Vietnam’s XIV Party Congress calls for decisive action to implement resolutions and accelerate reforms

General Secretary and President Tô Lâm, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, said the XIV National Congress’s resolutions will only be fully realized when they are implemented through resolute, synchronous, and effective action—shifting from “talk” to “do,” and from “issuing directives” to producing tangible results.

From policy direction to execution capacity

Tô Lâm said the main bottleneck is not policy direction but the capacity to translate policy into concrete development. He noted that in some places, national governance efficiency, administrative discipline, and policy execution quality still do not meet development requirements.

He emphasized that the term’s overarching spirit is to turn will into action and decisions into results. He called for immediate movement from “correct understanding” to “effective implementation,” and from “issuing directives” to delivering outcomes the public can benefit from early in the new term.

Reforming leadership methods and eliminating execution bottlenecks

Tô Lâm said the XIV Congress defines institutions as a “breakthrough of breakthroughs,” serving not only state governance but also development by releasing productive forces, unlocking social resources, and creating an environment for innovation.

1) Improve the legal system and remove bottlenecks at the source

He said bottlenecks should be resolved at the level where they appear, with proactive amendments rather than waiting or shifting responsibility. He called for a shift from management and licensing mindsets to creation and development; from heavy pre-approval to strengthened post-approval checks in eligible areas; and from procedure-focused work to results-focused work.

2) Change evaluation metrics

Tô Lâm said evaluation should no longer rely mainly on the thickness of reports or the number of meetings. He proposed assessing organizations and cadres based on concrete development outputs, progress, social impact, citizen and business satisfaction, and the level of public trust. He also said action programs must be quantified, measurable, and tied to clear timetables.

3) Reorganize for efficiency and strengthen central guidance

He said apparatus reorganization for efficiency and effectiveness should be linked to Party leadership reforms. He cited a central decision to move Vietnam Television, Vietnam Radio, Vietnam News Agency, the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology from government agencies to Party bodies, and to transfer their Party organizations to central-level Party committees—aimed at strengthening direct, ongoing guidance from the center on strategic ideological, media, and science policy matters.

4) Set clear objectives, timelines, responsibilities, and oversight

Tô Lâm said major programs and projects must have clear objectives, timelines, responsible persons, resources, and oversight mechanisms to address problems such as “hot on top, cold at bottom” and “spirit correct but execution stuck.”

Political and ideological work as a core requirement

Tô Lâm said leadership reform in the new phase should build a modern, disciplined, transparent, and efficient national governance system that serves the people. He said the decisive factor remains people—especially the cadre team, particularly those in top positions—requiring not only character and competence but also strong will to execute, a practical action mindset, the ability to organize work to completion, and willingness to take responsibility for the public good.

He also stressed that political and ideological work within the Party must be emphasized. He referenced regulations issued by the Central Committee on political and ideological work in the Party, saying this is a necessary foundation amid concurrent pursuit of major policies, comprehensive reform, and vigorous renewal.

He said political work must lead rather than be merely formal, translating political and ideological requirements into the responsibilities of each Party organization and cadre, enforcing discipline of speech, maintaining trust, and building political resolve to provide motive force for cadres to think, act, and break through for the common good.

Execution discipline and the “6 clarity” requirement

For the cadre corps, Tô Lâm said the tendency to be strong at planning but weak at implementation must be decisively overcome. He called for ensuring the “6 clarity”: clear people, clear tasks, clear time, clear responsibility, clear authority, and clear results. He also said collective cover should not conceal personal responsibility, and that mechanisms should protect those who dare to innovate and take responsibility.

He reiterated the principle that “the people are the root,” using the happiness and satisfaction of the people as the gauge of the effectiveness of Party organizations and the entire political system.

Inspection, supervision, and Party discipline

Tô Lâm said inspection and supervision are not last steps and not only about disciplining after problems occur. He described them as a crucial leadership tool to check power, uphold discipline, and ensure policies and resolutions are implemented correctly and directionally.

He said the first priority is to thoroughly implement the new central Resolution on improving the efficiency of inspection, supervision, and Party discipline. He said the resolution sets a high standard: rapid development must be paired with tighter discipline, and discipline must be strengthened as governance becomes more open and power is more decentralized.

He also said inspection and supervision should shift toward early prevention and proactive risk detection during operation. Each Party unit must treat this as political responsibility, and supervision should be tied to specific programs, missions, projects, and leaders’ commitments rather than being outsourced entirely to a separate agency.

Guidance for the Vietnam People’s Army in 2026

Tô Lâm said 2026 is the first year of implementing the XIV Congress and the Army’s 12th Congress resolutions, and he urged officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People’s Army to embody the tradition of setting an example through action as well as words.

He said the Army must be exemplary in political resolve, mindset of action, discipline, operational effectiveness, and the quality of implementing resolutions. He stressed that implementation must go beyond awareness and be translated into concrete actions at every level, sector, unit, and position, with each Party committee and unit commander, political commissar, and political officer identifying what must be done immediately, what constitutes a breakthrough, who is responsible, and how to check.

Tô Lâm emphasized special attention to political and ideological work, ensuring the Party’s absolute leadership over all aspects, guarding the Army’s Hồ Chí Minh ideological standard, and building a strong political foundation to enhance overall strength, combat power, readiness, discipline, and modernization progress.

He called for the exemplary role of leaders at all levels, saying the higher the position, the more exemplary in work style, organizational discipline, willingness to think and act, responsibility, and innovation for the common good. He also said cadres must be trained and developed comprehensively to meet the demands of building a modern Army, while inspection and discipline must be strengthened to ensure directives are followed and policies are implemented seriously and effectively.

He said the Army’s outcomes should be measured by genuine improvements in training, readiness, unit building, discipline, and public trust, and that strong determination must translate into tangible results through solid, targeted, and effective actions until the end.

He concluded that the Army should continue to be a leading force in action, a model in discipline, and a partner of the entire People in achieving the XIV Congress resolutions and in building and defending a strong, modern socialist Vietnam in a new era.