The Vietnamese Communist Party held its major congress to choose new leaders, with "To Lam" the front-runner to continue as general secretary amid pressures from corruption, Trump-era tax policies, and a strong 10% growth target for 2026.
On 19 January 2026, BBC News reported that the 14th National Congress of the Vietnamese Communist Party, held from 19 to 23 January, serves as the supreme power forum of the one-party state. It will decide the country's most crucial position: the party's general secretary, who leads both the party and the state.
Sources and analysts agree that 68-year-old To Lam, the current party general secretary, remains the top favorite to be re-elected through the party's internal secret decision process. To Lam assumed the general secretary role on 3 August 2024, succeeding Nguyen Phu Trong, the former top leader who passed away in July that year.
Analysts observe that Vietnam still faces major challenges, including corruption and pressure from US President Donald Trump's tax policies. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese government has set an ambitious economic growth target of 10% for 2026, up from a long-term average of over 6%, which experts consider highly challenging.
This congress included over 1,600 party delegates endorsing a five-year policy document and electing about 200 central committee members. These members will further select 17 to 19 Politburo members, including the general secretary, through a process without political competition. The new top leadership will be announced on the congress's final day, with the general secretary delivering the closing speech.
Source: BBC