A 252 billion đồng initiative in Hải Phòng aims to mold the next generation into exemplary “socialist citizens,” raising questions about how these revolutionary ideals will actually be implemented.
The Latest: On Sept. 5, the People’s Committee of Kiến Thụy commune in Hải Phòng held a conference to launch the “socialist school” model.
- The municipality will pilot the model at nine campuses—comprising three preschools, three elementary schools, and three middle schools—from 2026 to 2030.
- Following this initial phase, the city plans to expand the model citywide from 2030 to 2035.
The Details: According to the city’s “Plan to Build Socialist Schools,” one of the model’s key goals is to “build socialist citizens.”
- Outlined on page 39 of the plan, the curriculum will focus on “cultivating revolutionary ideals, ethics, and a cultured way of life among young people. Students will be taught patriotism, national pride, responsibility toward the community, and a desire to contribute.”
This initiative is backed by the Hải Phòng Party Committee’s Resolution No. 05, issued Jan. 14, 2026.
- The resolution calls for developing and implementing socialist models alongside efforts to shape socialist citizens.
- It states that the “socialist school” model aims to “foster the comprehensive development of Hải Phòng’s people in line with socialist values.”
The total budget allocated for the pilot across the nine schools is 252 billion đồng.
- Kiến Thụy has no schools included on the pilot list; it remains unclear why the commune selected to host the launch conference.
Other Initiatives in Hải Phòng: Alongside “socialist schools,” Hải Phòng is establishing 10 other “socialist models,” including concepts such as “a friendly government,” “a city that upholds and complies with the law,” and “socialist housing.”
- The overarching goal for Hải Phòng is to become “an exemplary model of socialism in the new era—the era of national advancement.”
The Background: Việt Nam is one of the few countries still operating under a socialist model, alongside China, North Korea, Laos and Cuba. The state operates under socialist legality, with four basic principles:
- The comprehensive leadership of the Communist Party
- The class character of law—meaning that laws express the will of the ruling class
- The flexible interchange of policy and law
- The strong precedence of collective interests over individual rights
Why It Matters: Piloting socialist communes and wards aligns with the goals President Tô Lâm and the Communist Party have recently emphasized.
- However, how the models would operate—and what special arrangements might be involved—remain open questions.
Hoàng Nam wrote this news article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on September 7, 2026. The Vietnamese Magazine translated it into English.
