Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party will convene under strict security on Monday for a congress that could reinforce the authority of General Secretary To Lam and shape the country’s economic and security priorities for the next five years. The week-long event, held every five years behind opaque rules, will select the party’s top leadership and set the direction for a nation that is rapidly modernizing while tightening its political controls.
About 1,600 delegates will gather in Hanoi to elect a 200-person Central Committee, which will then choose up to 19 members of the Politburo—the elite body from which the country’s general secretary is selected. Lam, 68, who assumed the party’s most powerful role following the death of his predecessor Nguyen Phu Trong in July 2024, is widely expected to retain his position and may also seek the state presidency, officials briefed on the matter said. The presidency has recently been held by a military leader, and any decision on that role is expected to be made at a later meeting where outcomes are even less certain.
While Lam’s confirmation as general secretary appears likely, the congress remains an arena where surprises cannot be entirely ruled out. After the congress concludes, the Politburo will nominate the heads of state, government, and Parliament, with parliamentary elections only taking place after the party has already chosen the country’s leaders. In a system that allows no opposition, the congress is the central mechanism through which power is transferred and consolidated, making it the most consequential political event in Vietnam.
Lam has emerged as a risk-taking leader who has pushed through sweeping reforms in his brief tenure as party chief. He introduced a major administrative overhaul that eliminated tens of thousands of bureaucratic positions in a bid to speed decision-making. While the full impact of the cuts remains unclear as officials adjust, the reform has already shortened approval timelines for some investment projects, signaling a drive to make Vietnam more competitive for foreign capital.
The acceleration of economic activity is tied to Lam’s scaling back of the anti-corruption campaign that was a signature initiative of his predecessor. The anti-graft drive, which Lam helped lead as public security minister, had sought to tackle entrenched bribery and corruption but at times stalled government operations and toppled senior figures, including two presidents. By easing the campaign, Lam has cleared the path for more decisive governance, though critics warn it could open the door to favoritism and waste.
Lam has also pushed forward ambitious economic reforms and infrastructure projects that have won him support from foreign investors. Yet his tenure has also been marked by a deepening crackdown on dissent. The security forces have been strengthened, and controls over media and dissidents have tightened, reinforcing the party’s insistence on maintaining strict political stability even as it seeks rapid economic growth.
The congress will also refine the text of a key resolution to be approved by the end of the meeting, which is scheduled to wrap up on January 25. The draft resolution released in October signals the party’s priorities: a renewed focus on security and a bold growth agenda. It sets a target of at least 10% annual growth over the next five years, a sharp rise from the 6.5% to 7.0% goal that was missed in the first half of the decade. The draft emphasizes diplomacy and defense in what it describes as a “more dangerous” world, and it calls for strengthening defense forces, particularly in border regions.
Security is referenced repeatedly in the draft text, reflecting the party’s determination to fortify the state against internal and external threats. Environmental protection, increasingly debated in Vietnam’s heavily polluted cities, has also been elevated in importance, according to Politburo member Nguyen Xuan Thang, suggesting that the party is seeking to balance economic expansion with growing public concerns over pollution and sustainability.
