The People's Committee of Hai Phong City has issued Plan No. 325/KH-UBND dated August 24, 2026, on key tasks and solutions for the last 6 months of 2026, alongside adjusting and supplementing several socio-economic development targets for 2026 and the 2026–2030 period. This plan serves as an action plan to concretize Resolution No. 31/NQ-HĐND of the City People's Council and open up a new development space for a sustainable port city. Among the strategic tasks outlined, foreign affairs are placed at the forefront, acting as the "key" to absorbing global investment flows and promoting local cultural values.
Strategic vision: An ambitious adjusted macro-target system
To drive a comprehensive breakthrough for Hai Phong, Plan No. 325/KH-UBND establishes adjusted and supplemented socio-economic targets with a long-term strategic vision:
- Ambitious GRDP Growth Rate: The target average GRDP growth rate is set at 13% or more, striving for 14% per year for the entire 2026–2030 period, with the specific target for 2026 being 13.00%. Within this, the service sector is expected to grow by 10.9% for the period and 11.1% in 2026.
- GRDP Per Capita: Aiming to reach 11,247 USD by 2030 (and 7,944.5 USD in 2026).
- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Attraction: Positioning Hai Phong as a magnet for high-quality global capital, the plan sets an annual FDI attraction target of 4 to 5 billion USD for the 2026–2030 period (with 3.8 to 4.3 billion USD targeted for 2026).
- Total Realized Investment Capital: Targeted at 2,400 trillion VND for the whole period, and 363 trillion VND in 2026 (including a mobilization target of approximately 210 trillion VND in the last 6 months of 2026).
- Share of High-Tech Product Value: Aiming for over 60% in the manufacturing sector for the entire period, and 63% in 2026.
Breakthrough foreign affairs tasks and solutions
To realize the aforementioned macro-targets—especially the goal of attracting a new generation of high-quality foreign direct investment and boosting the export economy—Hai Phong has defined the following key foreign affairs solutions:
- Advancing Comprehensive Economic Diplomacy and High-Quality Investment Attraction
The city will focus on promoting economic diplomacy, technology diplomacy, and digital diplomacy to serve socio-economic development. The Department of Foreign Affairs will collaborate with relevant departments and sectors to actively present the city's open, safe, and professional investment environment to foreign partners to boost trade and investment. The immediate focus is preparing for and successfully organizing the Hai Phong Investment Promotion Conference 2026, themed “Creating New Growth Spaces from the Free Trade Zone and Economic Zones,” combined with formulating mechanisms and policies to attract Fortune 500 technology corporations to the newly established Free Trade Zone.
- Expanding and Substance-Orienting International Cooperation Agreements
Hai Phong is committed to expanding bilateral and multilateral partnerships effectively and substantively. The city will actively formulate and execute plans to implement signed international agreements while striving to sign at least two new international agreements in 2026 to support green port city development. Organizing outgoing delegations and welcoming incoming international delegations must be standardized, targeting partners with great potential in clean technology and modern logistics.
- Integrating Cultural Diplomacy with World Heritage Promotion
In line with the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy to 2030, Hai Phong will proactively connect with international organizations and foreign localities to promote and maximize the global values of its World Heritage sites: Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago, and the Complex of Monuments and Landscapes of Yen Tử - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiep Bac. Promoting direct international flights, such as the Lijiang (Yunnan, China) - Hai Phong route, is a strategic step to expand the linked tourism space of the "Two Nations - Six Destinations" program, shifting the city's service structure toward high-quality depth.
- Mobilizing Non-Governmental Resources and Attracting Overseas Vietnamese Intellect
The city will strengthen connections and proactively mobilize aid from foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs), aiming to maintain foreign non-governmental aid at 4 to 5 million USD per year. In parallel, the city will build an overseas Vietnamese database and implement engagement programs to attract the intellectual and expert resources of overseas Vietnamese, particularly those originating from Hai Phong, to facilitate technology transfer, promote innovation, and help the city master high technologies.
- Training Standardized Foreign Affairs Human Resources for Deep Integration
Recognizing human resources as the decisive factor for success, Hai Phong will implement specialized training to improve the quality of staff working in foreign affairs. In 2026, the city will organize at least two training courses to enhance knowledge and skills in foreign affairs, diplomatic protocol, international integration, and foreign languages for cadres, civil servants, and public employees. Concurrently, the city will strengthen people-to-people diplomacy and consolidate friendly relations with international sister cities.
The mission of a "globally connected city" and vision toward 2028
The long-term vision to 2030 and 2045 positions Hai Phong not only as a macro-trade gateway but also as a "Globally Connected City" and a host hub for prestigious annual international events. One of a foundation for this aspiration is Hai Phong’s hosting of the 13th Cooperation Conference on the Economic Corridor of Five Provinces and Cities in 2028.
To prepare thoroughly for this major international event, Hai Phong is concentrating resources on completing strategic transport connectivity projects. These include accelerating the standard-gauge Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project (directly connecting Lach Huyen Port with China's railway network), planning the Mong Cai - Ha Long - Hai Phong railway, and upgrading Cat Bi International Airport.
Hai Phong’s breakthrough in the last 6 months of 2026 requires the active commitment and decisive action of the entire political system. Strictly adhering to the implementation principle of “clear people, clear tasks, clear responsibilities, clear progress, clear products, clear authority, and clear results” will serve as a solid launching pad for all levels and sectors, especially foreign affairs agencies, to turn commitments on the diplomatic table into prosperous trade flows, firmly shaping a green and breakthrough port city.