A trenchant corruption campaign that has shaken bureaucrats, the abrupt removal of top leaders and uncertainty over who will follow, a sensational financial scandal, and demands for more liberalising reform: Vietnam faces a string of critical challenges in the coming years to retain investor confidence, maintain the momentum of economic development, and fulfill its aspirations for high-income status by 2045.

But to get there, many analysts argue that the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam must embrace the kind of bold reform that steered the country from being a centrally planned economy to one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant market economies over the past four decades. 

The challenges include carrying out governance reform, managing an historic political transition, embracing green energy and digital economy opportunities, meeting new higher education and vocational skill demands, and improving social welfare protection.

Join Managing Director of Bower Group Asia, Vietnam Ha Nguyen, Visiting Fellow at ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute Khac Giang Nguyen, Director of the USAID Vietnam Digital Trade Project Professor Claudio Dordi and Walkley Award Winning Journalist Don Greenlees to learn about the reform challenges facing Australia’s newest comprehensive strategic partner and how Vietnam can rise to meet them in the years ahead.