Vietnamese Political Culture: Structure, Role, and Development Orientation in the New Era

This article examines the structure and role of Vietnamese political culture in the context of the country’s new stage of development, with reference to the orientations set out in the Draft Political Report submitted to the Fourteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Applying an interdisciplinary approach that integrates Marxist–Leninist theory, Ho Chi Minh Thought, and contemporary political culture studies, the article conceptualizes political culture not only as a spiritual foundation but also as an internal resource, a soft regulatory mechanism, and a driving force for sustainable development. On this basis, the study proposes a three-tier analytical framework of Vietnamese political culture, encompassing values and ideology, norms and political behavior, and institutions and governance culture. Drawing on a synthesis of theoretical perspectives and an analysis of Vietnam’s Renovation experience from 1986 to 2025, the article clarifies the dialectical relationship between political culture, institutional quality, governance effectiveness, and social trust. The findings indicate that Vietnamese political culture is undergoing a gradual transformation from a mobilization-oriented model to a development- and creativity-oriented model, reflecting the interplay among national traditions, socialist ideals, and modern governance principles. The article also outlines policy implications for institutionalizing political-culture values, strengthening political culture within governance institutions, and supporting Vietnam’s development goals through 2030 and the strategic vision for 2045.