New city, new advantages, new driving forces for development

After a period of careful preparation, on January 1, 2026, the new Hai Phong city officially entered a new era together with the nation — an era of national development. This moment is even more significant as the entire Party, armed forces, and people are looking forward to the 14th National Party Congress, with great confidence and expectations for new directions, new strategies, and new goals. As a key growth pole of the Northern region and the nation as a whole, the newly formed Hai Phong city, with its rich heritage of “Eastern Land of Culture - Heroic Port City,” stands ready to resolutely implement the 2025–2030 Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan.

This confidence is firmly grounded in the remarkable achievements of both the nation and the city over 40 years of Renovation, under the leadership of the Party and with the unity and strong support of the people. It is further reinforced by the significant results achieved during the 2020–2025 period, a phase marked by both favorable conditions and unprecedented challenges. As an open economy with a high degree of integration, especially following the provincial-level administrative merger, Hai Phong has demonstrated new strength and resilience. The city successfully overcame difficulties, seized emerging opportunities, and leveraged strong support from the Central Government to achieve outstanding outcomes. With a spirit of dynamism, creativity, solidarity, and determination, Hai Phong fulfilled its socio-economic targets comprehensively, while ensuring national defense and security, strengthening Party building and governance, mobilizing public participation, and expanding foreign affairs.

Social welfare continues to receive special attention, guided by the principle that “investment in social security and welfare must come ahead of economic development,” ensuring that “no one is left behind.”

Cultural, artistic, and sports activities have been organized vibrantly and widely, contributing to unity and shared commitment among the people toward the city’s overall development. These activities have also left positive impressions during major political events and national and local commemorations.

Notably, after 13 years (2012–2025) of meticulous and serious preparation of scientific documentation, Hai Phong now has 5 out of 12 relics included in the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac complex, which has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site. This achievement further reinforced the city's pride, now home to two World Heritage designations.

Looking back at 2025, Party congresses at all levels, including the first City Party Congress following the merger of Hai Duong Province and Hai Phong City were conducted on schedule and achieved great success. Under the theme “Expanding economic and urban space; improving special mechanisms and policies; accelerating green and digital transformation,” the city successfully met its socio-economic objectives.

Hai Phong recorded an impressive GRDP growth rate of 11.81%, 1.47 times the national average and ranking second nationwide. The city’s economic scale exceeded USD 29 billion, placing it third nationwide. Total state budget revenue surpassed VND 187 trillion, reaching 127% of the central government’s estimate and increasing by 23.1% year-on-year.

Following the administrative merger, the two-tier local government model has begun operating smoothly and effectively. The city completed the proposal to submit to the National Assembly for the promulgation of Resolution 226/2025 on piloting special development mechanisms and policies for Hai Phong, and successfully established a Free Trade Zone in accordance with the National Assembly’s resolution. At the same time, Hai Phong continues to implement major projects in key sectors such as transport, urban development, and energy, laying a solid foundation for both short-term and long-term socio-economic growth.

In 2026, the new Hai Phong city enters the New Year with fresh advantages and renewed momentum. The 14th National Party Congress, held on the eve of the Lunar New Year, sets forth development orientations for the new revolutionary stage, including three strategic breakthroughs in institutions, infrastructure, and human resources, along with six key tasks: strengthening Party building and the political system; improving development institutions, particularly laws and policies; developing a socialist-oriented market economy; accelerating breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation; developing human resources; and reinforcing national defense, security, and foreign affairs.

For Hai Phong, 2026 marks the first year in which the Party organization, armed forces, and people begin implementing the 2026–2030 Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan. This period lays a solid foundation for achieving the strategic goals set by the 1st City Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term, steadily putting Party resolutions into reality.

While the year ahead presents both opportunities and challenges, Hai Phong has chosen the theme “Proactive implementation; leveraging internal strengths; breakthrough growth,” aiming for a GRDP growth rate of approximately 13% compared to 2025.

The tasks ahead are significant and demanding. However, with strong support from the Central Government, along with expanded development space and newly generated momentum, Hai Phong is well positioned to shape and affirm an effective model of integrated and circular economic development, enhancing its competitiveness in the new development stage.

Above all, with unity, determination, and unwavering confidence, the Party Committee, government, and people of Hai Phong remain steadfast in overcoming challenges, sharing a common aspiration to build Hai Phong into a modern, civilized, ecological, and livable industrial port city of regional stature in Southeast Asia, pioneering the development of socialism closely associated with socialist values and human development.

Hai Phong News