Communist Party of Vietnam - the sole political party leading the state and society, no political force can replace it

Dr. NGUYEN THI HONG MAI
Institute of Party History,
Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics

1. Introduction

The leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam over the State and society is an objective necessity, chosen by history, entrusted with the responsibility by the people, and verified in practice by the mettle, prestige, capacity, and ethics of a genuine revolutionary party. It has led the people to great victories in the cause of national liberation, construction, and development. However, hostile and reactionary forces deliberately distort this by claiming that the Communist Party of Vietnam is not capable of leading the State and society; “The Communist Party of Vietnam cannot maintain its role as the nucleus of the great national unity bloc” due to the internal signs of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation”. The purpose of this rhetoric is to divide the solidarity within the Party and between the Party and the people, to reduce the people’s trust in the Party, and to disintegrate the Party and the regime at the root and from within. In essence, these are erroneous and reactionary arguments without theoretical or practical basis, which must be resolutely countered.

2. Content

2.1. Identifying the false arguments of hostile forces opposing the Communist Party of Vietnam

Firstly, denying the leadership role of the Party

In order to directly attack the Party’s leadership role, hostile forces and political opportunists claim that the Communist Party of Vietnam made a mistake when it “hastily abolished” the Democratic Party and the Socialist Party in 1988, “creating conditions for the Communist Party to be autocratic and dictatorial.” They deliberately distort the narrative by claiming that “the Party made many mistakes in the past, and even though it did some things historically, now that it has entered a new era, the Party has exhausted its historical role and no longer has the capacity to monopolize the leadership of the country”(1).

Under the guise of contributing “opinions” and “petitions”, reactionary forces openly oppose and call for paving the way for other political parties to participate alongside the Communist Party of Vietnam in leading the State and society. They claim that “The Party’s leadership made a mistake in holding on for too long to the Soviet-style socialist model of Marxism-Leninism, an outdated model of an outdated ideological system that has long been relegated to the historical archives, causing Vietnam, despite nearly 40 years of peace and unity, to remain stagnant and in decline”(2). From there, they argue that “the Party should only maintain a political leadership role, and should not and cannot exercise comprehensive and absolute leadership; a new political force must lead the country, not the Communist Party of Vietnam”.

To weaken the Party’s leadership, hostile forces claim that the current principle of democratic centralism is outdated and only suitable when power has not yet been won. In peaceful conditions, the ruling Party leads the country’s construction, requiring the expansion of democracy; centralism and democracy are two opposing sides that cannot be combined in the same principle. “Implementing democratic centralism means losing democracy and being authoritarian.” Their goal is to eliminate Article 4 of the 2013 Constitution, which stipulates the role of the Communist Party of Vietnam in leading society, and ultimately to implement “political pluralism and multi-party opposition”.

Secondly, denying the Party’s policies and guidelines

By attacking the Party’s policies and guidelines in all fields and denying its goals, ideals, and path to socialism, hostile forces claim that “the choice of the socialist path is merely the subjective will of the Party”(3), and that it is “vague”... They focus on denying and attacking the economic renovation path, especially the “socialist orientation”, claiming that by maintaining the socialist orientation, Vietnam will fail to achieve national unity and will be isolated in the international arena. Therefore, they argue, it is necessary to “set aside the socialist orientation”.

They attempt to misrepresent the Party’s policy of awakening the aspiration for a prosperous and happy nation as “unrealistic” and “unfeasible”. They accuse the Party of being suitable only for leading the people in the struggle for national independence and liberation, having already completed its mission, and claim that the Party is no longer able to assume the responsibility of leading national construction and development, especially in the current context. They argue that the Communist Party of Vietnam “has exhausted its historical role and is no longer capable of leading, causing the country to fall increasingly behind and grow weaker compared to other countries”.

Thirdly, sabotaging and dividing the unity within the Party

Hostile forces try every means to lure in individuals who are unsteady, discontented, or opportunistic, aiming to plant insiders within the Party, build underground forces, and establish “flag bearers” and opposition groups from within. Particularly targeted are those considered “progressive forces” and “radical reformers”, individuals with “potential for cooperation with the West”.

Along with the attacks that undermine the leadership role and prestige of the Party, one of the key points that hostile forces focus on is the principles of Party organization and activities, aiming to sabotage the Party’s unity and cause internal division or fragmentation in its structure. They deliberately argue that “the Party still maintains the so-called ‘democratic centralism’ regime, which most communist parties worldwide have already abandoned”; “The principle of democratic centralism is now outdated. Implementing democratic centralism will lead to a loss of democracy within the Party, causing the Party to fall into militarism, dictatorship, and authoritarianism. Using the guise of “democracy” and “pluralism,” they promote disagreement within the Party and exploit it to divide the Party into opposing factions. They take full advantage of the shortcomings and weaknesses in leadership and management, the ideological, moral, and lifestyle degradation of some cadres and Party members, to exaggerate, assign blame, and erode public trust in the Party.

2.2. The fight to refute the false arguments of hostile forces opposing the Party

Firstly, the Communist Party of Vietnam is the foremost factor that has led the Vietnamese revolution to victory

The role and leadership position of the Communist Party of Vietnam are determined by its political line and platform. The Party has determined a correct and creative political line that meets the requirements of revolutionary tasks in each historical period. The first platform (in 1930) affirmed the goal of national independence and socialism. “For our country, there is no other way to achieve true national independence, freedom, and happiness for the people. It must be emphasized that this is the choice of history itself, a choice that was decisive since 1930 with the birth of the Party”(4). The correct choice of the Party, President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese people has been verified by historical practice ever since. The Party’s consistent guiding ideology is “to steadfastly apply and creatively develop Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought; to steadfastly pursue the goal of national independence and socialism; and to steadfastly pursue the Party’s renovation policy”(5). This is the consistent viewpoint of the Party, which is vital to the stability and sustainable development of Vietnam. The Party has creatively applied the principles of Marxism-Leninism to form a revolutionary guideline suitable to the country’s material reality, leading the Vietnamese revolution from one victory to another.

Secondly, the goals and ideals of national independence associated with socialism are strategic goals and great aspirations of the Vietnamese people

Based on loyalty to and the creative application of Marxism-Leninism to the specific conditions of Vietnam, the Party proposed a comprehensive national renovation policy at the 6th National Party Congress (1986). The Party gradually improved the renovation policy, promulgating the Platform for national construction in the transitional period to socialism (1991 Platform), which outlined 6 basic characteristics of the socialist regime toward which the Party and people are striving. The Platform supplemented and developed in 2011 expanded this into 8 characteristics of socialism in Vietnam.

Through all difficulties and challenges - especially after the collapse of the socialist regimes in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe - the Party, with steadfast political will, remained unwavering on the path to socialism, persevered with the renewal line, and upheld the principle of “renewal without changing colors”, avoiding deviation from the socialist orientation. “Our Party and people are determined to build Vietnam on the path of socialism on the foundation of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought”(6). National independence and socialism are not only goals, a platform for action, and a rallying flag, but also the driving force: “they are prerequisites for realizing socialism and socialism is the solid foundation for ensuring national independence”(7). The Party affirms that “in the process of renovation, we must firmly adhere to the goals of national independence and socialism on the basis of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought. Renovation does not mean abandoning the goal of socialism but rather correctly understanding, creatively applying, and developing Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, taking them as the ideological foundation of the Party and the guiding compass for revolutionary action”(8). Only socialism can ensure genuine independence and freedom for the Vietnamese nation, and a prosperous, developed country.

From the accumulated achievements and historical experience, and based on the actual situation of the country, the Party has constructed the correct renovation policy, leading the people to many great victories in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. Those victories stem from the Party’s steadfastness in the communist ideal; its consistent and creative application of Marxism-Leninism to Vietnam’s reality; and the consolidation of the entire Party’s and people’s resolve in the renewal process, enabling the country to soon escape underdevelopment and firmly build socialism with confidence. In all circumstances, the Party has never strayed from the goal and ideal of national independence and socialism. “Advancing toward socialism is the aspiration of our people, the right choice of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh, in line with the development trend of history”(9). The Party affirms “its determination to build Vietnam on the socialist path based on the foundation of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought”(10). Only the socialist path can ensure true national independence, national development, and a prosperous, free, and happy life for the people; realizing the goal of a rich people, a strong, democratic, and civilized country.

Thirdly, the Communist Party of Vietnam is the only political party that leads the State and society

In early 1930, the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam “was an extremely important turning point in the history of the Vietnamese revolution”(11). From that point, the Party’s leadership position was established. The Party’s leadership role and position have been constantly consolidated and strengthened through its revolutionary leadership practice from 1930 to the present. The Party’s leadership role over the State and society is built on the basis of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; it is legitimate, constitutional, and lawful and is enshrined in the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. “The Communist Party of Vietnam... is the leading force of the State and society”(12). No political force can replace it.

In all stages of the revolution, at every important historical juncture, the Party has always shown its determination and political mettle. The Party’s leadership mission for the country has been recognized by the people and verified by history. The victory of the August Revolution in 1945 was the result of the nation’s arduous and sacrificial struggle against French colonial rule. It was also the result of meticulous and scientific preparation in all aspects and practical experience from the arduous and heroic struggle by our people under the leadership of the Party. It was the result of a historical choice that demonstrated the Party’s heavy responsibility for the fate of the country and the entire Vietnamese people, “for the first time in the revolutionary history of colonial and semi-colonial peoples, a Party aged only 15 years, led a revolution to success and took nationwide power”(13).

Promoting the traditions of patriotism and solidarity, the Vietnamese people continued to create the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu, “recorded in the history of the nation as a Bach Dang, a Chi Lang or a Dong Da in the 20th century, and entered the history of the world as a brilliant feat of breaking through the stronghold of the colonial enslavement system of imperialism”(14). Dien Bien Phu became a “golden milestone” and one of the peaks of the struggle to protect the Fatherland and liberate the nation.

Based on the Party’s correct and creative guidelines and the strength of great national unity, the Party led the people to victory in the resistance war against the US, to salvage the country, liberate the South, unify the country, and gloriously end 30 years of war to liberate the nation and defend the Fatherland. That victory is “a shining symbol of revolutionary heroism and human intelligence and has entered world history as a great victory of the 20th century, an event of great international importance and profound contemporary significance”(15); marking a decisive turning point to pave the way for the Vietnamese people to transition to socialism.

Based on extensive research and practical experience, the 6th National Party Congress (1986) proposed a comprehensive renovation policy, opening a new period for the country’s development. Especially in the 1990s, amid complex and difficult domestic and international developments, and constant sabotage from hostile forces, the Party remained steadfast in its chosen goal, maintained leadership, steered the revolutionary ship through rough seas, and continued the renovation process with many important achievements. The Party gradually supplemented and improved the renovation policy, forming a system of viewpoints and guiding principles for the renovation process in accordance with the reality of the country. This was the result of a process of contemplation, exploration, summarizing, and renovating theoretical thinking, leading to a more correct understanding of the reality of the Vietnamese revolution.

After nearly 40 years of implementing the renovation process, the country has made great and historic achievements. “These achievements are the crystallization of creativity, the result of a process of persistent and continuous efforts over many terms of the entire Party, the entire people and the entire military; continuing to affirm that our path to socialism is correct, in line with objective laws, with the reality of Vietnam and the development trend of the times; our Party’s renovation policy is correct and creative; and the Party’s leadership is the decisive factor for all victories of the Vietnamese revolution”(16). The Party has proven in practice its leadership through its intellect, capability, and prestige in uniting the strength of national unity, effectively seizing opportunities and favorable conditions, overcoming difficulties and challenges, and driving the country forward. The great victories in the struggle for national liberation, especially the great achievements of historical significance over nearly 40 years of renovation, have affirmed the “unique” leadership position of the Communist Party of Vietnam over the State and society.

“To fulfill the heavy responsibility entrusted by history, our Party considers self-renewal, self-rectification, and improving the Party’s leadership capacity as the most important requirement in Party building work, and regular tasks to ensure that our Party can fulfill its revolutionary mission. This is also the aspiration and demand of the people. The purpose of renewing and rectifying the Party is to strengthen it politically, ideologically, and organizationally. The foremost issue is to continue renewing thinking, raising the Party’s intellectual level to a new stage of development. More than ever, to lead the renovation process to success, our Party must enhance its understanding and capacity for practical organization, from discovering and mastering the laws of motion of our social life, of the Party itself, to understanding the world, the era, friends, allies, and adversaries. Only on that basis can the Party put forth correct guidelines and policies, avoid making mistakes and shortcomings, and ensure that “The policies and guidelines are successfully implemented”(17).

Although, in leadership, the Party sometimes made mistakes and shortcomings, including serious errors, “mistakes in land reform and organizational rectification, or shortcomings in economic leadership”(18), the Party seriously self-criticized, and corrected its shortcomings; promoted the work of building and rectifying, and making the Party increasingly clean and strong, fulfilling the responsibility and role of the ruling party and leading the revolutionary cause entrusted to it by the people. Therefore, one cannot use the Party’s missteps and shortcomings in leadership as a basis to deny the Party’s leadership role in the Vietnamese revolution. Therefore, the claim that: “The Communist Party of Vietnam has fulfilled its historical role and is not capable of leading the country” is completely wrong, unscientific, and unrealistic.

Fourthly, maintaining solidarity and unity within the Party, between the Party and the people, mobilizing the strength of the entire Party, the entire people, and the entire military to protect the Party’s leadership

Solidarity is the root source of the Party’s strength, and solidarity and unity within the Party are the core of the great national solidarity bloc. The Communist Party of Vietnam always regards solidarity and unity within the Party as one of the basic principles in Party building. The Party’s strength originates from its close connection with the people, from the people’s sympathy and support for the Party. With correct policies and guidelines and with the strength of unity in thought and action from the Central Committee to the grassroots, the Party has led the people through many hardships and challenges, successfully carrying out the national liberation struggle and the cause of national construction and defense. To maintain its leadership role and fulfill the noble mission assigned by history and the people, the Party always bears responsibility to the people, strengthening solidarity and unity within the entire Party on the basis of the Party’s organizational and operational principles; Strengthening close relations with the people, respecting and promoting the people’s right to mastery - “the Party’s will” aligns with “the people’s hearts and minds”, forming a solid citadel and great strength to protect the Party and the regime.

The Communist Party of Vietnam is always aware that being a sole ruling party, while fundamentally advantageous, also carries many risks, including subjectivism, voluntarism, and distancing from the people. To prevent such risks, the Party remains steadfast in its chosen goals, seriously and promptly self-criticizes, corrects shortcomings, regularly renovates and rectifies itself to strengthen its organization, enhance its political mettle, leadership capacity and all-around strength, upholding revolutionary ethics and maintaining a close, people-centered working style, and rigorously enforce Party discipline to clean the Party and remove degenerate, opportunistic elements.

Notably, the Resolution of the 4th Central Conference of the 12th tenure on strengthening Party building and rectification, preventing and repelling the degradation of political ideology, ethics and lifestyle among cadres and Party members, identified 27 specific manifestations of degradation, “self-evolution”, “self-transformation” within the Party that need to be focused on overcoming and repelling. It affirmed that this is an important and urgent task to be resolutely and persistently implemented with high political determination and great effort; by promoting initiative, creativity and the combined strength of the entire political system; and by emphasizing prevention, including overcoming weaknesses in economic management and social management.

Fifthly, only the Communist Party of Vietnam has the capacity to lead the people in building a prosperous, free, and happy life

The great achievements of the renovation process have created a solid foundation and premise to realize the aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy country. The policy of arousing the aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy country demonstrates the unity between the Party’s will and the people’s heart and mind. This is an important driving force that motivates Vietnam to rise up to overcome poverty, backwardness, overcome the middle-income trap, and the risk of economic stagnation. This is a matter of trust, “creating new momentum for the entire Party, people and military to firmly overcome difficulties and challenges, take advantage of favorable opportunities, and bring the country into a new period of development”(19).

The Party has developed a roadmap and destination, with appropriate steps, through socio-economic development orientations and solutions in the 5-year period from 2021-2025; the 10-year socio-economic development strategy for 2021-2030, with the goal of making Vietnam a developed, high-income country by 2045. This demonstrates the strategic vision and high political determination of the Party.

The Communist Party of Vietnam is the sole political party leading the Vietnamese people in realizing their aspiration for a prosperous and happy country. Since the interests of the people are always linked with the Party’s mission, ideals, and will, it is also the aspirations and dreams of the people. “Our Party is a revolutionary party. Apart from the interests of the people, our Party has no other interests. Therefore, our Party is trusted, respected, and loved by the people. Today, our Party’s mission is to lead the masses to overcome poverty and backwardness and build a prosperous and happy life for the people”(20).

The Communist Party of Vietnam is the only Party that possesses all the qualities, intelligence, and capacity, well-suited to lead the country in the current era, leading the people to overcome difficulties and challenges on the path of development. On the path to building a prosperous and strong country, the entire Party, the entire military, and the entire people strive, unite, persevere, and are determined to successfully realize the goals, visions, and aspirations of developing a prosperous and happy country.

3. Conclusion

Over the past 95 years under the leadership of the Party, the history and the people of Vietnam have entrusted the Communist Party of Vietnam with the mission of leading the Vietnamese people in the struggle to gain and maintain power, build and develop the country, and move forward with the times. “In Vietnam, there is no other political force, other than the Communist Party of Vietnam, that has enough courage, intelligence, experience, prestige, and capacity to lead the country to overcome all difficulties and challenges, leading the revolutionary cause of the nation from one victory to another”(21).

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Received: February 20, 2025; Revised: March 18, 2025; Approved for publication: March 20, 2025

Author e-mail: hongmai70lsd@gmail.com

Endnotes:

(1) Quoted from: Central Propaganda Department: Criticizing and refuting wrong and hostile viewpoints, protecting the ideological foundation of the Communist Party of Vietnam, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2007, p.126.

(2) Quoted from: Central Theoretical Council: Criticizing wrong viewpoints, protecting the ideological foundation of the platform and policies of the Communist Party of Vietnam, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2015, p.18.

(3) Quoted from: Central Theoretical Council: Firmly upholding the goal and path to socialism in our country, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2013, pp.179-180.

(4), (7), (17) CPV: Complete Party Documents, vol.51, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2007, pp.13-14, 129-130, 30-31.

(5), (16), (19) CPV: Documents of the 13th National Party Congress, vol. I, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, p.33, 25-26, 24.

(6), (10) CPV: Documents of the 9th National Party Congress, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2001, p.83, 83.

(8) CPV: Documents of the 11th National Party Congress, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, p.70.

(9) CPV: Documents of the 10th National Party Congress, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2006, p.70.

(11) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, vol.12, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, p.406.

(12) Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 2013, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2014, p.9.

(13) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, vol.7, ibid., p.25.

(14) Le Duan: Under the glorious flag of the Party, for independence, freedom, for socialism, move forward to gain new victories, Truth Publishing House, Hanoi, 1970, p.90.

(15) CPV: Complete Party Documents, vol.37, ibid., 2004, p.471.

(18) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, vol.11, ibid., p.91.

(20) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, vol.13, ibid., p.447.

(21) Speech by General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong at the 90th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, https://www.tapchicongsan.org.vn, posted on February 3, 2020.