On December 20, 2025, as the year drew to a close, two major developments in Vietnam’s local governance and education sectors took center stage: the Party Committees of Thang Phu and Dong Giang communes convened to reflect on a year of achievements and set ambitious goals for 2026, while Hanoi city accelerated efforts to ease the pressure on its public high schools by investing in new facilities. Both stories, though distinct, reflect a broader national drive toward modernization, inclusiveness, and better public service delivery.
In Thang Phu commune, the Party Committee’s annual conference was more than a routine check-in; it was a celebration of hitting every single one of the 17 targets set for 2025. According to local officials, the key to this success lay in unity and proactive leadership, especially as the commune navigated the complexities of administrative restructuring and the two-level local government model. Notably, the Party Committee not only organized its first Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term but also exceeded its recruitment goals by admitting nine new Party members this year.
The economic performance of Thang Phu was particularly striking. The commune posted a 10% growth in total production value, which surpassed 1,644 billion VND. Average per capita income soared to 61.3 million VND, outpacing the original plan. Agricultural production remained steady, and the new rural development initiative made significant headway: nine out of twelve villages achieved the coveted status of model rural villages. The social and cultural scene thrived as well, with more than 98% of families recognized as cultural families and all villages maintaining their cultural designations.
Education, healthcare, and social welfare did not lag behind. The commune ensured that policies in these areas were well implemented, resulting in a labor training rate exceeding 80%. Administrative reform and digital transformation were also high on the agenda. The local public administrative service center operated without a hitch, resolving 100% of citizen dossiers on time. Security and social order were maintained, and, perhaps most impressively, the commune saw a reduction in criminal offenses compared to the previous year. To cap off a successful year, the Thang Phu Party Committee honored four collectives and forty-three Party members for their outstanding contributions in 2025.
Meanwhile, Dong Giang commune was not to be outdone. At its own 8th Congress for the 2025-2030 term, the Party Committee reported that it had met or exceeded all 23 targets set for the year. Budget revenue was a standout figure, reaching over 188 billion VND—an astonishing 478% above the city council’s estimate. The average income per capita came in at 40.03 million VND. The commune created sixty-five new jobs and managed to reduce the number of poor households by 159—a testament to targeted poverty alleviation efforts.
One of Dong Giang’s proudest achievements was the development of seven OCOP-certified products, including Ka Kun wine, dried bamboo shoots, dried forest bitter melon, Lingzhi mushroom tea bags, and traditional woven bags. These products not only bolster the local economy but also help preserve cultural heritage and create new opportunities for rural entrepreneurs. Since July 1, 2025, Dong Giang admitted seventeen new Party members, and thirty out of thirty-one grassroots Party organizations were recognized for completing their tasks well.
Looking ahead to 2026, Dong Giang’s goals are no less ambitious: increasing average income per capita to 41 million VND, reducing the poverty rate by more than 3%, ensuring that over 60% of administrative dossiers are processed online, and admitting at least thirty-one new Party members. At the congress, Phan Van Binh, Chief of the City Party Office, commended the commune’s achievements and urged continued efforts in administrative reform, digital transformation, and improving people’s livelihoods. Six collectives and ninety-nine Party members were recognized for their exceptional performance in 2025.
While rural communes celebrated their progress, the capital city of Hanoi faced a different kind of challenge: the annual scramble for public high school admission. Despite having nearly 3,000 educational institutions, Hanoi has only 122 public high schools, far fewer than at other education levels. This shortfall means that each year, only around 60% of students can secure a spot in public grade 10, leaving many families anxious and students under pressure.
To address this, Hanoi is racing to build more public high schools, especially in densely populated areas. The newly opened Yen Vien High School in Phu Dong commune is a case in point. With an investment of over 121 billion VND, the school expanded from 22 to 30 classrooms, nearly doubling its student capacity from just over 1,000 to more than 2,000. Dương Thị Thanh Lý, the school’s Vice Principal, remarked, "Thanks to the contributions and investment from Phu Dong commune and Hanoi city, the school is becoming more spacious and modern." The excitement among teachers, students, and local residents is palpable.
Another significant project, Do Muoi High School in Yen So ward, was built with a total investment of 332 billion VND and began operating in the 2025-2026 school year. Together, these two schools have added 1,500 grade 10 slots to the public system this year, a welcome relief for families facing the competitive admissions process. They are just the beginning: Hanoi plans to establish thirty-eight new schools between 2025 and 2030, with seven advanced interlinked schools already funded and under construction.
The city’s rapid population growth—an increase of 30,000 to 40,000 students annually—means that 30 to 40 new schools are needed each year just to keep up. The biggest hurdle? Land. Securing suitable plots, especially in the city center, is an ongoing challenge. To overcome this, city authorities are prioritizing the conversion of surplus public office sites, freed up by recent administrative reorganizations, into new school campuses. Tây Hồ ward, for instance, is working with the local Investment Project Management Board to propose converting former public security and ward offices into schools to meet the growing demand.
So far, 126 localities have completed inventories of redundant land, identifying seven properties for school construction. These include two in Cau Giay ward and others in Khương Đình and Nghĩa Đô. The city’s directive is clear: allocate land resources quickly and efficiently to advance school construction projects and ease the strain on students and their families. As the capital expands and modernizes, ensuring access to quality public education remains a top priority.
Whether in rural communes or the bustling capital, Vietnam’s local leaders are grappling with the twin challenges of growth and modernization. Their efforts to strengthen governance, boost the economy, and expand educational opportunities are laying the groundwork for a more prosperous and equitable future.
