Former Deputy Prime Minister of the Government and former Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Doan Duy Thanh was a leader who made many important contributions to Vietnam’s economic reform process and the development of the Vietnamese business community.

The career of former Deputy Prime Minister and former VCCI President Doan Duy Thanh was closely associated with important transformations of Viet Nam’s economy during the period of renovation and international integration.

In both his roles in state management and when directly leading an organisation representing the business community, he consistently pursued the goal of creating an open business environment, encouraging production and promoting integration. His passing has left deep sorrow among the business community and those engaged in trade promotion and business support activities.

Born on September 15, 1929, in Cong Hoa commune, Kim Thanh district, Hai Duong province, into a family with a patriotic tradition, he joined the revolution at an early age and matured through many positions. Throughout his career, he was known as a leader with rich practical experience, an innovative mindset, decisiveness, and a consistent priority on the common good.

At the local level, as Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee, he made a strong mark through bold policies aimed at expanding economic development space and improving people’s livelihoods, such as land reclamation projects, the construction of the Dinh Vu dyke, the formation of new residential areas, and the “rural roofing” movement. These flexible and practical approaches contributed to changing the locality’s appearance during a period of many difficulties.

Leaders of the Hanoi Party Committee present the 80-year Party membership badge to former Deputy Prime Minister and former VCCI President Doan Duy Thanh.

When serving as Minister of Foreign Trade, he continued to demonstrate the capability of an economic administrator amid a volatile market environment. Policy decisions such as importing gold to help curb inflation, while gradually eliminating the foreign trade monopoly mechanism and expanding enterprises’ autonomy in import-export activities, helped unblock trade flows and create conditions for production and business development.

In particular, during his tenure as Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers (now Deputy Prime Minister) from 1987 to 1990, he participated in promoting important economic reform policies, removing barriers of the subsidised mechanism and encouraging the development of different economic sectors. These contributions helped lay the foundation for a more open business environment during the renovation period.

Leaders of the Hanoi Party Committee take photos with former Deputy Prime Minister and former VCCI President Doan Duy Thanh and his family.

One of his most prominent and enduring marks was associated with his role as President of VCCI. At a time when Viet Nam’s business community was still young and lacked cohesion and a unified representative voice, he devoted significant efforts to building and developing the organisation in a more professional and effective direction. Under his leadership, VCCI gradually underwent strong transformation, becoming a national organisation gathering and representing the business community, entrepreneurs, employers, and business associations.

Former Deputy Prime Minister and former VCCI President Doan Duy Thanh was a leader who devoted his entire dedication to the development of the country and the business community.

He focused on expanding practical support activities for enterprises, from trade promotion and partnership connection to participating in policy consultation and recommendations to improve the business environment. At the same time, VCCI was also promoted to strengthen international cooperation, build credibility with foreign partners, thereby helping Vietnamese enterprises gain more opportunities to access markets and deepen integration.

With a leadership style that was approachable and close to practical realities, he always listened to the aspirations and difficulties of enterprises and considered business development as a measure of the organisation’s operational effectiveness. The image of a dedicated and responsible leader, persistently protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the business community, has left deep respect among generations of VCCI staff and the business community.

The passing of former Deputy Prime Minister and former VCCI President Doan Duy Thanh is a great loss to Viet Nam’s business community. His enduring contributions to the process of economic renovation and to the growth of VCCI will always be remembered as an important mark in the development journey of the organisation and of Vietnamese enterprises.