A respected figure within the Vietnamese community in Berlin, Thang said this marks his first time attending a Party congress in the capacity of an international journalist, a role that has further reinforced his sense of responsibility in community media work. He noted that this responsibility extends to serving OV audiences in Germany as well as international readers and viewers of Vietnamese–German publications, the Vietnamese–German television channel VDTV, and other media platforms he oversees.

Unlike previous congresses that he followed through domestic media coverage, Thang said his direct participation this time, as part of the international press corps, offered particularly meaningful and vivid experiences. Among the international journalists covering the 14th Congress, there are only three OV reporters, including two from the US and Thang from Germany.

At a meeting with foreign journalists on January 19, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang described the 14th National Party Congress as a landmark event and a major turning point in Vietnam’s development journey. She said the Congress not only reviews and assesses the achievements of 40 years of Doi moi (Renewal), but also defines strategic goals and long-term vision and adopts strong, well-founded decisions to usher the country into a new development era.

The Deputy Minister also addressed a wide range of questions from reporters on Vietnam’s socio-economic situation and highlighted key aspects of the draft Political Report, helping international journalists gain a deeper understanding of the country and the Congress.

According to Thang, international journalists were able to directly sense the upbeat atmosphere and high expectations among Hanoi residents. The festive scenes filled with flags and flowers, together with public confidence in the Congress’s outcomes, particularly in personnel work, left a strong impression on the international press.

Commenting on the Congress’s theme, Thang said many foreign journalists view the 14th Congress as one that sets clearer, more comprehensive development goals and strategic orientations, with a longer-term vision than previous congresses. Information shared so far suggests that the Congress features several breakthrough elements, generating strong expectations for its results.

After reviewing the Congress documents, Thang noted that the materials are concise yet substantive and comprehensive, reflecting thorough preparation and rigorous discussion of core issues. From the perspective of many foreign journalists, he added, the strong sense of responsibility demonstrated by delegates towards the Party and the people stands out clearly at this Congress.

Thang expressed his confidence that the 14th National Party Congress will be a resounding success, opening a new phase of development marked by significant breakthroughs and helping Vietnam move forward steadily in the era of the nation’s rise.

14th National Party Congress’s opening: Great aspirations, steady steps

Party General Secretary To Lam, head of the Documents Subcommittee, on behalf of the 13th Party Central Committee, on January 20 presented its report on the documents submitted to the 14th National Congress, highlighting key issues and new points in the draft documents for the congress to discuss and decide upon.