An election precinct in Minh Châu Commune, Hà Nội, is lavishly decorated. — VNA/VNS Photo Trần Việt

HÀ NỘI — As the capital turns red with flags, banners and slogans for the coming General Election 2026 Day, another colour of civic life is also coming into view: the ballot, with voters across the city preparing to make their mark.

From the narrow alleys of the Old Quarter to the modern urban areas, the red of the national flag, banners and slogans illuminate the scene.

In the hearts of every Party member and resident of the capital, the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly (NA) and the people’s councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 period is not only a citizen’s right and duty but also a place where aspirations for a new stature of the capital in this era of national advancement are entrusted.

Preparations for the March 15 election in Hà Nội have entered the final stretch, marked by utmost caution and responsibility.

At venues displaying voter lists and summarised candidate biographies, it is easy to see groups of citizens pausing to read each line of information carefully.

Election outreach is no longer merely ceremonial. The atmosphere of democracy is clearly seen in sharp questions and frank feedback on the candidates’ action programmes.

Vũ Đức Thăng, a Party member of nearly 30 years and a resident of Nghĩa Đô Ward, said, “I have taken part in many elections, but this time I feel a distinct, new energy. Our on-the-ground officials and Party members must be model leaders who not only vote on time but also study the material deeply to choose the right people. We expect representatives who truly have both heart and vision, who speak and act in tandem, as befits representatives of action: those who dare to think and take responsibility to remove institutional bottlenecks for the capital’s development.”

Expressing special feeling at voting for the first time, Nguyễn Hữu Anh, 18, a resident of Từ Liêm Ward, eagerly said: “As a young citizen, I am particularly interested in candidates who think innovatively. I hope the next NA and people’s council will adopt bolder policies to support start-ups, comprehensive digital transformation, and the creation of more spaces for young people in culture and creativity.”

The expectations extend to suburban districts, where farmers await breakthrough policies in high-tech agriculture and model rural development.

Reports from voter lists at election venues in craft villages such as Bát Tràng, Vạn Phúc or the Bắc Thăng Long Industrial Zone show a festive mood with much to look forward to.

Nguyễn Thị Thanh, a worker at the Bắc Thăng Long Industrial Zone in Thiên Lộc Commune, hopes elected representatives will keep their promise to be closer to the people and engage in regular dialogues to listen to and resolve grassroots grievances and concerns, rather than only appearing at outreach events before and after each session.

In practice, people’s trust is nourished by openness and transparency in the vetting and nomination process.

Choosing candidates with high professional qualifications, technological insight and modern governance thinking in a digital era has won broad consensus among voters.

Residents of the capital expect the new deputies to be architects who help build a more complete legal system and promote the digital economy and the green economy, key pillars Hà Nội is aiming for.

Emphasising that the election is a particularly important political event as the country and the capital enter a new development phase, Hà Nội People’s Committee Chairman Vũ Đại Thắng called on all voters to exercise their sovereignty and participate in the vote with the highest sense of responsibility.

The work aims to choose truly exemplary individuals in character, capability and prestige to represent them in the elected bodies.

He trusts that with careful, objective and fair preparation by the electoral authorities and the clear judgement of voters, election day will truly be a festival for all people, ensuring democracy, legality and the selection of worthy deputies who will help Hà Nội grow rapidly and sustainably in the new era.

Aspiration

National flags adorn many roads in Hà Nội to welcome the election. — VNA/VNS Photo Trần Việt

This election takes place in a very special context, just after the successful 14th Party National Congress.

For Hà Nội residents, every ballot deposited into the ballot box is not just a personal choice but a crystallisation of trust in the Party’s leadership and the aspiration for a cultured, civilised and modern capital.

According to Chairman Thắng, the new Law on Capital will create an important legal corridor, opening space, mechanisms and resources for Hà Nội’s development.

Therefore, organising this election successfully has foundational significance, ensuring the selection of a team of deputies who are truly devoted and capable to meet the tasks of the coming period.

From a voter’s perspective, Nguyễn Tuấn Anh, director of HHA Investment and Trading Company in Đông Ngạc Ward, said that as Hà Nội entered the 2026–2031 period, the city faced unprecedented opportunities and challenges as the amended Law on Capital was implemented.

Residents want deputies who are not only conveyors of will but who understand the concerns of the people, who will accompany the city to tackle environmental pollution, traffic congestion and the strain on health and education systems.

People do not go to the polls merely to fulfil a duty; they are exercising their right to choose their future and that of their children. Therefore, March 15 will truly be a festival of will and aspiration.

When trust is placed in the right hands, it becomes an invaluable source of moral strength for the capital and the country to advance confidently, asserting its position in the new era, the era of national growth.

Party member Nguyễn Văn Học, who lives in Thiên Lộc Commune, said that in recent days widespread campaigning via radio, banners and the detailed explanations by officials and Party members have helped each voter understand that each vote is a brick in building a solid legal fortress for the capital.

Thus, people expect that the deputies will enact robust policies to develop a cultural industry grounded in digital foundations, turning centuries-old cultural values into a sustainable economic resource.

According to Học, in a world of many fluctuations, voters are increasingly trusting the Party’s leadership and hope the new administration will be truly honest, active and service-oriented.

The elected deputies should be willing to confront wrongs, defend what is right and always put the people’s interests first, working with the city to build a civilised and prosperous capital that matches regional and global aspirations.

With the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and people’s councils at all levels for 2026–2031 approaching on March 15, as millions of ballots go into the ballot boxes the aspiration for a green, intelligent and modern Hà Nội gains further momentum.

That trust and those expectations are the driving force for every voter to confidently hold the ballot, exercise sovereignty and help the capital and the nation move forward quickly and strongly in the new era. — VNS