As of this spring, the Hanoi Party Committee has gone through 95 years of history since its provisional executive board was established on March 17, 1930, at 42 Hang Thiec Street. Throughout nearly a century of foundation, struggle, construction, consolidation, renovation, and development, the Hanoi Party Committee has been an integral part of the glorious revolutionary struggle of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh placed absolute trust in the Hanoi Party Committee. He once said, "Make Hanoi a peaceful, joyful, and prosperous capital" and "Turn it into a model city for the entire country." Living up to his expectations, with intelligence, courage, and deep ties to the people, the Hanoi Party Committee has led the people to achieve great feats, including the August Revolution of 1945, contributing to the national victory at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 that shook the world, the resounding victory of "Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the Air" in 1972, and the Great Spring Victory of 1975, which ushered in an era of peace, national independence, and the path to socialism. Hanoi also stood with the country in safeguarding independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity during the just struggles to protect the southwestern and northern borders and in fulfilling international duties.
Reflecting on history and its contemporary significance, it is evident that in all moments, circumstances, and national milestones, the Hanoi Party Committee, government, armed forces, and all social classes have consistently strived to fulfill their responsibilities, making invaluable contributions to the Party's and nation's revolutionary cause. Hanoi has always upheld the strength of unity, resilience, and creativity, leading the country through challenges and continuing the Thang Long tradition, ensuring that Hanoi shines in the Ho Chi Minh era.
Following the Party's Doi Moi policy, Hanoi embarked on a new revolution of construction, development, and the completion of a new economic mechanism, accelerating industrialization and modernization along socialist orientations. Nearly 40 years have passed, and it is impossible to recount all the tremendous achievements Hanoi has attained during this reform process. The Hanoi Party Committee has always been at the forefront of implementing and concretizing Party policies and state laws. From theory to practice, from thought to action, through experience and leadership by example, the Party Committee, government, and people of Hanoi have provided numerous lessons and experiences for the Party and the state to refine and apply in major national policies.
A historic milestone was the administrative boundary expansion of Hanoi on August 1, 2008, a significant decision that elevated the capital into a multifunctional political-administrative center aligned with modern trends and possessing high competitiveness. Forty years is a short span in a thousand-year history, but nearly half a century has been long enough to transform the capital's overall appearance.
Over the past 14,000 days, despite many difficulties and challenges, Hanoi has continued to advance steadily. The city has set an exemplary model, excelling in Party-building efforts, economic development, social welfare, and national defense and security, as envisioned by President Ho Chi Minh: "The Hanoi Party Committee must set an example for others."
Party-building and political system reforms have undergone profound changes in both leadership mindset and approach. Resolutions from successive congresses highlight the Hanoi Party Committee's effective implementation of a clean, strong Party-building process, recognizing it as a "backbone" and "core" task. The Hanoi Party Committee is firmly committed to developing a genuinely clean and strong Party organization, along with a disciplined and exemplary cadre system, guided by the principle that "the people are the foundation" and prioritizing their well-being and happiness. It upholds traditions of solidarity, responsibility, and consensus among officials, Party members, and citizens in executing Party policies while applying them creatively and effectively to Hanoi's realities.
Party-building is identified as a crucial factor in ensuring success in political tasks, including significantly reforming the Party's leadership role and approach, fostering participation from the entire political system, strengthening grassroots democracy, and emphasizing the pioneering and exemplary roles of officials, particularly top leaders, who must think boldly, act decisively, and break new ground for the common good.
Hanoi's resilience is not only evident in wartime but also in how it confronts and overcomes challenges in the reform period, shaping the capital's and the country's development. The image of city leaders, key officials, armed forces, sectors, and organizations standing side by side with the people through hardships has left a profound impression, fostering national solidarity and strengthening public trust in the Party, government, and political system. This intrinsic strength has driven Hanoi to achieve numerous remarkable and comprehensive accomplishments in recent years.
The city has maintained consistent economic growth for decades. Over nearly 40 years of reform, Hanoi's labor productivity has increased by an average of more than 7% annually, and its economic growth has surpassed the national average. State budget revenue has consistently reached new milestones, exceeding $16 billion in 2023, making Hanoi the leading locality in domestic revenue. In 2024, the capital's socio-economic indicators continued their strong recovery and growth, with Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) expanding by 6.52%, outpacing the previous year's 6.27%. Total state budget revenue exceeded $20 billion, with domestic revenue estimated at over $18.6 billion, accounting for nearly 94% of the total and leading the country. Foreign direct investment (FDI) reached $2.2 billion, reaffirming Hanoi's status as an attractive destination for investors.
Beyond economic success, Hanoi stands as a vibrant symbol of cultural and historical depth, brimming with aspirations for innovation and creativity. This was evident in a series of commemorative activities marking the 70th anniversary of the capital's liberation and the 25th anniversary of its designation as a "City for Peace" over the past year. A remarkable highlight was the city's focus on placing its residents at the center of these celebrations, fostering a joyful and uplifting atmosphere while igniting a shared ambition to build and develop Hanoi into a "Cultured - Civilized - Modern" capital.
Social welfare policies have been effectively maintained, national defense and security have been strengthened, and both material and spiritual living standards have steadily improved. Healthcare, care for policy beneficiaries, and support for those who have contributed to the nation have always been a priority, with nearly $76 million allocated to these efforts.
Hanoi boasts the highest Human Development Index (HDI) in the country according to the United Nations Development Programme's standards.
In the historic flood caused by Typhoon No. 3 (Yagi), the Party Committee of Hanoi promptly directed all levels, sectors, armed forces, and the city's residents to proactively and decisively implement various preventive measures, minimizing losses in human life and property. The city effectively carried out timely and efficient support to help people restore production and business operations while ensuring social security policies were well-managed. With the spirit of "Hanoi for the whole country, with the whole country," Hanoi has supported 23 provinces and cities with a total amount of 83.99 million USD.
The capital's education sector continues to develop, leading the country in both educational scale and training quality. The high school graduation rate across the city reached 99.81%, an increase of 0.25% and five ranks higher than in 2023, marking the highest result in the past 10 years. Hanoi produced many top scorers and ranked first in the country in national academic competitions, with 184 students winning awards.
Hanoi achieved its new rural construction goals two years ahead of schedule, with 100% of its communes and districts meeting the new rural standards. This significant achievement has contributed to improving the living conditions of rural people, narrowing the gap between urban and rural areas, and fostering sustainable and even development. The average income of residents in 2024 reached 6,800 USD per person per year. The city has virtually eradicated poverty, and its poverty reduction targets were completed one year ahead of schedule for the 2021-2025 period; the goal of eliminating substandard housing was also completed.
Urban planning, construction, and management, as well as traffic safety and order, have seen positive changes. Many traffic projects have been implemented and are already in use, showing their effectiveness. The city completed and put into use the Cat Linh - Ha Dong urban railway line and the No. 3 urban railway line, the elevated section from Nhon to Cau Giay, accelerating the construction of the underground section from Cau Giay to Hanoi Station. Along with the completion of Ring Roads 1, 2, and 3, the city and neighboring provinces of Hung Yen and Bac Ninh are actively pursuing the Beltway 4 project in the Hanoi Capital Region, aiming to finish the parallel road by 2025. Once the project is operational, it will open up new spaces and provide additional development momentum for the entire Red River Delta region.
In the past year, Hanoi has also completed two emblematic projects among many key projects in the capital: the most modern Children's Palace in the country, covering nearly 40,000m², and the Hanoi Children's Hospital, with a phase 1 capacity of 200 beds, better meeting the healthcare needs of children and people in Hanoi and surrounding provinces.
Hanoi is accelerating the planning of old apartments to ensure the safety of residents during the rainy season and serve as a foundation for building a modern capital with synchronized infrastructure, a clean environment, and convenient living spaces for citizens.
The city is also pushing forward the operation of the Yen Xa wastewater treatment plant, scheduled for completion by 2025. By 2030, 100% of wastewater in the inner city will be treated. The city has submitted to the Prime Minister the proposal to invest in an emergency water supply project to divert water from the Red River into the To Lich River, aiming to improve the environment and enhance urban landscapes. The project has a total investment of about 23 million USD, with an expected completion before September 2025. The city continues to launch campaigns for a bright, green, clean, and beautiful capital, with a principle of involving citizens in environmental cleanup efforts.
Additionally, the city is focusing on constructing more bridges over the Red River. Among these, the investment approval has been granted for three bridges: Hong Ha, Me So, and Van Phuc. The city is also pushing forward the decision to invest in three other bridges: Tu Lien, Tran Hung Dao, and Ngoc Hoi, aiming to create seamless connections between economic-political centers, regional areas, and satellite cities. The city has also expanded the dual-purpose function of two airports, Hoa Lac and Gia Lam, opening up opportunities for quicker and more effective trade and development.
The cultural and social sectors continue to grow both in scale and quality, with many indicators in education, healthcare, culture, and sports leading the nation. Hanoi is the first locality in the country to have a dedicated resolution for developing the cultural industry. After three years of implementing the resolution and six years as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, local leaders have made significant changes in thinking about innovation, which has fueled a drive for active participation from artists, intellectuals, businesspeople, and the public in the city's creative activities.
The city is determined to fully develop the cultural industries in terms of scale, product quality, services, and market, ensuring sustainable development and making it a key economic sector. Hanoi has recently been honored with several prestigious international awards, including "Top City Travel Destination in Asia," "Best City Golf Destination in the World in 2024" by the World Travel Awards, and being ranked among the "100 Most Attractive City Destinations in the World in 2024" by Euromonitor International.
With the successful organization of several large cultural, sports, tourism, and national defense events, Hanoi welcomed 27.86 million tourists in 2024, an 18.3% increase from 2023. In 2025, Hanoi will further invest in healthcare and education to enhance the quality of life for its people, preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of Thang Long-Hanoi, and build a culture and people of Hanoi as a crucial resource for the city's sustainable development.
Hanoi has always focused on closely integrating economic-social development with strengthening national defense, security, foreign relations, maintaining political stability, and ensuring social order. The quality, level, and readiness of the capital's armed forces have continuously improved, meeting the demands of protecting the country and the capital in the new context. The city successfully organized the largest-ever Hanoi defense area drill with the participation of multiple military units, affirming its national defense and security capabilities and consolidating its strategic position in the new situation.
The situation of social order and safety in Hanoi has seen positive changes, with crime in social order being controlled and reduced. Political security remains stable, and the safety of key targets, the activities of Party and state leaders, and over 2,000 political, economic, and cultural events have been ensured. Notably, in 2024, Hanoi was selected as the venue for the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition 2024, marking an important international event to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army and the 35th anniversary of the National Defense Day.
Hanoi is the first locality to merge three Steering Committees (administrative reform, digital transformation, and Scheme 06) into one; pioneering in successfully testing many digital utilities for citizens, such as electronic health records, issuing criminal records via VNeID, and promoting cashless parking payment apps.
The city launched the Public Administrative Service Center, marking a new step in administrative reform and improving service efficiency for citizens and businesses. The city's data center, based on modern technology, ensures security and safety for the development of digital government, digital economy, and digital society in the capital. The "iHanoi" platform, launched recently, has created a bridge connecting the government and residents, reflecting the city's commitment to listening to citizens "anytime, anywhere."
Hanoi's digital transformation has improved continuously for three consecutive years from 2021, rising 19 ranks. The city ranks first in the Information Technology Industry Index, second in the Vietnam E-commerce Index for seven consecutive years, and first in the E-Government Index and Local Innovation Index (PII).
2024 has been a pivotal year for Hanoi with the National Assembly passing the amended Capital Law, providing special mechanisms and policies that enhance the city's autonomy, solve administrative bottlenecks, mobilize resources, attract talent, promote innovation, and foster sustainable development. This legal framework enables Hanoi to implement strategic tasks, become the center and driver of development for the Red River Delta, the Northern Key Economic Region, and the entire country, integrating deeply into the world and becoming highly competitive in the region and globally, striving to develop at the level of the capitals of developed countries.
The Prime Minister has signed Decision No. 1569/QD-TTg on December 12, 2024, approving the Hanoi Capital Master Plan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, and Decision No. 1668/QD-TTg on December 27, 2024, approving the Adjustment of the Hanoi Master Plan until 2045, with a vision to 2065. This is a particularly important event, creating space and momentum for Hanoi to develop and break through with a "new vision, global thinking, capital thinking, and Hanoi actions."
In a meeting with Hanoi, General Secretary To Lam expressed hope that "Hanoi will continue to lead and exemplify the implementation of major policies from the Central Government, making bold changes to bring the country into a new stage of development, with breakthrough progress." Following this directive, Hanoi launched the first political activity in the country, "Research, study, and propagate the guiding ideology and major directions of the Party and General Secretary To Lam on the new era—the era of the nation's resurgence."