As Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party prepares to convene its 14th National Congress, all eyes are on the selection of the party’s new top leadership, particularly the position of General Secretary. Widely tipped to retain his role is the current General Secretary, Tô Lâm, who has been driving ambitious reforms since taking office in August 2024.
The five-yearly Congress is where the one-party state’s highest-level decisions are made, from economic and foreign policy direction to the election of party leaders, including the coveted role of General Secretary. Tô Lâm, a 68-year-old former police officer, is considered the frontrunner for the top job, which is chosen behind closed doors by party officials.
Since assuming the mantle of General Secretary, Tô Lâm has set his sights on transforming Vietnam into an upper-middle-income, knowledge-and-tech-based economy by 2045. He has pursued policies aimed at administrative reform, national development, and private-sector growth, as well as centralising power and expanding the authority of the police ministry he once headed.
Vietnam’s economy has been steadily growing at over 6% for decades, and the government has set an ambitious target of 10% growth by 2026. However, the country faces significant challenges, including the lingering threat of US tariffs under the Trump administration and the lingering effects of corruption that have toppled the past two presidents.
Despite these hurdles, Vietnam’s one-party socialist system and the policy continuity it offers have made the country an attractive destination for foreign investment, especially as companies seek to diversify their supply chains away from China. Maintaining this momentum in the face of global economic uncertainty will be a key priority for the country’s new leadership.
While Tô Lâm’s reappointment as General Secretary is widely expected, the formation of Vietnam’s new government may take slightly longer than usual. In past years, the process has taken several months, creating a delay between leadership decisions and the formation of a new government. This year, however, the timeline has been shortened, with legislative elections scheduled for March 15 and the new National Assembly set to meet in April to formally appoint the country’s senior leaders.
Ahead of the 14th Congress, reports have emerged that Tô Lâm is seeking to “merge” the two top positions of General Secretary and President into a single role for the next term. This would mirror the temporary arrangements seen in the past, where his predecessor, Nguyen Phu Trong, also held both positions from October 2018 to April 2021.
As Vietnam’s Communist Party prepares to chart its course for the next five years, the selection of its new leadership and the direction of its economic reforms will be closely watched both within the country and on the global stage.
