The mark of innovation left by former Deputy Prime Minister Doan Duy Thanh

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - From the aspiration to reach out to the sea to groundbreaking policy decisions in Hai Phong, former Deputy Prime Minister and former Secretary of the Hai Phong City Party Committee, Doan Duy Thanh, has left a significant mark on the economic reform process.

Vietnam possesses exceptional potential in the maritime economy, situated on the western edge of the East Sea with a coastline stretching over 3,260 km from north to south. Of the country's 34 provinces and cities, 21 are coastal, with nearly half of the population living in coastal areas. The sea area under Vietnam's sovereignty , sovereign rights, and jurisdiction covers approximately one million square kilometers, three times the size of its landmass, encompassing around 3,000 islands of varying sizes, along with the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, distributed along the country's length.

Former Deputy Prime Minister and former Secretary of the Hai Phong City Party Committee, Doan Duy Thanh (far left), reports to the late General Secretary Le Duan on the Hai Phong Port development strategy in 1981 (Photo: Archival material/Thanh Tam).

This vast maritime space serves both as a long-term economic development resource and a strategic defense line in the eastern part of the country. However, in the 1980s, when the national economy faced difficulties, effectively exploiting the potential of the sea remained an unsolved problem. Numerous domestic and international economic conferences were held to find new directions, but reality showed that the country needed not only theory but also people who dared to think, dared to act, and took responsibility before history.

In that context, Hai Phong – a port city at the forefront of the waves – became the starting point for many innovative explorations. The head of the City Party Committee at that time was Mr. Doan Duy Thanh, a revolutionary fighter who had been imprisoned on Con Dao Island and participated in the 1952 escape that made a big impact. That spirit of escape to find a way to survive years ago fostered a maritime vision, opening new avenues for the city's development and contributing to the formation of innovative economic thinking.

Opening access to the sea through groundbreaking policy decisions.

The Lach Huyen deep-water port complex in Hai Phong (Photo: Nguyen Duong).

In the years leading up to the Do Son renovation period, Hai Phong implemented a series of pioneering projects aimed at expanding its development space towards the sea. A prime example is the construction of the dike along Highway 14, reclaiming land from the sea in Do Son, covering an area equivalent to a former district-level administrative unit. This project not only created new land but also formed two new communes, Hai Thanh and Tan Thanh, marking a bold and pioneering vision of the city's leaders.

Simultaneously, the city implemented key projects such as the construction of the Dinh Vu dam, the excavation of the Cai Trap canal, and the opening of the Cat Hai - Cat Ba cross-island road. The transportation and port infrastructure was gradually expanded, creating a foundation for the development of logistics and trade. Cat Bi airport was upgraded, and a fleet of cargo ships was formed to serve agricultural production, goods circulation, and gradually participate in international trade.

These policies have helped Hai Phong proactively generate revenue and reduce its dependence on the subsidy mechanism. At the same time, the city has taken the lead in implementing the "product-based contract" mechanism in agriculture, contributing to unleashing production potential and improving people's lives. From this practical experience, many innovative experiences in economic management have been compiled and disseminated, contributing to the overall reform process of the country.

Infrastructure projects during this period also laid the foundation for the later development of large-scale industrial parks, seaports, and free trade zones. Projects such as Nam Dinh Vu and the Lach Huyen international gateway port all inherited the mindset of opening up to the sea and developing the economy in conjunction with natural advantages. This is considered a crucial turning point in the development strategy of Hai Phong and of Vietnam's maritime economy.

The Tan Vu - Lach Huyen sea bridge in Hai Phong has a total length of 5.44km. It is the longest sea bridge in Vietnam and one of the longest sea bridges in Southeast Asia (Photo: Nguyen Duong).

Growth drivers from the maritime economy and integration.

Entering a new phase of development, Hai Phong continues to leverage its strategic position, boasting a comprehensive transportation network including road, rail, sea, inland waterway, and air. Its port system, with numerous wharves and dozens of piers capable of accommodating large vessels, facilitates import and export activities and logistics services.

In the last five years, many key infrastructure projects have been invested in and put into operation, such as the Hanoi-Hai Phong expressway, the Hai Phong-Ha Long expressway, and the Tan Vu-Lach Huyen bridge and road. These transportation routes help shorten freight transport time, increase regional connectivity, and enhance the competitiveness of the seaport system. Cat Bi Airport has also been upgraded to an international airport, opening the door to integration for the city.

Thanks to its synchronized infrastructure and improved investment environment, Hai Phong consistently ranks among the leading localities nationwide in attracting foreign investment. In 2024, the total registered FDI reached nearly 5 billion USD, exceeding the set plan and showing a significant increase compared to the same period. Stable economic growth has led to a noticeable improvement in the material, cultural, and spiritual lives of the people.

Hai Phong's per capita GRDP is significantly higher than the national average, reflecting the effectiveness of its development strategy based on industry, logistics services, and the marine economy. These achievements contributed to the city being awarded the title of "Heroic City" on the 70th anniversary of its liberation, recognizing its sustained development over many periods.

This overall achievement bears the mark of previous innovative policies, closely linked to the leadership role of Mr. Doan Duy Thanh. A maritime-oriented mindset, proactively creating mechanisms, and leveraging internal strengths have become the foundation for Hai Phong's breakthrough in the integration period.

The new political and administrative center of Hai Phong city (Photo: Nguyen Duong).

Institutional lessons and vision for the new era.

Following the implementation of a two-tiered local government model and the adjustment of administrative units, Hai Phong continues to implement Resolution 45 of the Politburo with the goal of becoming a leading port city in the country in industrialization, modernization, and logistics services by 2030, with a vision to 2045. This is a development step that continues the spirit of innovation initiated more than four decades ago.

Simultaneously, Vietnam's sustainable marine economic development strategy until 2030 identifies priority sectors including marine tourism and services, maritime economy, resource exploitation, aquaculture, coastal industries, and renewable energy. Realizing these goals requires regional planning, the development of modern infrastructure, and the improvement of institutions suitable to the new context.

Practical experience in reform shows that the role of governance mechanisms and the quality of the leadership team are decisive for development effectiveness. The mindset of "not asking for money, only asking for mechanisms," once put forward by the leaders of Hai Phong, has become a lesson in institutional reform, unlocking social resources, and promoting the initiative of the locality.

Entering the digital age, amidst global competition and geopolitical shifts, the need for strategic vision among leaders has become increasingly urgent. Lessons learned from Hai Phong's innovation journey, linked to the legacy of former Deputy Prime Minister Doan Duy Thanh, continue to offer insights for developing the marine economy while ensuring national defense and security and enhancing the nation's standing.

An aerial view of the Do Son tourist area in Hai Phong (Photo: Nguyen Duong).

From the aspiration to venture out to sea during difficult times to the achievements of development today, the story of Hai Phong demonstrates the power of innovative thinking and decisive action. The imprint of leaders who dared to think and act remains invaluable, becoming a source of inspiration for the next stage of development for the port city and the country.

References

1. People's Army Newspaper online, November 29, 2012

2. Government Electronic Newspaper, August 18, 2022

3. Vnexpress online newspaper, May 8, 2025

According to information from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Mr. Doan Duy Thanh - former Deputy Prime Minister and the first Chairman of VCCI - passed away on the morning of February 6th, at the age of 97.

Mr. Doan Duy Thanh was born in 1929 in Tuong Vu village, Cong Hoa commune, Kim Thanh district, former Hai Duong province (now part of Hai Phong). During his career, he held many important positions such as Secretary of the Hai Phong City Party Committee, Minister of Foreign Trade, Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Deputy Prime Minister), and Minister of Foreign Economic Relations.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/thoi-su/dau-an-doi-moi-cua-nguyen-pho-thu-tuong-doan-duy-thanh-20260210130056454.htm