The 11th National Congress of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) for the 2026-2031 term officially opened in Hanoi on May 12, with Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in attendance.
The gathering drew former and incumbent Party, State, Government and National Assembly (NA) leaders, senior ministry officials, war veterans, heroic Vietnamese mothers and 1,136 delegates representing the VFF’s chapters, intellectuals, ethnic and religious groups, the army and overseas Vietnamese.
Affirming VFFs new standing and operating model
In her opening speech, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Committee of the VFF and Central Mass Organisations, and President of the 10th-tenure VFF Central Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai said during the 2024-2026 term, the VFF system continually overhauled its operations under Party leadership and with State, Government and NA coordination and public consensus. It cemented its role as the nucleus of national unity, rallying all social strata, actively engaging in Party and administration building, sharpening oversight and social criticism, protecting citizens’ legitimate rights and interests, upholding democracy and broadening social consensus.
The VFF also took a proactive role in shaping mechanisms and policies, notably through the constitutional amendment resolution and the election of deputies to the 16th NA and all-level People’s Councils for 2026-2031. It drove patriotic emulation campaigns and delivered timely support to disaster-hit communities, especially the poor and vulnerable groups, putting the Party’s “no one left behind” policy into practice.
Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Committee of the VFF and Central Mass Organisations, and President of the 10th-tenure VFF Central Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)
According to her, the congress convenes as Viet Nam enters a new phase of major opportunities and challenges, with the nation striving to build a prosperous, civilised and happy country and an independent, self-reliant economy deeply integrated globally. She described it as the VFF’s first congress under a new organisational model.
The congress is tasked with assessing the state of social groups and the great national unity bloc, reviewing the 10th-tenure VFF Central Committee’s action plan for 2024-2026, and setting the directions, goals and action plan for 2026-2031. It will also amend and supplement the VFF Charter and conduct consultations to appoint the VFF Central Committee, Presidium, Standing Board and leadership for the new term.
With the spirit of “Unity – Democracy – Innovation – Creativity – Development”, the Presidium called on delegates to uphold their sense of responsibility, solidarity, and wisdom, and contribute substantive and quality opinions on documents so that the congress would become a major milestone in the process of renewing and improving the VFF’s effectiveness in the new revolutionary period.
Hoai expressed confidence that Viet Nam’s traditions, the strength of great national unity, the Party’s leadership, the public creativity and aspirations would enable the country to hit its two centennial strategic goals and become a developed, high-income nation by 2045, with citizens enjoying prosperous and happy lives.
Bui Thi Minh Hoai was re-elected President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee for the 2026-2031 tenure at the first conference of the 11th-term VFF Central Committee, held before the closing session of its 11th National Congress on May 13 morning in Hanoi.Identifying three breakthrough directions, seven action plans
The congress called on Vietnamese people at home and abroad to summon patriotism, the power of great national unity, and the spirit of self-reliance, resilience, and creativity. Rallying around the goal of “a prosperous people, a strong nation, democracy, justice, and civilisation”, it urged collective efforts to build the nation and step into a new era of national rise, while delivering the 10-year socio-economic development strategy for 2021-2030 and marching toward the Communist Party of Viet Nam’s 100th anniversary and the centennial of the Viet Nam National United Front.
Specific targets set by the congress required the VFF Central Committee and its member chapters to each launch at least one emulation movement in line with the 14th National Party Congress’s Resolution. VFF committees at all levels are expected to raise over 50 trillion VND (1.92 billion USD) for social welfare and community support.
All provincial-level VFF committees must pilot at least one community welfare model, while every commune-level VFF committee nationwide must establish at least one. By the end of the term, the congress aims for 100% of VFF officials and socio-political and mass organisations assigned tasks by the Party and State to be trained in Front affairs and digital skills.
The congress also mandated that all VFF committees, socio-political organisations and member bodies deploy a “Digital Front Portal” capable of receiving petitions and feedback around the clock. All communes and wards are encouraged to set up social media platforms to interact directly with citizens and collect public input.
Delegates at the opening.(Photo: VNA)
It identified three breakthrough directions and seven action plans. The plans cover reinforcing communications, public mobilisation and social consensus to harness the strength of the great national unity bloc; representing and protecting legitimate rights and interests of citizens while raising the quality and impact of supervision and social criticism; promoting democracy; and actively engaging in Party, State and political system building.
Other action plans encourage people from all walks of life to compete in learning, labour and innovation, contributing to socio-economic development, preserving national cultural traditions, improving livelihoods, and bolstering national construction and defence.
Delegates also highlighted engagement in sci-tech development, innovation and building a digital society, alongside accelerating digital transformation inside the VFF system. Further priorities include upholding the people’s role and self-management in building united, safe, prosperous and happy residential areas; efficiently advancing people-to-people diplomacy and international cooperation; and overhauling operational content and methods while streamlining the organistional apparatus, improving efficiency and effectiveness, and raising officials’ capabilities to meet new demands.
“People are the root” - Guiding principle in Front affairs
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam called for an overhaul in the methods used to rally the people, aiming to better harness the strength of great national unity as he addressed the 11th National Congress of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) for the 2026-2031 tenure in Hanoi on May 12.
In his address, General Secretary and State President Lam stressed that the VFF’s 11th National Congress marks the beginning of its new stage of development, with a new standing, organisational model, tasks and requirements. The congress must clearly define what the VFF should do, and how to do it, so it can continue serving as the convergence point for public trust, a reflector of public aspirations and a protector of people’s legitimate interests, while connecting and unleashing the power of great national unity to deliver development goals through 2030 and a vision to 2045.
In the new era, great national unity is not only a spiritual tradition, but also a national development capacity and a source of strength to unlock resources and creativity, create social consensus, and safeguard the country early and from afar. Unity now means respecting legitimate differences, harmonising interests, taking national interests as common ground, and rallying all patriotic Vietnamese around the aspiration to build a peaceful, independent, democratic, strong, prosperous, civilised, and happy Viet Nam, he said.
For the 2026-2031 term, the top leader outlined five key groups of tasks and stressed that the principle “people are the root” must steer all Front activities. Every guideline of the Party, policy and law of the State, and every agenda of the Front, campaign and movement must spring from the needs, aspirations, rights and legitimate interests of the people, with the clear goal of improving their material and spiritual well-being.
Source: VNA
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