Deputy Minister of Finance Le Tan Can attended and delivered a keynote address at the conference.

Attendees at the Vietnam Social Security headquarters included: Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong, Standing Vice Chairman of the Social Security Management Council; Mr. Le Hung Son, Director of Vietnam Social Security; Deputy Directors: Mr. Tran Dinh Lieu, Ms. Dao Viet Anh, Mr. Nguyen Duc Hoa, Mr. Chu Manh Sinh; Mr. Vu Quoc Tuan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee; leaders from several units under the Ministry of Finance, the Social Security Policy Department (Ministry of National Defense), and Vietnam People's Public Security Social Security; as well as leaders of units under VSS with Vietnam Social Security. At the local Social Security branches, representatives included: leaders from the Provincial People's Committees; the Steering Committee for implementing Social Insurance and Health Insurance policies; leaders of local Social Security offices, specialized divisions, and relevant officials.

In his opening speech, Director General  Le Hung Son emphasized that 2026 is the first year for implementing many tasks in line with the spirit of the 14th Party Congress Resolution and the Socio-Economic Development Plan for the 2026-2030 period. Despite many ongoing difficulties, the entire VSS  system has proactively and synchronously implemented solutions with a service-oriented approach centered on people and businesses, determined to complete its assigned responsibilities. The conference serves as an opportunity to objectively assess the achievements of the first six months and to propose key solutions for completing and exceeding the targets for 2026.

At the conference, delegates heard a report evaluating the implementation of tasks in the first six months and outlining the directions and solutions for the last six months of 2026 from VSS. The discussions focused on analyzing outstanding results, identifying existing shortcomings, limitations, and their causes, and sharing valuable experiences, effective models, and successful practices in implementing SI, HI, UI policies across localities.

Leaders from the People's Committees of several provinces and cities, affiliated units of VSS, local social security offices, and grassroots social security agencies provided information on the implementation of SI & HI policies in their respective areas and sectors. They also proposed numerous solutions to overcome difficulties and obstacles, enhance the effectiveness of participant development, fund management, administrative procedure reform, digital transformation, and ensure the rights and benefits of participants.

Many outstanding achievements in all areas of work

Based on the report presented and the discussions at the conference, Mr.Le Tan Can affirmed in his keynote remarks that although the first six months of 2026 were marked by numerous challenges, VSS system had, through proactive leadership, strong determination and a high sense of responsibility, turned those challenges into motivation, successfully accomplishing and, in many cases, completing ahead of schedule for key targets and tasks. Reviewing the results achieved, the Deputy Minister highly appreciated seven outstanding achievements of VSS during the reporting period.

First, VSS proactively and effectively advised on improving the legal and policy framework governing SI, HI, and UI. According to the Deputy Minister, institutional reform is one of the three strategic breakthroughs identified by the 14th National Party Congress. VSS promptly advised the Ministry of Finance on the promulgation of key circulars regulating SI, HI and UI. Although this was the first time VSS had assumed the lead role in drafting numerous circulars, its affiliated units completed the work on schedule while ensuring high quality and practical applicability. The new regulations are closely aligned with administrative procedure reform, information technology application and digital transformation, helping address practical implementation issues and further improve policies to better serve citizens and businesses.

Second, coverage of SI, HI and UI continued to expand, with six-month targets completed or exceeded ahead of schedule. By the end of June 2026, the number of SI participants nationwide had reached 22.23 million, while 17.56 million people were enrolled in UI and 98.68 million in HI. Total SI, HI and UI collections reached 54.2% of the annual target assigned by the Prime Minister. The Deputy Minister noted that if this growth momentum is maintained, VSS is well positioned to surpass its 2026 targets, creating an important foundation for achieving universal SI & HI coverage as well as the country's socio-economic development objectives for the 2026–2030 period.

Third, financial management and the management and investment of the SI, HI and UI funds were carried out prudently and in full compliance with regulations, ensuring safety, efficiency and long-term sustainability. The Deputy Minister highlighted that more than VND 122 trillion had been invested in Government bonds during the first six months of the year, equivalent to 64.3% of the annual investment plan. This not only safeguarded the SI & HI funds but also contributed to the development of the capital market and supported the Government's goal of achieving double-digit economic growth.

Fourth, VSS effectively administered SI and UI benefits while implementing HI policy in a manner that safeguarded the rights and interests of participants and beneficiaries. The Deputy Minister acknowledged that benefits were settled  in an increasingly timely and comprehensive manner, with administrative procedures streamlined to enhance efficiency and convenience. VSS is currently paying monthly pensions and SI benefits to more than 3.5 million beneficiaries nationwide, with over 90% receiving payments through personal bank accounts. At the same time, the HI scheme covered more than 94.4 million healthcare visits during the first half of 2026.

Fifth, VSS effectively implemented risk management in the administration of contributions, benefit payments and the use of the SI, HI and UI funds. According to the Deputy Minister, VSS has established an integrated and interconnected data system, developed risk identification criteria within its operational software and HI assessment system, and strengthened remote monitoring through digital data. These measures help ensure accurate, sufficient and timely collection of contributions while safeguarding participants' entitlements and promoting transparent, efficient and prudent management of the funds despite limited resources.

Sixth, significant progress continued to be made in administrative reform, information technology application, digital transformation, and data connectivity and sharing. The Deputy Minister described these achievements as an important foundation for improving the experience and satisfaction of citizens and businesses in their interactions with VSS and its local offices. VSS now maintains only 25 administrative procedures, all of which are fully available online. Numerous documentary requirements, forms and processing times have been substantially reduced, contributing to the development of a modern public administration that delivers faster, more comprehensive and more convenient services.

Seventh, VSS successfully implemented organizational restructuring and streamlining in accordance with the Party's policy directions and the guidance of the Government and the Ministry of Finance. Despite a substantial workload and ongoing human resource constraints, the entire VSS system continued to operate smoothly while reviewing and streamlining its organizational structure and reforming staff performance assessment as well as emulation and commendation mechanisms based on measurable performance indicators and concrete results. The Deputy Minister emphasized that these efforts provide an important foundation for building a leaner, more professional organization with higher productivity, quality and operational effectiveness.

Commenting on the overall achievements, Deputy Minister Le Tan Can, on behalf of the Ministry of Finance's leadership, commended and recognized the efforts of the entire VSS system during the first half of 2026. He also expressed his appreciation to local Party committees and authorities for their continued attention to and direction of the implementation of SI, HI and UI policies, as well as for introducing various support mechanisms to encourage public participation, thereby contributing to the expansion of social protection coverage nationwide.

Indentifying challenges and focus on six key task groups

Alongside the positive results achieved, Mr.Le Tan Can pointed out that, amid the country's increasingly demanding socio-economic development context, VSS system’s tasks in the remaining six months of 2026 and in the years ahead will be substantial. Expanding coverage of SI, HI and UI, ensuring the safety and sustainability of the funds, improving service quality for citizens and businesses, and accelerating digital transformation will require the entire system to pursue stronger innovation and more decisive leadership, management and implementation.

To ensure the comprehensive fulfilment of the 2026 objectives, the Deputy Minister called on VSS to focus on six key priorities.

First, VSS should continue to regard policy and institutional development for SI, HI and UI as a strategic priority for the entire sector. According to the Deputy Minister, achieving broader insurance coverage, particularly the goal of universal HI, will require VSS to proactively review shortcomings arising from practical implementation and promptly advise on and propose policy and regulatory improvements that meet the demands of the new development stage.

Second, VSS should keep reviewing, restructuring and streamlining its organizational apparatus while improving the quality of its workforce. It should further reform the performance evaluation system for officials and public employees to ensure assessments are objective, results-based and linked to measurable performance indicators. At the same time, efforts should be made to develop a leadership team equipped with modern governance capabilities to meet the evolving needs of both the country and the social security system.

Third, building on the achievements of the first half of the year, VSS should continue implementing comprehensive measures to expand SI, HI and UI coverage. The Deputy Minister stressed the importance of closely following the Government's and the Prime Minister's resolutions and action programmes, while clearly defining the responsibilities of each unit and locality to ensure that participant development targets for 2026 are achieved and exceeded.

Fourth, VSS should further strengthen the safe, sustainable and efficient management and utilization of the SI, HI and UI funds. This includes continuing to improve fund management mechanisms, regularly updating risk identification criteria, and enhancing the capacity to forecast the medium- and long-term financial balance of the funds to support evidence-based policymaking.

Fifth, VSS should continue placing citizens and businesses at the centre of service delivery by further advancing administrative procedure reform, shortening application processing times, and strengthening data sharing, connectivity and interoperability across specialized information systems. These efforts will provide a solid foundation for digital transformation while enhancing governance efficiency and service quality.

Sixth, VSS should continue to adopt a more proactive, innovative and flexible approach to coordination with units under the Ministry of Finance, promptly addressing difficulties and implementation bottlenecks to ensure the successful fulfilment of its assigned political tasks.

Affirming the pivotal role of VSS in implementing two key pillars of the national social protection system—SI & HI—Deputy Minister Le Tan Can expressed confidence that, building on its tradition of solidarity, responsibility and innovation, together with the achievements already attained, the entire VSS system will successfully accomplish all targets assigned by the Party, the Government and the Ministry of Finance for 2026 and the 2026–2030 period, thereby making an important contribution to the country's goals of rapid, sustainable development and improved living standards for the people.

On behalf of the leadership, public employees and staff across the Vietnam Social Security (VSS) system, VSS’s Director General Le Hung Son expressed his sincere appreciation for the guidance provided by the Deputy Minister of Finance and affirmed that VSS would fully and seriously incorporate all of the Deputy Minister's directives into its work. The Director General emphasized that the Ministry's guidance would be translated into concrete action programmes, implementation plans and practical measures across the system during the second half of the year to ensure the successful fulfilment of all assigned targets and tasks.

Drawing on both the achievements and the remaining challenges identified during the first six months of 2026, VSS has identified four key lessons to further improve the implementation of its tasks.

First, VSS will continue to proactively align the implementation of SI, UI and HI policies with the guidelines of the Party, the resolutions of the National Assembly, and the direction of the Government and the Ministry of Finance. At the same time, it will strengthen the engagement of local Party committees, authorities and relevant departments and agencies in implementing SI, UI and HI policies at the local level.

Second, VSS will reinforce responsibility in developing, improving a coherent legal and policy framework for SI, UI and HI. It will proactively propose solutions to remove legal and institutional bottlenecks in order to enhance policy implementation. The development and refinement of institutions and legislation will continue to be regarded as a core, long-term and ongoing task for the entire system.

Third, VSS will continue to improve organizational effectiveness and operational efficiency by clearly defining responsibilities in accordance with the principle that each task should be assigned to a single lead unit. Performance evaluation, emulation and commendation mechanisms will be further reformed to ensure substantiveness, based on measurable indicators and concrete results, thereby motivating both individuals and organizational units to improve performance and achieve sustainable development.

Fourth, VSS will continue to prioritize the upgrading and development of its information technology infrastructure, software applications and databases to ensure seamless connectivity, interoperability and information security in support of the effective implementation of SI, UI and HI policies across the entire VSS system.

Emphasizing that the workload in the coming period remains considerable, Director General Le Hung Son affirmed that the entire VSS system would continue to uphold its tradition of solidarity and responsibility while strictly implementing the direction of the Ministry of Finance. He expressed confidence that the system would successfully accomplish all political tasks assigned for 2026, thereby contributing to the country's socio-economic development while ensuring social protection.