Hanoi Advancing Prosperous and Modern Countryside

In 2010, Hanoi began implementing the National Target Programs on New Rural Development amid a challenging context: Rural areas made up over 70% of the land and more than 65% of the population, yet infrastructure remained insufficient; residents primarily worked in agriculture, but production was fragmented and inefficient.

Close direction, decisive action

Hanoi's rural areas have established a solid foundation. The Hanoi Party Committee issued Program 04-CTr/TU to promote the effective implementation of the National Target Programs on New Rural Development, linked with agricultural sector restructuring and rural economic development, improving farmers’ material and spiritual life during 2021-2025, to guide and direct implementation. Communes that have achieved new rural standards continue to build advanced and exemplary models. Since then, Hanoi has become a model of comprehensive rural development, reaching remarkable milestones: completing the task of building new-style rural areas in 2024, one year ahead of schedule.

Before implementing the two-level local government model (July 2025), Hanoi led the country in building new rural areas, with 100% of communes meeting new rural standards; 229 communes meeting advanced new rural standards; 109 communes meeting model new rural standards; 100% of districts and towns meeting standards or completing the task of building new rural areas; and 6 of 17 districts meeting advanced new rural district standards. The OCOP program ranked first nationally in the number of products, with over 3,400; agricultural and forestry exports exceeded US$2 billion.

The results in building new rural areas reflect Hanoi’s continuous efforts over the past 15 years, guided closely by the Hanoi Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee, with the active participation of the entire political system and the united efforts of the people.

Alongside state investment, millions of people have contributed labor, money, and land to build new rural areas. Notably, the Hanoi Farmers' Association at all levels mobilized members to donate over 1.37 million square meters of land, contribute more than 672,000 working days, help renovate and repair over 6,100 km of rural roads and 1,300 bridges, and reinforce 6,300 km of intra-field canals to support production.

The achievements to date provide a solid foundation for Hanoi to confidently move into the next stage of building a modern, exemplary new countryside, promoting civilized and prosperous values for every individual and community.

Replicating models

From families willing to donate land, labor, and money for rural infrastructure to grassroots cadres “skilled at mass mobilization,” enthusiastic and dedicated to the common cause, Hanoi’s movement “All people join hands to build new rural areas” has become a powerful force. Beyond the projects themselves, the greatest achievement is the people’s spirit of consensus and solidarity when their hearts truly unite into strength. Hanoi has achieved the goal of building new rural areas at the city level, laying a solid foundation for the city to enter a new phase: creating advanced, exemplary, smart new rural areas, and building prosperous, civilized, modern countrysides.

Mr. Le Van Vu, Head of Tan Hoi village, Xuan Mai commune, said: "Tan Hoi has 519 households and is a Catholic village. The people mainly work in agriculture, with some households engaged in small businesses and rattan and bamboo production. The completed projects have brought great happiness to the community. Today, cultural, artistic, and sports activities are thriving, and the people truly enjoy a happy life. The large, beautiful Tan Hoi village gate seems to welcome children who have gone far away and serves as a landmark for visitors. Starting from the personal contributions of Nguyen Van Cuong, the spirit has spread throughout the community, ‘attracting’ everyone to join hands in building their homeland."

Kieu Trong Sy, Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuc Tho commune, said that Alley 3 in Buom village, once a small, narrow alley under 2 meters wide with many bottlenecks, has now been widened to over 3 meters, easing vehicle traffic and creating momentum for economic and social development. Building on these bright spots, Phuc Tho is expanding the movement to other villages, fueling the new rural construction initiative and helping make the villages increasingly spacious and beautiful.

In Quoc Oai commune, the villages of Phuc Duc, Khanh Tan, Da Phuc, and Sai Khe all have a coordinated solar-powered street lighting system. At night, the bright lights make travel convenient and improve security and order. With the Thay Pagoda historical site, the villages in Quoc Oai commune have become more beautiful and civilized, turning into attractive destinations for tourists.

According to the Hanoi Coordination Office of the New Rural Development Program, from 2010 to 2020, Hanoi mobilized nearly VND97,000 billion for new rural construction, of which over VND16,800 billion, or 17.4%, came from non-budget sources. From 2021 to 2024, total mobilized capital reached more than VND86,800 billion, with over VND4,000 billion, or 4.6%, from non-budget sources. Notably, the Hanoi Farmers' Association at all levels mobilized members to donate over 1.37 million m² of land, contribute more than 672,000 working days, help renovate and repair over 6,100 km of rural roads and 1,300 bridges, and reinforce 6,300 km of intra-field canals to support production. These contributions not only save budget funds but also build grassroots consensus, ensuring that projects are valued and maintained by the people once in operation.

Ngo Van Ngon, Deputy Chief of the Hanoi Coordination Office of the New Rural Development Program, commented: Before implementing the two-level local government model, the city had all 18 districts and towns complete new rural construction, including 6 advanced new rural districts; 229 communes met advanced new rural standards, and 109 communes met model new rural standards. This strong achievement led to Hanoi being recognized by the Prime Minister as a city that completed the task of building new rural areas. Hanoi has thus affirmed its leading position, contributing to the nationwide new rural development landscape.

According to Nguyen Xuan Dai, Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, the journey so far has shown that the movement “The whole country joins hands to build new rural areas” has been concretely supported by the central government and Hanoi through key decisions, establishing a legal framework and strong incentives for localities to organize and implement projects methodically and synchronously, mobilizing the entire political system and all social classes. Building on this policy foundation, Hanoi has flexibly applied the motto “people know, people discuss, people do, people check, people benefit,” tapping into the internal strength of socialization for implementation.

The valuable aspect of Hanoi’s movement to join hands in building new rural areas is that it does not stop at “meeting the targets” but has become a source of inspiration. Each family donating land, each community contributing labor, and each exemplary and transparent grassroots cadre acts as a “small flame,” helping to ignite the larger movement. This has inspired others, so that exemplary cases no longer remain in a single village or commune but spread to many localities. When the people’s hearts are united and trust is fostered, the movement not only renews the countryside’s appearance but also lays the foundation for Hanoi to continue building a new, advanced, exemplary, and smart countryside during 2026-2030.

By Bao Dan, Vietnam Business Forum