Ho Chi Minh's Thoughts on Public Welfare and People-Centered Development

Ho Chi Minh's Thoughts on the State of the People, By the People, For the People: Focusing on Public Welfare

Ho Chi Minh, the iconic leader of Vietnam, believed deeply in the importance of public welfare and the role it played in the overall well-being of the people. As the father of the Vietnam nation, he held the belief that the government should ensure the prosperity and welfare of its citizens, treating them as the center of all development strategies.

Public Welfare in Ho Chi Minh's Thought

In the context of post-war reconstruction, Ho Chi Minh saw public welfare as a means to address the challenges faced by the Vietnamese population. He encouraged the government and agricultural cooperatives to assist the struggling families with suitable jobs, determined not to let them go hungry. This stance reflects his commitment to addressing poverty and promoting social equity, which remains central to his enduring legacy.

The 13th Party Congress declared that people are indeed the center of all development strategies. However, realizing this vision required the Party and State to focus on enhancing and protecting human rights, including welfare and social security. Additionally, the renovation of the socialist rule of law state has emerged as essential to ensure institutionalization, respect, and promotion of the people's empowerment, control over state power, and prevention of corruption and moral degradation.

In terms of the market economy, Ho Chi Minh urged the Party and State to pay attention to all social classes, associating economic growth with the realization of social progress and justice in each step and development policy. He advocated extending social policies to foster equality, striving to ensure that no one is left behind. These principles, in line with the ideologies of sustainable, inclusive, and harmonious development, resonate with contemporary global agendas, such as the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-2030).

Ho Chi Minh desired a society where citizens had access to basic necessities, such as food, clothing, and education, for everyone, regardless of their social status or background. Notwithstanding his monumental contributions in establishing a sense of community and shared purpose among the Vietnamese people, his ideology continues to inspire and guide the country's development trajectory today.