Top ten outstanding events of Vietnam in 2022 selected by People’s Army Newspaper

1. The COVID-19 pandemic put under control

COVID-19 vaccine injection for the elderly

Thanks to the Party’s leadership and State’s management, determination of the whole political system and efforts of all forces, Vietnam put the COVID-19 pandemic under control after two years. This provided favorable conditions for the country to reopen its economy and social activities in the new normal condition.

2. Vietnam achieves highest GDP growth rate in the 2011-2022 period

Vietnam’s GDP growth rate reached 8.02 percent in 2022, the highest figure in the 2011-2022 period. The Vietnamese economy witnessed positive outcomes such as the CPI increasing by 3.15 percent compared to 2021; the import - export turnover reaching USD 732 billion, an increase of 9.5 percent against 2021; GDP per capita estimated at VND 95.6 million (USD 4,110), up USD 393 from 2021. As of December 20, 2022, disbursement for FDI projects was estimated at USD 22.4 billion, up 13.5 percent year-on-year.

A production line in Factory Z143 of the General Department of Defense Industry

3. A successful year of Vietnam’s diplomacy

Numerous important external affair activities of Party and State leaders were held in 2022. Notably, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was the first high-ranking foreign leader to visit China after the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party at the invitation of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping; President Nguyen Xuan Phuc paid State-level visits to Singapore, the RoK, and Indonesia and an official visit to Thailand to attend the 29th APEC Summit; while Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the ASEAN-U.S. Special Summit and the ASEAN Summits, and paid official visits to Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and attended the ASEAN-E.U. 45th Anniversary Commemorative Summit; Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue paid official visits to Hungary, the U.K., Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, the 43rd General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping (Photo: VNA)

At multilateral forums, Vietnam was elected as one of the Vice Presidents of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly’s 77th session, representing the Asia-Pacific region; and then member of the U.N. Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 tenure. That reaffirmed Vietnam's determination and international support for Vietnam in implementing the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of international relations, and its willingness to be a reliable and responsible partner of the international community.

4. First extraordinary session in the 76-year history of the National Assembly of Vietnam held

The first extraordinary session of the 15th National Assembly (N.A.) taking place from January 4 to 11, 2022 became the first one in the 76-year history of N.A. of Vietnam. The most important goal of the session was to approve financial policies supporting enterprises and the people worth up to VND 347 trillion VND (USD 14.5 billion), ratify the national socio-economic recovery and development program and decide on many other important national matters.

The opening of the first extraordinary session of the 15th National Assembly

5. Party issues many important policies to orient the national development

The 5th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee issued many important resolutions on further renewing, consolidating and enforcing land-related laws and policies, contributing to improving effectiveness of managing and using land and creating a driving force for the country to become a high-income developed country; on agriculture, farmers and rural areas by 2030, with a vision to 2045; on renewing, developing and improving the collective economic efficiency in the new period; on strengthening and consolidating, building Party organizations at the grassroots level and improving the quality of Party members in the new period.

The 6th Plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee issued resolutions on building and completing the socialist rule-of-law State of Vietnam in the new period; continuously renewing the Party's leadership on the political system; accelerating the country’s industrialization and modernization until 2030, with a vision to 2045; and conclusions on the national master plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

An overview of the 6th Plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee

In addition, for the first time, the Politburo issued 6 resolutions on the socio-economic development, defense and security in six socio-economic regions by 2030, with a vision towards 2045. These are very important decisions to guide the country's development.

6. Timely and strictly adjudication of serious corruption cases

In 2022, the fight for corruption was continuously implemented in all aspects. Many serious corruption cases were strictly handled in accordance with the law such as the Viet A test kit case, the "rescue" flights, the stock market manipulation case of FLC and Tan Hoang Minh, and so on.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong chairs the meeting of the Standing Board of the Central Steering Committee for Corruption and Negative Phenomena Prevention and Control in Hanoi on November 18.

During a meeting of the Central Steering Committee for Corruption and Negative Phenomena Prevention and Control’s Standing Board in Hanoi on November 18, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong put emphasis on stronger crackdown on corruption and negative behaviors, stronger public trust in the Party, State and political system. This will make important contribution to promoting socio-economic development, maintaining political stability, consolidating national defense-security and external affairs.

7. Vietnam successfully organizes SEA Games 31

The 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) was successfully held in Vietnam, leaving good impression on the participating sports delegations of the regional countries. The Vietnamese sports delegation topped the medal tally with 205 golds, 125 silvers, and 116 bronzes, breaking the record of 194 gold medals set by Indonesia as host of SEA Games 19. Especially, Vietnamese women's football team and men's football team successfully defended the SEA Games gold medals after beating rivals Thailand in the final fixtures.

The opening ceremony of SEA Games 31

The complete success of SEA Games 31 resulted from the Government's determination, responsibility, and efforts in organizing a regional sports event when the COVID-19 pandemic was still complicated and unpredictable in the region as well as in the world. This event not only affirmed the position of Vietnamese sports in the regional sports arena, but also gave an opportunity to promote the image of the country, people, historical traditions, and cultural identity, contributing to the successful implementation of the Party and State's foreign policy, especially to strengthening solidarity and friendship with Southeast Asian countries.

8. Success of Vietnam International Defense Expo 2022

The Vietnam International Defense Expo 2022 held at Gia Lam Airport was the first of this kind in Vietnam. It attracted more than 170 defense companies and enterprises from 31 countries and territories around the world, and dozens of thousands of international and domestic guests. The event was a good chance for defense policymakers and defense industry firms to meet and seek partnership towards a world of peace, cooperation, and prosperity.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and defense leaders at the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2022

9. Fuel market witnesses fluctuations

2022 was a tough year for the domestic petrol market with high petrol price and fuel shortages in many localities. In October and November, residents in many localities had to wait in long lines to buy fuel. This situation came as a result of complex developments in the global oil market, and it also revealed problems in the management of petrol and oil trading.

People wait in a long queue to refill their vehicles at a gas station of the PVOil.

As directed by the Government, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Vietnam promptly carried out solutions to tackle this situation.

10. Vietnamese women’s football team for the first time wins ticket to Women's World Cup finals

2022 was a successful year of Vietnam’s football in both regional and global arena. Vietnam women’s football team was qualified for their first FIFA Women’s World Cup after becoming the fifth and final team to book their ticket to Australia & New Zealand 2023.