For the people’s 'prosperity and happiness'

Leaving no one behind

Ahead of the 2026–2027 school year, eight-year-old Nguyen Lan Anh, a resident of Thung Do Village, Gia Phuc Commune, has once again received financial support from officials and staff of the Hai Phong Federation of Labor.

Lan Anh’s father, Mr. Nguyen Van Duc, said that her mother was a trade union member of M&S Vina Co., Ltd. Unfortunately, in late 2025, she was diagnosed with a serious illness and passed away. Duc now has to support his entire family, including his elderly parents and young daughter. As a self-employed worker, he has an unstable income. The monthly support of VND 500,000 from the trade union has helped ease the family’s financial difficulties. As he put it, “A helping hand in times of need is worth more than a feast when times are good.”

According to Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Chairman of the Hai Phong Federation of Labor, Nguyen Lan Anh is one of 280 children of trade union members facing difficult circumstances who receive monthly assistance. Deeply embracing President Ho Chi Minh’s teaching that “the trade union must be a place that looks after workers’ rights and interests,” the Hai Phong trade union has shifted its focus from merely “studying” to “putting his teachings into practice,” placing workers at the center of its efforts to accompany, support and help them thrive.

Through meaningful programs such as “Tet Reunion", “Zero-Dong Tet Market,” “Thank You, Workers Day,” “Trade Union Meals,” and “Trade Union Homes,” nearly VND 300 billion has been mobilized to improve workers’ living conditions, ensuring that 100% of trade union members facing difficulties and their family members receive timely assistance. Studying and following Uncle Ho’s example is no longer a distant slogan but has become part of everyday life, inspiring greater dedication among individual trade union members and grassroots trade union organizations.

Despite the erratic weather, thanks to the enthusiastic encouragement of officials from Residential Group No. 8 in Le Chan Ward, 68-year-old Nguyen Thi Hien arrived at the ward’s health station early in the morning for a medical check-up.

Mrs. Hien expressed her delight: “This is the first time I have received a comprehensive health check-up. I would like to thank the local authorities and the doctors and medical staff for their care and concern for the people’s health.”

Social welfare comes first

Over the past year, despite facing numerous difficulties and challenges caused by epidemics and natural disasters, the city Party Committee and authorities have promoted solidarity and unity, proactively seized opportunities, and made every effort to overcome difficulties with strong political determination and decisive action. As a result, the city has achieved significant accomplishments, particularly in economic development, generating substantial financial resources to improve the lives of its people.

The Resolution of the First Congress of the Hai Phong City Party Committee identifies the people as the center and the driving force of development, with improving people’s quality of life as the highest goal. The city continues to pursue the policy of “Investing in social security and welfare ahead of economic development,” ensuring that all residents have access to and benefit from the fruits of development, leaving no one behind.

Among the 24 resolutions adopted by the Hai Phong People’s Council at its third session in late July 2026, many concern social welfare and social security. These include policies to support part-time workers in villages and residential groups who leave their positions following organizational consolidation and restructuring aimed at improving the quality of grassroots personnel; as well as mechanisms for implementing the National Target Program on New Rural Development and Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the 2026–2030 period.

In particular, the policy providing emergency relocation support for households living in dangerous old apartment buildings, along with the project to relocate residents in combination with urban renovation, refurbishment, and reconstruction of old and deteriorating apartment buildings, has received special attention from local residents.

Having lived in constant fear whenever the storm and rainy season approached, 75-year-old Nguyen Thi Nhan, a resident of Residential Group No. 20 in Gia Vien Ward, shared: “I used to live in the severely deteriorated A8 Van My housing complex. I was constantly worried about leaking roofs and the possibility of the building collapsing. Now, thanks to the city’s support, I have been able to rent an apartment at the Hoang Huy HH1 Apartment Building, which is solid, clean, and modern. At my age, I finally feel at ease.”

At the fourth City Party Committee Conference, held in mid-August 2026, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the City Party Committee, and Head of the Hai Phong National Assembly Delegation Le Ngoc Chau, instructed the Party Committee of the city People’s Committee to urgently implement the project to relocate residents in combination with urban renovation and the refurbishment and reconstruction of old and deteriorating apartment buildings across the city, as approved by the People’s Council. At the same time, he called for accelerating the construction of 7,135 social housing units and developing at least 1,000 rental housing units in 2026.

During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh always aspired to see “the people prosperous and happy.” During his visits and working sessions with the city’s Party Committee and authorities, he repeatedly reminded them that “building and developing the city means continuously improving the people’s living standards.”

Following his teachings, for many years, under the leadership of the city Party Committee and authorities, Hai Phong has been one of the leading localities in consistently pursuing the policy of “investing in social security and welfare ahead of economic development.” These humane policies and mechanisms, which seek to harmonize economic growth, cultural development, and social progress and equality, are gradually turning into reality the goal of building Hai Phong into an exemplary city of the North and the country, as President Ho Chi Minh envisioned.

Anh Thao

Anh Thao