Mobilizing People’s Strength for Development

In recent years, the National Target Program on New Rural Development has reshaped the appearance of many rural areas across Vietnam. Hanoi’s rural communities not only made effective use of allocated funds but also successfully mobilized social resources to accomplish the program’s ambitious goals.

Before the city adopted the two-tier government model, the former Dong Anh District stood out as a bright example in implementing the movements “All People Build New Rural Areas and Civilized Urban Communities” and “All People Join Hands to Build New Rural Areas.”

According to Dang Minh Thang, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the former Dong Anh District, from 2019 to 2024 the district mobilized over VND 17.1 billion from various sources for rural development. Of this, more than VND 15 billion came from enterprises through social contributions for infrastructure construction. Local residents contributed over VND 2 billion, donated 15,514 square meters of land, and devoted 11,188 working days to building infrastructure serving production and community life.

In Tam Xa Commune, one of 20 communes that met the new rural standards, both local authorities and residents actively participated in efforts to enhance economic growth, address social issues, promote urban civility, and reduce poverty sustainably. Residents donated resources to upgrade 3.7 kilometers of concrete roads, with a total value exceeding VND 3 billion.

Meanwhile, in Phu Cat Commune (formerly under Quoc Oai District), with its semi-mountainous terrain and large natural area, implementing the advanced and model new rural programs required substantial funding for infrastructure. To achieve strong results, alongside city and district support, Phu Cat maximized local resources under the principle of “People’s Strength for the People’s Benefit.”

These are just a few among many examples of communes and districts in Hanoi—before administrative restructuring - that successfully encouraged residents to join hands with the government in realizing the new rural development program.

Identifying Strategic Breakthroughs

When the national program on new rural development was first launched in 2010, each commune in Hanoi met only one criterion on average. The average annual income of rural residents was just VND 13 million per person, and the poverty rate stood at 11.25%. Facing these challenges, the city’s leadership adopted appropriate strategies and identified key breakthroughs during implementation.

Recognizing that planning must take the lead as the foundation for infrastructure investment and production development, during the 2011 - 2015 period the city directed localities to complete new rural development plans aligned with production area planning.

Entering the 2016 - 2020 period, Hanoi focused on upgrading infrastructure such as electricity systems, roads, schools, stations, and cultural houses; promoting agricultural restructuring; applying high technology in production; and developing OCOP (One Commune, One Product) products.

These efforts laid a solid foundation for the next phase. From 2021 to 2025, the city has been pursuing deeper and more sustainable new rural development. Communes that have already met the basic standards continue to build advanced and model rural areas. As a result, Hanoi achieved a major milestone: completing the city-level new rural development target in 2024 - one year ahead of schedule.

Valuable Lessons from Hanoi’s Experience

With strong political determination, flexible organization, and innovative implementation, Hanoi has become one of the leading localities in Vietnam’s new rural development movement. Recently, the Prime Minister signed a decision officially recognizing that Hanoi has completed its city-level new rural development program.

One of Hanoi’s most valuable lessons lies in effectively mobilizing people’s participation. Instead of relying solely on government subsidies, the city strengthened communication efforts to help residents understand their pivotal role in the process.

Along with the rest of the country, as Hanoi implements the two-tier local government model, its communes have been reorganized to operate more efficiently - continuing new rural development in line with the city’s new administrative structure and future-oriented conditions.