Party General Secretary and President To Lam made the statement while giving a speech at the 11th National Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front for the 2026-2031 term, which opened in Hanoi on May 12 under the theme “Solidarity - Democracy - Innovation - Creativity – Development”.

The congress also drew the participation of 1,136 official delegates representing different social strata, ethnic groups, religions, armed forces personnel, overseas Vietnamese and Vietnam Fatherland Front officials at all levels.

National unity as source of strength

Addressing the congress, To Lam said Vietnam’s history had repeatedly shown that when the nation stands united and the people share common resolve, the country can overcome all challenges, defeat all enemies and achieve historic feats of lasting significance.

He described great national unity as a precious tradition, a strategic guideline of the Party and the source of Vietnam’s strength. From the August Revolution in 1945 through the wars of resistance, national reunification, national defence and the current period of renewal, integration and development, every achievement of the country has stemmed from the Party’s sound leadership and the strength of the people, he emphasized.

The top leader noted that although the current tenure had been shortened, the Vietnam Fatherland Front system and its member organizations had made major efforts and achieved important results. Following directions from the Party Central Committee, the Front had reorganized and streamlined its organizational structure, prepared thoroughly and responsibly for the 11th congress, and gradually operated under the new model while maintaining stable and smooth operations, he continued.

He praised the achievements of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels, its member organizations, officials, members and people from all walks of life.

At the same time, To Lam said the Front’s work still faced shortcomings and limitations, and outlined five key groups of tasks for discussion and implementation during the 2026-2031 term. He stressed that all activities must consistently uphold the principle that “the people are the root,” with the people placed at the center of national renewal and development.

He went on the Front must place the people at the center of all activities, rely on the people in Party and State building, promote the people’s right to mastery, and effectively implement the principle of “people know, people discuss, people do, people monitor, people supervise and people benefit.”

According to To Lam, the Front must both communicate the Party’s guidelines and State policies to the people and convey the people’s opinions, aspirations, initiatives and legitimate concerns to the Party and State.

Mobilization must go beyond slogans

To Lam said Vietnamese society is changing rapidly, with increasingly diverse social structures, occupations, working methods, living spaces and ways people access information, requiring renewed approaches to engaging and uniting the people.

He stressed that mobilization efforts could not rely solely on meetings, documents and slogans, but must instead be carried out through dialogue, persuasion, practical benefits, exemplary conduct, concrete results and the ability to resolve issues of public concern.

Each campaign and movement launched by the Front should shift from general appeals to concrete implementation, from slogans to measurable outcomes, and from formality to substance, he said, adding that activities must be easy to understand, easy to remember and easy to carry out, with clear goals, responsibilities and timelines.

The Front must not replace the role of the State or member organizations, nor allow its operations to become overly administrative.

“The Front must fulfill its core political role in bringing people together, consultation, coordination, supervision, social criticism, care and protection while promoting the strength of the people,” he said. “Under the new organizational model, the structure may become leaner, but its outreach must become broader; the apparatus may have fewer layers, but operations must stay closer to the people,” he emphasized.

The top leader also called for improvements in supervision and social criticism, participation in Party and State building, and early engagement in policymaking processes.

Social criticism, he said, should focus beyond wording on policy objectives, social impact, feasibility, implementation resources and public interests.

He stated that social criticism is not intended to obstruct State agencies, but to make policies more accurate, closer to the people, more transparent, feasible and humane.

Front officials urged to stay close to the people

To Lam said the Front should continue safeguarding the practical interests of the people and strengthen social consensus at the grassroots level, noting that unity and trust can only be sustained when people are cared for, protected, respected and able to participate in and benefit from development.

He called for continued support for poor and vulnerable groups, ethnic minority communities, religious communities, workers, farmers, women, young people, older persons, children, persons with disabilities and overseas Vietnamese facing difficulties.

Social welfare programs, must be transparent, target the right beneficiaries and be subject to public supervision, while focusing not only on short-term support but also on sustainable livelihoods, education, healthcare, employment and people’s ability to improve their livelihoods independently.

He also underscored the need to strengthen community self-governance and develop united, safe and prosperous residential areas, along with community-based models on security and public order, environmental protection, education promotion, elderly care, child protection and preservation of cultural identity.

“Social consensus is not mere silence, but must be built on democracy, listening, dialogue, harmonization of interests and protection of the legitimate rights of the people,” To Lam said.

Following the implementation of the new organizational model, To Lam called on the Vietnam Fatherland Front to proactively review and assess achievements, difficulties and institutional obstacles in coordination mechanisms, task allocation, organizational structure and relations with

The Front should promptly propose institutional improvements to ensure smooth, effective and non-overlapping operations without becoming overly administrative or replacing the role of other organizations.

Front officials must possess political steadfastness, dedication to the people, credibility within the community and skills in mobilization, dialogue, persuasion, criticism and problem-solving.

Officials must stay close to the people rather than work only through reports, urging them to visit communities, listen fully to public concerns, speak truthfully, make appropriate recommendations and follow issues through to results, To Lam stressed.

He also called for the effective operation of digital platforms to allow people to submit feedback, proposals and opinions anytime and anywhere, including the development of a 24/7 digital Front portal, a “Listening to the People Month” initiative and a provincial social trust index.

To Lam also urged the Front to intensify theoretical research and practical reviews on great national unity, socialist democracy and the people’s right to mastery, while helping formulate and implement a national unity strategy through 2035 with a vision to 2045.

Recalling President Ho Chi Minh’s words that “nothing is more precious than the people” and “nothing is stronger than the unity of the people,” To Lam called on the entire Party, people and political system to turn solidarity into strength, democracy into motivation and public trust into a solid foundation for the country.

11th Vietnam Fatherland Front Congress affirms new role and mode of operation

VOV.VN - The 11th National Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front with the theme “Solidarity - Democracy - Innovation - Creativity - Development,” officially opened in Hanoi on May 12, with the organization’s first congress affirming its role and new mode of operation.