Assessing Vietnam’s socio-economic performance, particularly in 2025, Veeramalla Anjaiah, a senior researcher at the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) in Jakarta, described the country’s achievements as “highly impressive.” Economic growth of over 8% has placed Vietnam among the world’s fastest-growing economies, while GDP is estimated at around US$514 billion, with per capita income reaching approximately US$5,000, marking Vietnam’s entry into the upper-middle-income group.

Beyond headline growth figures, Anjaiah said the quality of Vietnam’s growth has improved markedly, with a more modern economic structure and a growing role for industry and services. He also highlighted Vietnam’s more efficient use of development resources and its efforts to align economic growth with social progress and equity.

With the current foundations, double-digit growth in the coming years cannot be ruled out, he told VOV, noting that Vietnam’s average growth over the past five years has stood at around 6.3%.

According to the Indonesian scholar, these results reflect the consistent leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the country’s spirit of self-reliance and the strength of national unity. They also form a crucial basis for Vietnam to pursue its strategic development targets towards 2030 and its vision to 2045 to mark its centenary anniversaries.

Anjaiah said the 14th Party Congress holds particular significance as Vietnam enters a new development phase amid rising strategic competition among major powers, mounting global economic risks and growing protectionism. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s ability to maintain political stability, sustain high economic growth and deepen international integration is, he said, “a remarkable achievement.”

He added that the congress would not only review progress over the past five years but also shape Vietnam’s strategic thinking, vision and development orientation for the 21st century. The post-congress policy directions are expected to serve as a launchpad for Vietnam to achieve upper-middle-income status by 2030 and become a high-income, developed country by 2045.

On Vietnam–Indonesia relations, Anjaiah expressed confidence that bilateral ties would continue to strengthen following the Party Congress. Built on 70 years of diplomatic relations and upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025, the relationship is, in his view, resilient and holds significant potential for deeper cooperation.

Vietnam and Indonesia are both key ASEAN members and among the region’s most dynamic economies, sharing similar priorities in economic cooperation, trade and sustainable development. Advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership in a more substantive and results-oriented manner would bring tangible benefits to both sides, he said.

Notably, both countries share the ambition of becoming high-income economies by 2045, marking the centenary of their independence. While acknowledging the challenges, Anjaiah said he is confident that the goal is achievable if Vietnam and Indonesia continue to strengthen cooperation, promote innovation and further deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership on the basis of mutual benefit.

Theory of renewal guides Vietnam into new era: Chinese scholar

The 14th National Party Congress marks the beginning of a “new era” for Vietnam, and the theory underpinning the Doi Moi (renewal) policy serves as the ideological foundation guiding the country into this new phase, according to Wei Wei, a Vietnam studies expert in an interview with the VNA ahead of the the congress.