On October 17, 2025, two significant political and cultural events unfolded in Hanoi, each reflecting the evolving priorities of Vietnam’s leadership as the nation approaches key anniversaries and milestones. At the National Assembly House, the Party Committee of the National Assembly marked the 95th anniversary of Vietnamese Women's Day with a thematic session titled "Preserving and promoting the identity of the traditional costumes of Vietnamese ethnic groups." Meanwhile, across the city, the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (MTTQ) and central mass organizations convened a major conference to internalize and implement the resolutions and directives of their recently concluded First Congress for the 2025-2030 term.
The specialized activity at the National Assembly was more than a ceremonial nod to tradition. It was, as Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the National Assembly Vũ Hải Hà put it, "an opportunity to deepen love and pride in the traditional culture of ethnic groups, especially the beauty of Vietnamese women's costumes." According to the official account provided by the National Assembly’s press service, the event aimed to both honor the material and spiritual contributions of female leaders, officials, civil servants, and workers, and to reaffirm their central role in legislative and supervisory work.
This gathering, held in the stately halls of the National Assembly House, brought together a distinguished roster of participants. Central Party members such as Vũ Hải Hà, Đặng Xuân Phương, and Phạm Thúy Chinh, along with representatives from the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Office of the National Assembly, and the State Audit Office, attended the session. Of particular note was the strong presence of female National Assembly deputies and leaders, reinforcing the message that women are not just guardians of tradition but also architects of Vietnam’s future.
During the session, researcher and director Nguyễn Bồng Mai, author of "Survey: The vibrant colors of the traditional costumes of Vietnamese ethnic women," offered insights and sparked discussion on the role of women in preserving and promoting the identity of ethnic costumes and traditional culture in modern life. The conversation, according to the National Assembly’s official summary, underscored the idea that traditional attire is far more than fabric and embroidery—it is a living testament to the resilience and creativity of Vietnam’s diverse communities.
The timing of this event was no accident. It dovetailed with the ongoing implementation of Resolution No. 156-KL/TW, issued on May 21, 2025, which emphasizes building and developing Vietnamese culture and people. Deputy Secretary Vũ Hải Hà expressed hope that, "after this thematic session, each comrade will further cherish, preserve, and spread the beauty of our culture, while also promoting the intelligence and grace of Vietnamese women in both work and life." The session was thus not only a celebration but also a call to action—one that links the preservation of heritage with the pursuit of progress.
Elsewhere in Hanoi that morning, the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (MTTQ) and central mass organizations gathered for a conference with a different, but equally ambitious, agenda. The meeting was dedicated to studying and thoroughly understanding the Resolution of the First Congress of the Party Committee of MTTQ and Central mass organizations for the 2025-2030 term. This Congress, which took place from September 22-23, 2025, saw the participation of 346 official delegates from 25 subordinate Party organizations, who deliberated on key political documents and mapped out strategic directions for the next five years.
As reported by the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s official news outlet, the Congress set forth 10 major targets, 8 key tasks, 10 main solutions for political leadership, and 5 groups of solutions for Party building for the 2025-2030 term. The implementation roadmap is detailed and ambitious: within three months, the organization aims to complete its organizational apparatus, launch the "Digital Front" initiative, and select pilot provinces for social dialogue and community welfare projects. Within six months, a nationwide "People Speak Month" will be rolled out, accompanied by a real-time database on population issues and reforms to strengthen grassroots outreach in industrial zones and rural areas. Within a year, an independent social trust index will be evaluated at the provincial level, and successful models of social dialogue will be expanded.
Central to the Congress’s vision is the guidance of General Secretary Tô Lâm, whose keynote address was quoted extensively during the conference. "The Front is the people. The Front is the broadest gathering place of the masses—workers, farmers, women, elderly, youth, ethnic minorities, religious groups, intellectuals, entrepreneurs, artists, and overseas Vietnamese," Tô Lâm stated. He emphasized that the strength of the Front is "the strength of the people's hearts," and that its tradition is unity: "Unity to build, protect, and develop the country, stabilize society, improve people's lives, and achieve major national goals."
General Secretary Tô Lâm’s directives for the 2025-2030 term, as relayed by Deputy Secretary Nguyễn Thị Thu Hà, revolve around three core principles: "Put the people at the center, as subject, objective, and driving force of renewal; combine democracy, discipline, and rule of law; and shift from formal movements to substantive results, relying on data and measurable outcomes." He challenged the Party and mass organizations to answer, with every policy and action plan, "What practical benefits does this bring to the people, to vulnerable groups, to specific communities?"
The General Secretary also outlined six key tasks, including designing multi-tiered, multi-channel representation networks for workers, farmers, youth, women, the disadvantaged, ethnic minorities, and religious groups; promoting ethnic and religious solidarity; launching the "Digital Front" platform to receive citizens’ feedback 24/7; and organizing "People Speak Month" at all levels. He called for a new approach to mass organization activities, moving away from "inverted cone" structures that concentrate power at the top, towards more effective grassroots engagement. Transparency and accountability are to be institutionalized through a "3 public – 3 supervision" framework, ensuring that objectives, resources, and progress are made public and that oversight is carried out by the people, the Front, and the media.
Deputy Secretary Nguyễn Thị Thu Hà distilled the General Secretary’s expectations: "This term, we want to see real change at the grassroots: fewer meetings, more action; fewer slogans, more results; less paperwork, more smiles from the people."
The conference also reported on the outcomes of the 13th Central Committee Conference of the 13th Party Central Executive Committee, held from October 6-8, 2025. According to Deputy Secretary Nguyễn Phi Long, the meeting addressed preparations for the upcoming 14th National Party Congress, including draft political reports, reviews of 40 years of socialist-oriented reform, and evaluations of the Party Charter. Financial and economic planning for 2026 and beyond was also discussed, with a focus on sustainable development and improving living standards.
Taken together, these events reflect a Vietnam at a crossroads—one that is determined to honor its cultural roots while embracing innovation and reform. Whether through the celebration of traditional costumes or the drive for digital transformation and grassroots participation, the message from Hanoi is clear: the future will be built on the foundation of unity, inclusion, and practical results for the people.
