The 13th National Party Congress, changes to the anti-pandemic strategy, and efforts to maintain growth pillars are among developments that have shaped Việt Nam in 2021.

The following are the top 10 domestic events selected by the Vietnam News Agency.

1. 13th National Party Congress a great success

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyễn Phú Trọng speaks at 13th National Party Congress. VNA/VNS Photos

Held in Hà Nội from January 25 to February 1, 2021, the 13th National Party Congress was highly successful, establishing itself as a congress of “Solidarity - Democracy - Discipline - Creativity - Development”, which inspired the aspiration for a prosperous and happy nation, brought into play the will and strength of great national solidarity, and stepped up “Đổi mới” (Renewal), industrialisation and modernisation.

The congress identified national development goals for the next 5 to 10 years, and through to 2045 when Việt Nam is expected to become a socialist-oriented developed country.

2. Nearly 70 million voters nationwide cast ballots to elect deputies to National Assembly, all-level People’s Councils

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính casts his vote at polling station No 18 in Cái Khê Ward, Ninh Kiều District, the southern city of Cần Thơ. VNA/VNS Photo Ngọc Thiện

On May 23, 2021, 99.6 per cent of voters nationwide cast their ballots to exercise citizens’ rights and obligations, electing 499 deputies to the 15th National Assembly, 3,721 to the provincial-level People’s Councils, 22,550 to the district-level People’s Councils, and 239,788 to the communal-level People’s Councils for the 2021 - 2026 tenure.

The elections took place in a democratic, law-abiding, and safe manner when the entire political system, people and army were exerting efforts to fight the pandemic.

3. Changes to COVID-19 prevention and control strategy

The HAPLAST JSC in the northern province of Hưng Yên keeps the production going in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. — VNA/VNS Photo Vũ Sinh

The fourth wave of COVID-19, with the emergence of the highly contagious Delta variant, reversed the previous achievements in pandemic control as the numbers of infections and related deaths surged in many localities nationwide, especially those in the south.

Facing that fact, the Party and State changed the anti-pandemic strategy from “zero COVID” to the “dual targets.”

The implementation of Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP, issued on October 11, 2021, on safe and flexible adaptation to and effective control of the pandemic for the ultimate goal of protecting people’s lives and health has helped curb virus transmission, recover socio-economic development, and gradually stabilise people’s lives.

As of December 28, the country had recorded 1,675,321 infections in the fourth wave of COVID-19, raising the total number of cases to 1,680,985; meanwhile, the number of deaths and recoveries stood at 31,632 and 1,264,282 respectively.

4. Vaccine strategy successfully implemented

More than 2 million doses of COVID-19 Moderna vaccine supplied by the US Government arrived in Nội Bài International Airport July 10. — VNA/VNS Photo

The Party and State mobilised every resource to carry out the COVID-19 vaccine strategy to achieve herd immunity. Many measures were taken, including setting up a vaccine fund, conducting vaccine diplomacy, developing home-grown vaccines, and organising the largest-ever free vaccination campaign.

As of December 25, 98 per cent of people aged 18 and above had received at least one shot of vaccine, and 86 per cent the second dose, increasing 25-fold from late August 2021. Vaccinations for those aged between 12 and under 18 have also been stepped up.

5. Five important documents on Party building, rectification issued

General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, and NA Chairman Vương Đình Huệ attend the national teleconference reviewing the five-year implementation of the 12-tenure Politburo's Directive 05-CT-TW. — VNA/VNS Photo

In the first year of the 13th tenure, the Party issued the Politburo’s Conclusion No. 01-KL/TW on implementing Directive No. 05-CT, dated May 15, 2016, on promoting the study and following President Hồ Chí Minh’s ideology, morality, and style; Conclusion No. 21-KL/TW, released at the fourth plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee, on stepping up the Party and political system building and rectification; Regulation No. 37-QĐ/TW on banned activities for Party members; Conclusion No. 14-KL/TW on encouraging and protecting cadres who are active and creative, and dare to think and act; and Regulation No. 41-QĐ/TW on the dismissal and resignation of cadres.

The two last documents feature provisions issued for the first time.

6. National Cultural Conference inspires internal strength, UNESCO continues honouring Vietnamese culture

A total of 2,013 people join the Xoè dance in Yên Bái Province, setting a Guinness World Record. — VNA/VNS Photo

The National Cultural Conference, held to implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, identified six concrete targets: to strongly inspire patriotism; self-resilience; the aspiration for a prosperous nation; preserving national identity; developing Viet Nam’s culture; and capitalising on internal strength for achieving national development goals by 2030, with a vision to 2045. This event took place on November 24, 2021 - 75 years since the first National Cultural Conference.

On December 15, 2021, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) officially inscribed the art of Xoè dance of the Thai ethnic group in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

On November 23, the UNESCO General Conference decided to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the death of scholar Nguyễn Đình Chiểu and the 250th birth and 200th death anniversaries of female poet Ho Xuan Huong in 2022.

7. Việt Nam actively takes part in multilateral cooperation

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính speaks at the 13th Asia - Europe Meeting (ASEM). VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

At the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Việt Nam committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050 and reducing the methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 compared to 2020, showing the country’s strong political resolve to transition the economic model to green growth and respond to climate change.

Việt Nam continued making active and responsible contributions within the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, the Asia - Europe Meeting, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum.

It successfully fulfilled its second term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, was re-elected to the UN International Law Commission for the 2023 - 2027 tenure, and became a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for 2021 - 2025.

8. Strong economic fluctuations and efforts to maintain growth pillars

Phúc Yên Footwear Company in the northern province of Vĩnh Phúc produces 1.2 million pairs of shoes in 2021. — VNA /VNS Photo Hoàng Hùng

In the third quarter of 2021, gross domestic product declined by 6.17 per cent from the same period last year, the sharpest fall since Việt Nam began calculating and announcing quarterly GDP, due to the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections.

The service and industrial sectors in the southern region contracted sharply, and up to 60 per cent of the people lost their jobs or experienced income decreases in Q3.

The National Assembly and the Government issued strong policies to tackle difficulties, assist people and enterprises, and facilitate resources for investment, production, and business activities to realise the twin targets of curbing the pandemic and developing the economy.

As a result, the country reached and surpassed some important economic targets: the budget collection was completed one month ahead of schedule, and estimated at VNĐ1,471 trillion, exceeding 9.5 per cent compared to the estimate and 3 per cent higher than the Government’s target; exports surpassing US$335 billion with the trade surplus hitting about US$3 billion, making Việt Nam a country posting trade surplus for six consecutive years; and attracting foreign direct investment exceeding US$29 billion.

Meanwhile, agriculture remains a solid fulcrum of the economy with a growth rate of 2.8 per cent.

9. National population database system put into use 

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (C) and officials at a ceremony to debut the national population database centre and system. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

The national population database system officially became operational on July 1, 2021, serving as an important basis for developing e-Government, digital Government, and digital society.

Together with the achievement of the chip-based ID card issuance target, this is the first time fundamental information about Vietnamese citizens has been standardised, digitalised, and included in the inter-sector system, serving state management and facilitating activities of agencies, organisations, and individuals in a modern, convenient and economical manner.

10. Việt Nam secures impressive sports achievements 

Lê Văn Công wins a silver medal in the men’s 49kg powerlifting at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. — VNA/VNS Photo

For the first time, the men’s national football team of Việt Nam advanced to the third qualifying round of a FIFA World Cup.

Meanwhile, the futsal team earned a berth in the finals of a FIFA Futsal World Cup for the second time and made great strides though they had to stop their journey in the round of 16.

Lê Văn Công pocketed a silver medal in the men’s 49kg powerlifting at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Nguyễn Thị Thu Nhi became the first Vietnamese boxer to win a World Boxing Organisation belt in the women's mini-flyweight title fight. — VNS