According to Ho Chi Minh's thought, building socialism must begin with building socialist people - people with revolutionary ideals, pure morality, knowledge, capacity and a spirit of dedication to the community. In the article: "Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam" on the occasion of the 131st anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday (May 16, 2021), the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed: "The socialist society that our people are building is a society: owned by the people; has a highly developed economy based on modern productive forces and progressive, appropriate production relations; has an advanced culture, imbued with national identity; people are comprehensively developed..." (1) . For Hanoi - the capital of a thousand years of civilization, the political , cultural and educational center of the whole country, the concretization of socialist ideals into each person has a special pioneering meaning. Accordingly, the image of the "Socialist Capital" people is vividly realized through an elegant, civilized lifestyle, high civic responsibility, strong adaptability to the digital age and is nurtured from the family environment, school to the social community. Hanoi's practice shows that socialist ideals have been and are being spread through many practical mechanisms, policies and models - from codes of conduct, cultural emulation movements to comprehensive human development strategies, contributing to building the Capital to truly become a socialist model as desired by President Ho Chi Minh.
Arousing the desire to develop the people and culture of the Capital
The year 2025 is of special significance in the country's development process, associated with many important historical milestones; it is the final year of the 13th National Party Congress, the year to summarize and comprehensively and deeply evaluate the implementation of the set goals and tasks in the fields of socio-economics, Party building and the political system; the year for the entire Party, people and army to compete to welcome the Party Congresses at all levels towards the 14th National Party Congress. In that context, the requirement for rapid and sustainable development of the capital Hanoi - the national political and administrative center, foreign affairs hub, major center of culture, education, science and economy of the country is increasingly urgent.
Not only carrying the mission of representing the country, the capital Hanoi is also the place where the typical historical and cultural values of the Vietnamese people crystallize and spread. Therefore, building elegant and civilized Hanoians is not only a specific task of the capital, but also an important part of the strategy for comprehensive development of Vietnamese people, meeting the requirements of sustainable development of the country in the period of deep international integration.
With the particularly important position of the Capital, in many Party congresses, especially the last three terms, the documents and resolutions of the Central Committee have emphasized the role and position of Hanoi, setting out specific directions and instructions for Hanoi to better promote its role and position in the cause of national construction and development. Hanoi has also always clearly identified its position, role, and strengths, proactively and creatively implementing the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's policies and laws.
During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh was always concerned with the development of the “heart of the country”. At the “Conference of cadres of the entire Hanoi Party Committee” on April 25, 1959, Uncle Ho affirmed his determination to build “Hanoi Capital to become a socialist capital” (2) . Carrying out his will and following his teachings, at the 17th Congress of Hanoi Party Committee on October 12, 2020, the late General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed: “Hanoi has never had the scale, position, stature and development opportunities like it does now. Therefore, the requirements for Hanoi cannot be the same as those for other localities, but must be higher, deeper, stronger... Therefore, it is necessary to arouse pride, love, and a sense of responsibility for Hanoi; to propagate among the people, educate the young generation; to promote self-esteem and confidence, thereby clearly seeing the responsibility for Hanoi. To build elegant, civilized, modern, law-abiding Hanoians. Hanoians must live a truly cultured life, representing the national culture. That is a lifestyle of humanity, affection, loyalty, purity, and politeness” (3) .
Entering a new era, General Secretary To Lam requested to develop the capital Hanoi as “Cultured - Civilized - Modern”, soon becoming a globally connected city, deeply integrated, highly competitive with the region and the world; people have a high standard of living and quality of life; the economy, culture, and society develop strongly, uniquely, harmoniously, truly being the center of convergence, crystallization of the culture of the whole country, civilization of humanity; having a level of development on par with the capitals of developed countries in the region and the world” (4) .
Our Party and State always pay special attention to Hanoi's development to become a civilized and modern capital. Resolution No. 15-NQ/TW dated May 15, 2022 of the Politburo "On the direction and tasks of developing Hanoi capital to 2030, with a vision to 2045" clearly states: "Developing Hanoi capital "Cultured - Civilized - Modern" is a particularly important political task in the strategy of building and defending the Fatherland with the spirit of "The whole country for Hanoi, Hanoi for the whole country"; is the responsibility and obligation of the entire Party, the entire people, the entire army, and the entire political system; is the top task of the Party Committee, government and people of Hanoi capital" (5) . Resolution No. 30-NQ/TW, dated November 23, 2022, of the Politburo “On socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the Red River Delta region to 2030, with a vision to 2045” clearly states: “Developing the Capital worthy of the thousand-year-old tradition of Thang Long - Hanoi, truly a center of convergence and cultural crystallization of the whole country” (6) . Thus, developing the cultural cause, building elegant and civilized Hanoians, worthy of being a major center of education and training, science and technology, and health; ensuring social security and welfare, and improving the quality of life of the people of the Capital are tasks that the Party and State trust and assign to the Party Committee, government, and people of the Capital.
Local government in general, the Capital government in particular, is a component of the apparatus of the socialist rule of law state of our country. To build a socialist capital, it is impossible not to build and perfect the Capital government. To do so, it is even more impossible to separate the overall orientations for building a socialist rule of law state set forth by the 13th National Party Congress. The general goal of building the Capital government is to build a truly democratic, rule of law, professional, modern, streamlined, effective, efficient administration with the capacity to create development, integrity, and serve the people. The 2012 Capital Law (amended in 2024) was issued to meet the goals set out in 3 resolutions (Resolution No. 15-NQ/TW, Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW and Resolution No. 30-NQ/TW in 2022) issued by the Politburo related to the development of the capital Hanoi. In the context of implementing the two-level government model in our country, in 2025, many opportunities will open up for the development of the capital city of Hanoi when the Capital Law (amended in 2024) with many new policies and regulations, takes effect from January 1, 2025, creating conditions for Hanoi to develop strongly and make breakthroughs in the coming time.
Building a comprehensively developed human being is one of the core contents throughout the development path of our Party through the periods. The documents of the 13th National Party Congress continue to affirm: "Developing a comprehensive human being and building an advanced Vietnamese culture with strong national identity are a solid spiritual foundation, an important endogenous driving force for the rapid and sustainable development of the country" (7) . On that basis, building elegant and civilized Hanoians - a model of Vietnamese people in the new period - has become a central content in the development strategy of the capital in particular and the whole country in general.
In the 10-year Socio-Economic Development Strategy (2021 - 2030), our Party especially emphasizes the promotion of cultural values and human strength of Vietnam, considering this one of the three strategic breakthroughs for national development. The perspective of comprehensive human development in the new era is not only limited to the field of education and training but also covers all aspects of social life, from ethics, lifestyle, behavioral culture to civic awareness, community spirit and social responsibility.
Program No. 06-CTr/TU, dated March 17, 2021, "On cultural development, improving the quality of human resources, building elegant and civilized Hanoians in the period of 2021 - 2025" (abbreviated as Program No. 06-CTr/TU) is a strategic, comprehensive and systematic directive document on continuing to promote the thousand-year-old cultural tradition, building Hanoians to develop comprehensively in personality, qualities, capacity, with knowledge, ethics, civic responsibility, proper behavior, worthy of being citizens of the Heroic Capital - City for Peace.
Resolution No. 09-NQ/TU, dated February 22, 2022 on "Developing cultural industry in the capital for the period 2021 - 2025, orientation to 2030, vision to 2045" not only aims to promote the great potential of culture as an economic sector, but also puts culture at the center of human and social development, considering cultural industry as an effective means to spread good values, build a civilized and modern lifestyle in urban communities.
The Hanoi People's Committee has issued two important decisions: Decision No. 552/QD-UBND, dated January 25, 2017, "On promulgating the code of conduct for cadres, civil servants, public employees, and workers in agencies under Hanoi City" and Decision No. 1665/QD-UBND, dated March 10, 2017, "On promulgating the code of conduct in public places in Hanoi City". The promulgation of these two regulations contributes to shaping behavioral standards, adjusting awareness and improving the culture of behavior in the community for cadres, party members, workers and people of the Capital.
The Hanoi Party Committee concretizes the Party's policies through many programs and projects associated with specific groups of subjects (students, students, cadres, civil servants, workers, communities, etc.), deployed from administrative agencies to each residential group, school, and residential area. On February 19, 2024, the Hanoi Party Committee issued Directive No. 30-CT/TU "On strengthening the leadership of Party committees at all levels in building elegant and civilized Hanoians", emphasizing the exemplary role of Party committees, authorities, cadres, and Party members as a top priority: "Strengthen the leadership of Party committees and authorities at all levels in building elegant and civilized Hanoians, identifying this as an important and regular political task. Promote the exemplary role of heads of Party committees and authorities at all levels in implementing the Directive" (8) .
It can be affirmed that the promulgation and synchronous implementation of the Party's policies is a testament to the strategic vision of the Hanoi Party Committee when determining that culture is not only a spiritual foundation but also a pillar of sustainable development, a driving force for digital transformation and international integration to enhance the image of the Capital in the region and the world; contributing to building the image of the people of the socialist Capital, realizing the desire of "becoming a socialist Capital" of President Ho Chi Minh.
Contribute to positioning Hanoi people in the sustainable development strategy of the Capital
During a talk with Vietnamese students and officials studying and working in Moscow on October 29, 1961, President Ho Chi Minh emphasized: "To build socialism, there must be socialist people" (9) . That means " to become a socialist capital" as President Ho Chi Minh wished, there must be socialist capital people. Deeply aware of the special role of people - the central subject, at the same time the driving force and goal of development, the Hanoi Party Committee has clearly identified the task of building elegant and civilized Hanoians as a strategic content, closely linked to the cause of cultural development, improving the quality of human resources, and fostering ethical and social values in the new conditions. In particular, the serious, scientific and timely promulgation and implementation of Program No. 06-CTr/TU and Resolution No. 09-NQ/TU, dated February 22, 2022, of the City Party Committee on "Developing cultural industry in the capital for the period 2021 - 2025, orientation to 2030, vision to 2045" have clearly affirmed the strategic vision, comprehensive thinking and high political determination of the Hanoi Party Committee in developing Hanoi people in the new period.
The thousand years of Thang Long - Dong Do - Hanoi - a thousand years of civilization has always been the place where the traditional cultural values of the Vietnamese people crystallized. From the Ly - Tran - Le dynasties to the Nguyen dynasty, Thang Long was not only the political and military center but also the place where the values of knowledge, morality, etiquette, codes of conduct, etc. converged, inherited and promoted, creating the character of the people of the capital. Those characteristics continued to be nurtured through many generations, creating a unique cultural system, recognized by behavioral principles and moral qualities, such as: "respecting elders, yielding to juniors", "elegant, graceful", "benevolent, loyal", "respecting morality, preserving face", etc., contributing to the formation of the image of "Hanoi people" with a distinct identity with modesty, sophistication, tolerance, elegance...
In the flow of deep international integration, with many new social changes, preserving and promoting the cultural character of Hanoi with its thousand-year history has become increasingly urgent. Building elegant and civilized Hanoians not only contributes to building the spiritual foundation for the sustainable development of the capital, but also spreads positive cultural values, contributing to "Arousing the aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy country, striving to make our country a developed, high-income country by the middle of the 21st century" (10) , as determined by the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.
Along with the rapid urbanization process, the strong development of the market economy, the process of globalization and deep international integration, especially the development of science, technology, digital transformation, social life in Hanoi has been changing rapidly. The multi-dimensional impacts of the modern socio-economic environment have given rise to deviant, even anti-cultural manifestations...
Implementing the two-level local government model - "Friendly government, friendly office, serving the people", from July 1, 2025, Hanoi officials and civil servants need to promote the qualities of high sense of responsibility, attitude of serving the people wholeheartedly, honestly, integrity, not afraid of difficulties, hardships, dare to think, dare to do, dare to take responsibility, have awareness of obeying the law, have a serious and responsible working attitude, do not avoid or push work. Raise awareness of serving the people, consider serving the people as the top priority, create maximum favorable conditions for people and businesses. Build a professional, dedicated, honest, integrity working style, free of corruption, negativity, resolutely fight against signs of degradation, violations of the law...
In the context of implementing the two-level local government model - "friendly government, friendly office, serving the people", preserving and promoting the elegant and civilized character of traditional Hanoians is an urgent requirement, and at the same time, it also sets the task of supplementing a system of value standards suitable for the new era. Resolution of the 9th Central Conference, Session XI "On building and developing Vietnamese culture and people to meet the requirements of sustainable national development" clearly defines the core values of Vietnamese people in the new era including: Patriotism, humanity, honesty, responsibility, discipline, creativity . These are also the qualities that need to be aroused and strongly spread in the process of building the image of modern Hanoians today.
To concretize that system of values, the Hanoi Party Committee has concretized it into behavioral criteria in many areas: in the workplace, in public places, in the family and in the community; launched the movement "Hanoi people behave beautifully", "Hanoi students are elegant and civilized", and built a code of conduct suitable for each subject and living environment. These efforts demonstrate the high political determination of the Party Committee and the City Government in preserving and promoting the noble qualities of Hanoi people in the period of innovation and integration.
After more than two years of implementing Program No. 06-CTr/TU, the City has organized thousands of propaganda sessions, seminars, and workshops to raise awareness of culture and public ethics; many typical models of cultural behavior have been replicated. The movements "Hanoi people behave beautifully", "Friendly schools, active students", "Building civilized streets", "Hoan Kiem Lake cultural space", "Bright - green - clean - beautiful city", "Cultural families - cultural communities" have been widely spread in social life... The rate of cultural families reached over 87%; the rate of cultural residential areas reached nearly 85%; many localities effectively maintained "Cultural self-management groups", "Good people - good deeds clubs", contributing to improving spiritual life and consolidating the moral and social foundation (11) .
The shaping of the standards of elegant and civilized Hanoians is not only a process of persistent education and training, but also requires the active participation and joint efforts of Party committees and authorities at all levels, the entire political system, cultural - educational - media institutions and each citizen of the capital. It is both the inheritance of tradition and the creation of new values, thereby forming the qualities and character of modern Hanoians who are cultured, responsible, and have the aspiration to rise up in the new era of the capital and the country./.
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(1) See: Nguyen Phu Trong: "Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam", Electronic Communist Magazine, May 16, 2021, https://www.tapchicongsan.org.vn/media-story/-/asset_publisher/V8hhp4dK31Gf/content/mot-so-van-de-ly-luan-va-c-tien-ve-chu-nghia-xa-hoi-va-con-duong-di-len-chu-nghia-xa-hoi-o-viet-nam
(2) See: President Ho Chi Minh's affection for "Our Capital", Vietnamplus, October 5, 2024, https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tinh-cam-cua-chu-tich-ho-chi-minh-voi-thu-do-ta-post980854.vnp
(3) See: Full text of the speech of the late General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong at the Hanoi City Party Congress, VTV Online , October 12, 2020, https://vtv.vn/chinh-tri/toan-van-phat-bieu-cua-tong-bi-thu-chu-tich-nuoc-tai-dai-hoi-dang-bo-tp-ha-noi-20201012172056821.htm
(4) See: Tien Dung: "General Secretary, President To Lam: Developing Hanoi to be worthy in the new era of development of the country", VnEconomy Magazine Electronic, October 10, 2024, https://vneconomy.vn/tong-bi-thu-chu-tich-nuoc-to-lam-phat-trien-ha-noi-xung-tam-trong-ky-nguyen-phat-trien-moi-cua-dat-nuoc.htm
(5) See: https://tulieuvankien.dangcongsan.vn/he-thong-van-ban/van-ban-cua-dang/nghi-quyet-so-15-nqtw-ngay-0552022-cua-bo-chinh-tri-ve-phuong-huong-nhiem-vu-phat-trien-thu-do-ha-noi-den-nam-2030-tam-8495
(6) See: https://tulieuvankien.dangcongsan.vn/he-thong-van-ban/van-ban-cua-dang/nghi-quyet-so-30-nqtw-ngay-23112022-cua-bo-chinh-tri-ve-phat-trien-kinh-te-xa-hoi-va-bao-dam-quoc-phong-an-ninh-9017
(7) Documents of the 13th National Congress of Delegates , National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2021, vol. I, p. 138
(8) See: https://thanhuyhanoi.vn/van-ban-quy-pham-phap-luat/chi-thi-cua-ban-thuong-vu-thanh-uy-tang-cuong-su-lanh-dao-cua-cap-uy-dang-ve-xay-dung-nguoi-ha-noi-thanh-lich-van-minh-30001094.html
(9) See: Documents - Records/This Day in History, People's Army Electronic Newspaper; October 29, 2022, https://www.qdnd.vn/tu-lieu-ho-so/ngay-nay-nam-xua/ngay-29-10-1961-bac-day-muon-xay-dung-chu-nghia-xa-hoi-phai-co-nhung-con-nguoi-xa-hoi-chu-nghia-709318
(10) Documents of the 13th National Congress of Delegates, op. cit., vol. I, p. 112
(11) See: Thanh Hong: "The rate of cultural families in Hanoi reaches 88%", Hanoi Radio and Television Online , March 4, 2025, https://hanoionline.vn/ty-le-gia-dinh-van-hoa-ha-noi-dat-88-307715.htm
Source: https://tapchicongsan.org.vn/web/guest/van_hoa_xa_hoi/-/2018/1112902/xay-dung-con-nguoi-%E2%80%9Cthu-do-xa-hoi-chu-nghia%E2%80%9D-nhu-mong-muon-cua-chu-cich-ho-chi-minh.aspx
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