The 10-year socio-economic development strategy (2011-2020) is coming to the fi nal years with high expectations for key achievements while maintaining the results of the previous period, such as poverty reduction for a middle-income country. Although still at a lower middleincome level, Vietnam’s economy is oriented for a new strategic period of 2021-2030, with new opportunities and a new mindset to overcome the middle-income trap for a nation of prosperity and upper middle-income by 2030. This paper discusses some major development directions, regarding institutions, growth models, resources, and driving forces to realize these aspirational goals. Received 2 October 2019
published 18 December 2019