Vietnam Economic Times October 06, 2025

Dear readers,

After nearly 40 years of implementing the pivotal “Doi Moi” (Economic Renewal) policy since it was adopted at the 6th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in December 1986, Vietnam’s economy has posted consecutive years of growth, with certain periods posting high annual performance. This achievement not only saved the country from its severe socio-economic crisis in the late 1980s and early 1990s but also turned it from one of the poorest countries in the world into a nation that ranked among the Top 34 global economies by GDP size in 2024 and among the Top 20 with the highest foreign trade value.

However, to achieve more rapid and sustainable economic development in order to reach two strategic centennial goals - turning Vietnam into a developing nation with upper middle incomes by 2030, when the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam will be celebrated, and then into a developed nation with high incomes by 2045, when the 100th anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam will be celebrated - it is necessary to create new growth models while innovating and updating traditional growth models to unlock all potential and internal resources of the economy. Furthermore, these models, both new and updated traditional models, must be based on knowledge, scientific and technological achievements, innovation, digital transformation, and the inherent strength of the entire nation, including that of the business community.

With that in mind, the Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (IPSS), the Department of General Economic Affairs, and Tap chi Kinh te Viet Nam / Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy co-organized the Vietnam New Economic Forum 2025 - the third such annual forum and with the theme “Vietnam’s Economic Resilience: From Inner Strength to Global Value Chain” - on October 2, under the co-direction of the Central Commission for Policy and Strategy and the Vietnam Economic Association. The Forum focused discussions on numerous solutions and recommendations for new growth models and on the revitalization of traditional growth models in order to create new momentum for the economy, based on effectively harnessing all potential and internal resources of the economy and proactively and actively participating in global value chains.

Speaking at the Forum, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc affirmed that “Vietnam needs to enhance the transformation of its growth model.”

Appreciating the content of the Forum, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Chairman of the Central Commission for Policy and Strategy, said “The Forum did not stop at proposals and recommendations but also became a starting point for breakthrough ideas, pioneering models, and practical policies and actions.”

The theme of the Forum, as well as the direction from Deputy Prime Minister Phoc and the thoughts of Mr. Nghi, inspired confidence and encouraged representatives from many major corporations and enterprises in attendance to participate in lively discussions and debates, with the common goal of finding solutions for a new growth model that will enable the country to develop faster and more sustainably.

Our Cover Story in this edition therefore focuses on the Forum, highlighting recommended solutions for new growth models based on scientific and technological achievements, innovation, and digital transformation, to create momentum for a more sustainable economic development, as a practical contribution to preparing steps for the country on the eve of a new era of development.

On the same day as the Vietnam New Economic Forum 2025, the 22nd Vietnam Excellent Brands Award, an annual event initiated by Tap chi Kinh te Viet Nam / Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy since 2003, was also held, announcing 80 outstanding enterprises in various fields and recognizing their significant contributions to Vietnam’s socio-economic development.

My heartfelt congratulations go to all 80 domestic enterprises that won a Vietnam Excellent Brands Award at this 22nd holding.

Warmest regards

Dr. CHU VAN LAM
CHAIRMAN OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD