concrete action

The philosophy of “taking the people as the foundation” and “placing the people at the center” has long been affirmed by the Communist Party of Vietnam. In the era of national rise, however, this philosophy is being translated into concrete form through breakthrough policies that directly affect the daily lives of the people. The draft documents submitted to the 14th Party Congress and the strategic resolutions issued recently demonstrate strong political determination to turn policy orientations into lived reality into a life of prosperity and happiness for the people, as stated by Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh at the press conference on preparations for the First Congress of the Party Committee of the Government for the 2025-2030 term, held on October 9, 2025.

One of the most significant breakthroughs lies in comprehensive social security policies, most clearly reflected in the fields of education and healthcare. In education, the policy of providing free tuition for students from preschool through high school at public schools is a profoundly humane measure, ensuring equal access to education for all children and easing the financial burden on millions of families. In healthcare, the goal of striving to achieve “basic universal exemption from hospital fees” by 2030 represents a major aspiration, underscoring the highest priority accorded to the health of the people. These are concrete steps toward realizing a just society in which all citizens can share in the fruits of development.

Decree No. 238/2025 issued by the Government stipulates policies on tuition fees, tuition exemptions and reductions, tuition support, support for study-related expenses, and service pricing in the field of education and training. (Illustrative photo: Government Newspaper)

At the same time, economic development policies are being reoriented toward greater sustainability and inclusiveness. The objective of maintaining high GDP growth, striving for over 10 percent per year during the 2026-2030 period, is not about pursuing headline figures, but about generating more abundant resources for social development investment, raising incomes, and improving public welfare. Dr. Nguyen Si Dung, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Office, analyzes that strategic breakthroughs in institutional reform, the development of high-quality human resources, and the construction of synchronized infrastructure are all aimed at creating a healthy development environment, enhancing productivity and national competitiveness, and thereby delivering long-term benefits to society as a whole.

Even the reform of streamlining and reorganizing the state apparatus, including the establishment of a two-tier local government model, stems from the objective of better serving the people. A lean, effective, and efficient system helps reduce administrative procedures, combat bureaucracy and corruption, bring government closer to the people, and address citizens’ concerns more swiftly and thoroughly.

Illustrative photo.

All of these strategic orientations converge on a single focal point: the happiness of the people. As stated by General Secretary To Lam at a thematic seminar on “The new era, the era of the Vietnamese nation’s rise” at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the era of resurgence is one in which “every citizen enjoys a prosperous and happy life, and is supported in development and wealth creation.” The Party’s mission in the new period is not only to lead the country toward achieving economic targets, but also to shape a society in which every individual feels cared for, lives in a safe, fair, and civilized environment, and has opportunities for comprehensive development.

As the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam approaches, it carries with it expectations of historic decisions. With a development philosophy centered on people and happiness, Vietnam is not merely seeking a new growth model; it is affirming a humane and sustainable path of development. The measure of success for the era of national rise will likely not be defined solely by GDP figures, but more importantly by the quality of life and the sense of satisfaction experienced by every Vietnamese citizen.

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