Vietnam has entered a new political phase with little noise and even less debate. At the Communist Party Congress in January 2026, To Lam secured another five years as the country’s top leader in a process so smooth it revealed how tightly power is now held at the center.
A former security chief, Lam already occupies the most powerful position in Vietnam’s system. If he also assumes the presidency, as many expect, two of the country’s highest offices would sit with one man. That is unusual in Vietnam’s traditionally collective leadership model and signals a shift toward more centralized rule.
This matters because Vietnam is attempting something unusually ambitious at the same time. Lam has pledged to push the economy toward 10% annual growth through 2030 and move the country beyond its role as a low-cost manufacturing base. Achieving that requires faster decisions, a stronger private sector, and significant institutional change. It also
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