VIETNAM’S DOI MOI AFTER FORTY YEARS

The event brought together leading scholars, researchers, and policy experts from Vietnam, Germany, Australia, Japan, and South Korea to discuss findings from a joint research project examining Vietnam’s development trajectory through a comparative East Asian perspective. By situating Vietnam’s experience alongside those of other East Asian economies, the project seeks to better understand both the regional patterns and the distinctive characteristics that have shaped the country’s reform journey over the past four decades.

In her opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong, Vice Rector of USSH, emphasized that the 40-year milestone offers an important opportunity not only to review achievements but also to critically assess the institutional transformations that have accompanied Vietnam’s development. She highlighted that Doi Moi should be understood as an ongoing process of adaptation, innovation, and policy learning, shaped by both domestic realities and an evolving international environment.

A central question explored throughout the workshop was whether Vietnam’s development model should be understood as part of the broader East Asian developmental state tradition or whether it constitutes a distinct pathway. Discussions highlighted that, while Vietnam shares several features commonly associated with successful East Asian economies, including strategic state leadership, gradual market reforms, and deep integration into the global economy, its experience has also been shaped by unique historical, political, and institutional conditions. Participants noted that Vietnam’s reform process demonstrates how international experiences can be selectively adapted to local circumstances rather than simply replicated.

The workshop featured presentations covering a broad range of themes, including state capacity, economic restructuring, industrial development, digital transformation, social welfare, public discourse, foreign policy, and Vietnam’s evolving position within East Asia. A recurring theme across the research findings was the concept of adaptive governance, emphasizing the ability of institutions to learn, adjust, and respond to successive development challenges while maintaining overall policy continuity. Researchers argued that Vietnam’s achievements cannot be explained solely through market-oriented reforms. Rather, the country’s experience reflects a hybrid development model that combines strategic state leadership, gradual institutional adaptation, market mechanisms, and deep international integration.

Several contributions further highlighted that Vietnam is entering a new stage of development in which previous growth drivers may no longer be sufficient. While earlier phases of growth benefited from capital accumulation, economic liberalization, and integration into global value chains, future development will depend increasingly on productivity growth, innovation, technological upgrading, and high-quality human capital. Discussions also underscored that green transformation should not be viewed merely as an environmental objective but as an integral component of Vietnam’s next phase of industrialization and sustainable development.

Particular attention was devoted to Vietnam’s future development trajectory. Participants emphasized that the next phase of Doi Moi will require continued institutional adaptation, higher productivity, stronger innovation capacity, technological upgrading, and investment in human capital. Discussions also highlighted the importance of green transformation as an integral component of Vietnam’s future development model, while examining how the country can sustain growth and competitiveness in an increasingly complex domestic and international environment.

Building on these discussions, Mr. Lewe Paul, Resident Representative of KAS Vietnam, highlighted the value of the research project in fostering evidence-based reflection on Vietnam’s development trajectory. He noted that the comparative examination of Vietnam alongside East Asian developmental states offers useful insights into both shared regional patterns and the distinctive characteristics of Vietnam’s reform path. Looking ahead, he emphasized the importance of understanding how Vietnam can build on the achievements of Doi Moi while addressing emerging challenges and pursuing ambitious development goals, including high-income status and net-zero emissions by 2050.

Four decades after the launch of Doi Moi, Vietnam’s development experience continues to attract significant international scholarly and policy interest. By bringing together Vietnamese and international perspectives, the workshop provided a valuable platform for examining both the achievements of the past and the challenges that lie ahead. As Vietnam advances toward its development goals for 2030 and 2045, such exchanges contribute to a deeper understanding of the policy choices, institutional foundations, and strategic vision required to sustain inclusive, resilient, and innovation-driven development.

As a longstanding partner of USSH and other Vietnamese academic and policy institutions, KAS Vietnam remains committed to fostering research cooperation, comparative learning, and international dialogue on issues central to Vietnam’s future development. By supporting exchanges between Vietnamese and international experts, KAS Vietnam seeks to contribute to informed policy discussions and deeper international understanding of Vietnam’s ongoing transformation in a rapidly changing world.