On 4 September 2026, Vietnam Update 2026, “Vietnam – 40th Anniversary of ‘Đổi Mới’ and the Era of National Rise”, was held at The Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, bringing together scholars, experts and government representatives from Vietnam, Australia and other countries. National Economics University (NEU) co-organised the conference with the Crawford School of Public Policy at ANU, further advancing research collaboration, academic exchange and policy dialogue between Vietnam and Australia.

Held at the significant milestone of 40 years since Vietnam launched Đổi Mới in 1986, Vietnam Update 2026 provided a forum to reflect on four decades of profound economic and social transformation while examining the issues shaping Vietnam’s next stage of development amid rapid changes in geopolitics, technology, climate, trade and investment.

Delegates attending Vietnam Update 2026 gather for a group photo at The Australian National University, Canberra.

From 40 Years of Đổi Mới to the Questions Shaping Vietnam’s Next Development Chapter

The opening session featured Dr Gordon de Brouwer – Chancellor of The Australian National University; Ms Carol Holmes – Assistant Secretary, Vietnam and Mekong Strategy Branch, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Mr Nghiem Xuan Hoa – Deputy Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Australia; Professor Paul Burke – Acting Director of the Crawford School of Public Policy; and Professor Long Chu – Director of the Hub for Vietnam Policy Studies, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU.

The conference was also attended by Professor Tran Tho Dat – former President of National Economics University, Chairman of NEU’s Academic and Training Council, and Chairman of the Vietnam–Australia Friendship Association, together with professors, scholars and experts from ANU, NEU and other education and research institutions in Vietnam and abroad.

Dr Gordon de Brouwer – Chancellor of The Australian National University – delivers his opening address at the conference.

In his opening address, Dr Gordon de Brouwer highlighted the importance of research and deeper understanding of the Asia-Pacific as part of ANU’s national mission. He noted that Vietnam is an important strategic partner for Australia, with significance for both the present and the future. He emphasised that connections between Vietnam and Australia are built through people, institutions and substantive networks of cooperation, creating an enduring foundation for mutual understanding and collaboration between the two countries.

Drawing on the experience of institutional reform, Dr de Brouwer also reflected on the conditions required for successful transformation, highlighting the importance of clear purpose and vision, leadership, broad institutional engagement, and sustained implementation. Vietnam’s transformation over four decades of Đổi Mới, he observed, offers valuable lessons not only for Vietnam but also for countries and institutions facing their own imperatives for change.

Professor Long Chu – Director of the Hub for Vietnam Policy Studies, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU – introduces Vietnam Update 2026.

Introducing Vietnam Update 2026, Professor Long Chu emphasised the role of research in providing evidence and insights for policymaking, thereby contributing directly to Vietnam’s development objectives. The Hub for Vietnam Policy Studies at ANU has undertaken a range of research, education and policy dialogue activities and fostered connections with government agencies, universities, research institutions and local authorities in Vietnam, helping strengthen the links between research, evidence and policy practice.

Reflecting on the Đổi Mới journey, Professor Long Chu described Vietnam’s transition from a centrally planned to a market economy as a defining milestone in the country’s modern development. One important lesson from this process, he noted, is that development depends not only on resources and technology, but also on the quality of policy and the effectiveness of governance. Vietnam Update 2026 therefore sought not only to reflect on past achievements, but also to identify lessons relevant to Vietnam’s future.

Plenary Session 1: Vietnam – 40 Years of Đổi Mới and Beyond

The first plenary session, “Vietnam – 40 Years of ‘Đổi Mới’ and Beyond”, was chaired by Professor Paul Burke – Acting Director of the Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU.

Professor Nguyen Huu Anh – Vice President of National Economics University – delivers the opening remarks at the first plenary session.

Opening the plenary session, Professor Nguyen Huu Anh – Vice President of National Economics University – described Đổi Mới in 1986 as a fundamental turning point in Vietnam’s development, paving the way for the transition towards a market-oriented economy, deeper international integration, and far-reaching economic and social transformation.

Professor Ngyen Huu Anh emphasised that the 40-year milestone should not only be an occasion to reflect on what has been achieved. More importantly, it should prompt a forward-looking question: What can Vietnam learn from four decades of reform to shape its next development journey?

As Vietnam pursues higher levels of income, productivity, innovation and international integration, the development approaches that contributed to the country’s success over the past four decades will need to continue evolving. Professor Nguyen Huu Anh further stressed that the challenges ahead cannot be addressed by any single academic discipline, nor by universities alone. They require rigorousresearch, policy dialogue, international collaboration, and stronger connections between research evidence and policymaking.

Professor Tran Van Tho – Emeritus Professor, Waseda University, Japan – delivers the keynote address on 40 years of Đổi Mới and Vietnam’s development from an Asian perspective.

The plenary continued with a keynote address by Professor Tran Van Tho – Emeritus Professor, Waseda University, Japan, entitled “40 Years of ‘Đổi Mới’ and Beyond: Vietnam’s Transition and Development in an Asian Perspective.” The presentation situated Vietnam’s transition and development within the broader Asian context, extending the discussion to the achievements, challenges and drivers required for Vietnam to further enhance the quality of growth in its next stage of development.

Plenary Session 2: Vietnam’s Đổi Mới – Economy and Education

Building on the discussion of Vietnam’s transformation and development, the second plenary session, “Vietnam’s ‘Đổi Mới’ – Economy and Education”, broadened the conversation through two fundamental dimensions: the economic conditions that led to the reform decision in 1986 and the transformation of Vietnam’s higher education sector during the Đổi Mới era.

The session was chaired by Honorary Associate Professor Suiwah Dean-Leung – Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU, with opening remarks by Dr Vu Thanh Tu Anh – Dean of the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management, Fulbright University Vietnam.

Dr Vu Thanh Tu Anh – Dean of the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management, Fulbright University Vietnam – delivers the opening remarks at the second plenary session.

Dr Le Hong Giang – Research Fellow, Fulbright University Vietnam delivered a keynote presentation on Vietnam’s economy during 1975–1986, examining the mechanisms of the centrally planned economy and the difficulties and crises preceding Đổi Mới. This was followed by Professor Martin Hayden – Emeritus Professor, Southern Cross University, Australia, who presented “Vietnam’s Higher Education Sector since ‘Đổi Mới’”, examining the transformation of Vietnam’s higher education system against the backdrop of far-reaching economic and social change.

Honorary Associate Professor Suiwah Dean-Leung – Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU – and Professor Martin Hayden – Emeritus Professor, Southern Cross University, Australia – exchange views during the second plenary session.

Thematic Sessions: From Sustainable Development and Institutions to New Drivers of Growth

Alongside the two plenary sessions, Vietnam Update 2026 devoted substantial attention to thematic discussions, providing a platform for scholars to examine specific issues shaping Vietnam’s development trajectory. The four thematic streams covered areas ranging from sustainable development, governance and institutions to technology, finance, foreign investment and the upgrading of domestic economic capabilities.

Sustainable Development and Green Transition

The “Sustainable Development and Green Transition” session, chaired by Dr Thang Do, focused on developments in tourism, urbanisation, land use, green growth and the circular economy in Vietnam.

Dr Pham Thi Thu Phuong, NEU, presents research reviewing four decades of tourism development in Vietnam, examining its achievements, challenges and implications for sustainable development.

Dr Nguyen Tran Tuan, NEU, presents a spatial analysis of urban expansion and rice-land transition during the Đổi Mới era, covering the period 1995–2020.

Dr Nguyen Hoang Nam, NEU, presents research on Vietnam’s green growth model and the role of the circular economy in the country’s new stage of development after Đổi Mới.

Governance, Institutions and International Relations

The “Governance, Institutions and International Relations” session, chaired by Associate Professor Nhung Nghiem, ANU, focused on administrative reform, foreign policy, international trade and private-sector development.

Presentations included research by Dr Do Thanh Ha, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, on temporal governance and administrative reform in Vietnam during 2024–2026; Assistant Professor Nguyen Hong Hai, VinUniversity, on Vietnam’s “bamboo diplomacy” and international business policy in an uncertain global environment; Raghuvir Kelkar, Griffith University, on Vietnam’s export efficiency after 40 years of Đổi Mới; and Dr Nguyen Thi Hoan and Dr Nguyen Thi Tham, NEU, on the Communist Party of Vietnam’s perspectives on private-sector development during the Đổi Mới period.

Scholars at the “Governance, Institutions and International Relations” session.

Economic Transformation, Innovation and Markets

The “Economic Transformation, Innovation and Markets” session, chaired by Dr Mai Nguyen, focused on emerging trends reshaping Vietnam’s competitiveness and development model, including renewable energy, artificial intelligence, the electronics industry, digital platforms and sustainable consumption.

Associate Professor Le Thanh Ha, NEU, presents research using textual analysis and natural language processing to examine the social consequences of uncertainty surrounding renewable energy development in Vietnam.

Dr Tran Hong Nhung, NEU, presents research on the impact of algorithmically curated short-form video recommendations on sustainable purchase intentions among TikTok Shop users in Vietnam

Scholars at the “Economic Transformation, Innovation and Markets” session.

Finance, Foreign Investment and Economic Development

The “Finance, Foreign Investment and Economic Development” session, chaired by Associate Professor Chung Tran, focused on bank credit, institutional quality, the middle-income trap, and the impact of foreign direct investment on domestic productive capabilities.

Associate Professor Le Thanh Tam, NEU, presents research on bank credit growth in Vietnam after Đổi Mới, drawing on data from listed commercial banks during 2016–2025; Professor Le Quoc Hoi, NEU, serves as discussant.

Associate Professor Nguyen Thanh Hieu, NEU, presents research examining whether “second-best institutions” are sufficient for Vietnam to escape the middle-income trap.

Associate Professor Le Duc Hoang, NEU, presents research on the relationship between FDI dominance and domestic upgrading in Vietnam’s high-technology industries.

The conference concludes with remarks by Professor Long Chu – Director of the Hub for Vietnam Policy Studies, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU.

NEU’s Academic Contribution to Vietnam Update 2026

A notable feature of Vietnam Update 2026 was the broad and sustained participation of National Economics University scholars throughout the conference programme, from the first plenary session to thematic discussions on sustainable development, the green transition, institutions, private-sector development, innovation, finance and foreign investment.

NEU scholars contributed not only as presenters but also as discussants, bringing perspectives from a wide range of disciplines into the academic dialogue. Their research addressed issues ranging from sustainable tourism, urbanisation, the circular economy and the energy transition to artificial intelligence, FDI, banking and finance, institutions, technological capabilities and private-sector development. Collectively, these contributions brought a range of NEU research perspectives into broader international discussions on contemporary development issues facing Vietnam.

This academic engagement provided NEU researchers with opportunities to exchange ideas directly with international scholars, engage with emerging research agendas and expand their professional networks. Importantly, interactions generated through the conference can provide a foundation for subsequent activities, including joint research, international publications, scholar exchanges and cross-institutional research teams.

Over the longer term, NEU’s role as a co-organiser and active contributor to a forum such as Vietnam Update can help increase NEU’s academic visibility within international research communities focusing on Vietnam and the wider region. When sustained over time and translated into substantive research outputs, these academic connections can add further value to NEU’s international networks while contributing to its academic reputation on a substantive and sustainable basis.

The National Economics University delegation and scholars at Vietnam Update 2026 at The Australian National University.

Strengthening Vietnam–Australia Research Connections and Policy Dialogue

Vietnam Update 2026 builds on the foundation of academic cooperation between National Economics University and The Australian National University in research on economics, public policy and Vietnam’s development.

In 2024, NEU and the Crawford School of Public Policy jointly organised the Vietnam Policy and Economy Update, bringing together scholars, policymakers and experts to discuss contemporary development issues facing Vietnam. Vietnam Update 2026 builds further on this foundation at a particularly significant milestone – 40 years since the launch of Đổi Mới.

The relationship between the two universities has also been nurtured through generations of academics, researchers and alumni, creating enduring scholarly connections between the institutions. Professor Tran Tho Dat – former President of National Economics University, Chairman of NEU’s Academic and Training Council, a Distinguished Alumnus of ANU, and currently Chairman of the Vietnam–Australia Friendship Association – represents one of these important bridges, contributing to academic ties between NEU and ANU as well as broader people-to-people links between Vietnam and Australia.

Professor Tran Tho Dat, NEU, speaks at Vietnam Update 2026.

For National Economics University, Vietnam Update 2026 represents more than an academic event. It reflects the University’s commitment to strengthening international research collaboration, facilitating knowledge exchange, and contributing evidence-based academic insights to Vietnam’s development.

Building on the partnership developed over time, NEU and ANU envisage Vietnam Update continuing to evolve as a platform for academic exchange, joint research and policy dialogue, connecting researchers, experts and policymakers while creating further opportunities for international publications, scholarly networks and knowledge exchange between Vietnam and Australia.

For NEU, collaborative initiatives such as Vietnam Update also create opportunities to deepen high-quality academic partnerships and develop new avenues for research, education and scholarly exchange. Sustained engagement of this kind, particularly when translated into joint research and other tangible academic outputs, can further strengthen NEU’s connections with international knowledge networks.

As Vietnam enters a new development chapter after four decades of Đổi Mới, the value of forums such as Vietnam Update lies not only in reflecting on past achievements, but also in their capacity to raise new questions, generate new evidence, and bring academic knowledge closer to policymaking and development practice.

As Professor Ngyen Huu Anh – Vice President of National Economics University – emphasised, Vietnam Update 2026 provides an opportunity not only to better understand how Vietnam has changed over four decades of Đổi Mới, but also to think more deeply about how the country can move forward in its next stage of development.

Article by: International Cooperation Department, Research Management Department and Communications Department, National Economics University