Vietnam’s top leadership says the first 18 months of implementing the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57‑NQ/TW have produced significant shifts in awareness, institutional arrangements and policy that aim to accelerate breakthroughs in science, technology and national digital transformation.
What the review found
At a conference evaluating progress, General Secretary and State President To Lam summarised the period since the resolution’s adoption on Dec. 22, 2024 as one of intensified action across government bodies and sectors. Officials said many long‑standing bottlenecks have been identified and measures refined to translate political directives into legal and operational frameworks.
The recent review frames Resolution No. 57‑NQ/TW as the latest in a sequence of high‑level directives that, collectively over decades, have sought to elevate the role of science and technology in national development. That sequence includes foundational and follow‑on documents dating back to the 1990s, and several major resolutions issued since 2012.
“Science, technology, and education and training” have been described in past policy as the country’s “top national policy.”
Policy lineage and milestones
The review highlighted continuity with earlier Party documents that shaped Vietnam’s approach to technology and innovation. Key measures cited in the evaluation include:
- Strengthening institutional mechanisms and legal frameworks to support science, technology and innovation.
- Promoting industrialisation and modernisation in the context of international integration.
- Raising the role of intellectuals and human resources for rapid, sustainable development.
Officials pointed to a multi‑decade arc of policymaking designed to move from directives to implementation, citing both achievements and areas where the country’s science and technology potential has not yet been fully realised.
Chronology of referenced resolutions
| Document | Date / Year | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution of the 2nd Plenum of the 8th Party Central Committee | 1996 | Identified science, technology and education as a national priority |
| Resolution No. 20‑NQ/TW | Nov. 1, 2012 | Development of science and technology to support industrialisation and modernisation |
| Resolution No. 29‑NQ/TW | Nov. 17, 2022 | Promoting industrialisation and modernisation to 2030 (vision to 2045) |
| Resolution No. 45‑NQ/TW | Undated in review (8th Plenum of 13th Party CC) | Promoting the role of intellectuals |
| Conclusion No. 69‑KL/TW | Jan. 11, 2024 | Reviewing 10 years of implementing Resolution No. 20‑NQ/TW |
| Resolution No. 57‑NQ/TW | Dec. 22, 2024 | Breakthroughs in science, technology and national digital transformation |
Speakers at the evaluation emphasised that although Vietnam has enacted many policy instruments, the practical realisation of science and technology as a driving force for development remains work in progress. The 2024 resolution is presented as a corrective push to better align institutions, financing and human capital with the ambition of rapid technological catch‑up.
For observers of Southeast Asian technology policy, the review signals Hanoi’s intent to sustain high‑level prioritisation of digital transformation and innovation — a strategic posture that will shape regulatory, industrial and education initiatives in the coming years.
