1. Continued reforms among Party organizations and government agencies

Hanoi Party Committee and subordinate organizations continued with their reforms, enhanced discipline and performance, improved the quality of training, and fostered the growth of cadres and officials. Outstanding results include the adoption of science and technology in management, assurance of democracy and accountability, and taking the satisfaction of the people as a measurement of the performance of the officials and government agencies.

The municipal Party Committee has taken measures to review and restructure the agencies’ organizational apparatus and personnel, organized training courses to improve the quality of officials, accepted new members to the Party, and made use of sciences and technologies in management and operation. As a result, Party organizations and government agencies at all levels produced positive outcomes while other socio-political organizations were able to improve their performances and explore new ideas among the people to grow the Party organizations and government agencies further.

2. Enhanced administration reforms, stronger power decentralization

Visitors at the Gia Lam Train Factory during the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023. Photo: HaNoiMoi Newspaper

Hanoi has performed greatly in power decentralization and improved its ranking in the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR Index) by seven places. Authority decentralization has been done well at all levels to facilitate the proper operations of government agencies. In addition, Hanoi has set up several public service units, reshaped and overhauled some departments and local agencies, and developed the cost estimates for public services such as healthcare, education and training, and environmental protection, thus allowing district authorities and subordinate agencies to make their own decisions and make the best use of their resources.

3. Strong economic growth sustained, stable social security policies

Amidst economic uncertainties in both the country and the world, Hanoi has had its policies undertaken to support local companies and remove bottlenecks for enterprises and investment projects. As a result, the capital posted a gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth rate of 6.27% in 2023, higher than the national average. Hanoi’s budget income increased by nearly 24% on-year to some VND405 trillion (US$16.7 billion), exceeding the full-year target by 14.8%.

With these outcomes, Hanoi and other localities have secured macroeconomic targets, assured major balances, and performed well in economic restructuring. The capital government always cared about the people, especially those who had greatly contributed to the revolutionary cause. In addition, Hanoi saw positive results in poverty reduction and healthcare, with 93.5% of the population registering with social security.

4. Accomplished draft of the amended Capital Law – great step to make the city a modern, cultured and civilized destination

In 2023, Hanoi focused on evaluating the implementation of Capital Law 2012 and studied possible amendments to the law. On November 10, the municipal People’s Committee submitted the draft of the amended Capital Law to the National Assembly for feedback. The preparation, involving the Hanoi authorities, the Ministry of Justice and other agencies, was well-received by the national legislators.

Once approved, the amended Capital Law will create new boosters for Hanoi so that the capital achieves tremendous, sustainable growth to live on the expectations of Vietnam’s political, economic, social and cultural center. Under the amended law, Hanoi targets to become a smart, clean and green, secure and safe, cultured and modern metropolis to propel the development of the Red River delta and the Northern Key Economic Zone.

5. Hastened major transportation projects ahead of the inauguration of the Ring Road No.4 – Capital Region project

Hanoi, in 2023, mobilized a great deal of resources to complete key transport projects, including the extension of Huynh Thuc Khang Street, the second phase of Vinh Tuy Bridge, and the Chua Boc – Pham Ngoc Thach overpass. Municipal and local authorities inaugurated the construction of Ring Road No.4 – Capital Region project on June 25. Until now, the city has completed 96% of the land clearance plan and contractors have begun their work as planned.

The kicking off of the project will assure its expected completion, thus opening the space for the capital region and facilitating Hanoi and other localities in the Red River Delta to foster their growth.

6. Enhanced cultural activities, Hanoi strives to become “the creative city”

Tourists partake in the night tour at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Photo: Thanh Dat/The Hanoi Times

Hanoi Party organizations and government agencies at all levels remained determined to develop the city into a cultured and civilized metropolis, drawing the attention and participation of all stakeholders in the society. Positive changes in the regulatory system on the development of a healthy, humanitarian and creative culture, restoration and preservation of cultural and historical relics, and provision of support for artists and artisans are key to fostering the growth of Hanoians in the new era.

Furthermore, the implementation of the Resolution on cultural industry development until 2045 generated great outcomes in tourism, craft making, and art performing. Hanoi also hosted several major national and international events, including the magnificent Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023, to honor and align cultural values, preserve traditions, and shape the future. Through the events, culture has become the new driving force that spreads the love for Hanoi and the spirit of building a creative city. Upon that, every government official and every citizen shall produce the best efforts to maintain the thousands-of-years cultural values and make the cultural industry the spearhead to prosper the capital’s sustainable socio-economic progress.

7. Building a learning society, improving education quality, and remaining top locality in both domestic and international competitions

On November 16, the Hanoi Party Committee’s Standing Committee issued Resolution 23-NQ/TU on enhancing the Party Committee’s leadership in the development of a learning society in Hanoi until 2045. Under the resolution, Hanoi targets to become a member of UNESCO’s “Global Network of Learning Cities” as soon as possible.

In 2023, the city’s education and training sector concentrated on reforming the educational methods, improving the quality of learning and teaching, and continuing to lead the country in the number of distinguished and excellent students. Hanoi saw 99.56% of its high-school students pass the graduation exam, the highest in 10 years. In addition, about three-quarters of all public schools in the city met national standards and Hanoi plans to raise the rate to 80-85% in 2025. Local authorities are pushing the process to build seven high-quality multilevel schools with an area of 5ha.

In 2022-2023, Hanoi students won 141 prizes in national contests, and 12 students won medals in global competitions. Notably, Hanoi had 92 students become members of the Vietnamese Communist Party. The city now eyes further cooperation with developed cities and countries in the world.

8. New rural district development plan completed one year ahead

The development of new rural areas is always the key to Hanoi’s socio-economic development plans. Hanoi plans to have all rural districts and communes qualify for the new rural standards in 2025 as regulated in the Program 04-CTr/TU by the Hanoi Party Committee in 2021. The city has made remarkable achievements in the implementation of the program.

As one of the localities with the highest number of communal and district-level units, Hanoi had strived to have 100% of rural districts and communes recognized as new-rural localities on December 5, 2023, fulfilling its plan by one year ahead. Specifically, all 382 communes in the city have qualified for fundamental new-rural standards, 183 communes have met advanced standards, and 68 communes have reached the highest level – becoming the model new rural areas. The four rural districts of Dan Phuong, Gia Lam, Dong Anh and Thanh Tri are completing their applications to gain recognition as the advanced new rural localities.

9. For the second time, Hanoi named the world’s leading city break destination

The rural district of Ung Hoa in the southern side of Hanoi. Photo: Minh An/The Hanoi Times

In 2023, Hanoi was honored for a second time as the World’s Leading City Break Destination by the World Travel Awards. During the year, the city also received numerous prizes and awards for becoming one of the most attractive destinations for tourists. The capital is widely known for its emerging golf-tourism, cuisine, hospitality, and adoption of sciences and technologies for tourism. In 2023, Hanoi saw some local restaurants receive Michelin stars as an acknowledgment of its food culture.

The capital city in 2023 welcomed 24 million tourists, up 27% on-year. The figure included four million international travelers, up 138% on-year, and 20 million domestic ones, up 16% on-year. Total revenue from tourism in 2023 was estimated at VND85.7 trillion (US$3.53 billion), an annual increase of 43%.

10. Tightened defense and security, Hanoi remained the most peaceful and friendly city

Hanoi, in 2023, continued to prove high qualities in defense and security, which assisted local authorities in guaranteeing social and political stability. Moreover, the city successfully hosted major celebrations. It provided good plan preparations and executions for major activities of the Party, the Government, the National Assembly and nearly 2,000 political and foreign affairs events. Training programs were set up for the districts located in the southwestern and eastern regions, thus improving the reliability of the city to international communities.

During the year, Hanoi received nearly 90 international delegations to come and work. Among key highlights were the successful organization of the Vietnam-France Decentralized Cooperation Conference in early April and the reception of US President Joe Biden and Chinese President and Party General Secretary Xi Jinping. The success of the said events has promoted the city as one of the most suitable places for foreign relations activities and improved the ties between Vietnam and other nations and international communities.