Vietnam leader To Lam consolidates power as country targets 10% growth

"To Lam was reelected Friday as general secretary of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party and appears poised to become the country's most powerful figure in decades, with analysts expecting him to assume the presidency in a break from Vietnam's tradition of collective leadership. Lam, 68, pledged to accelerate economic growth and was reappointed unanimously by the 180-member Central Committee at the conclusion of the National Party Congress that ran from Monday through Friday."

"The Congress was shaped by the central question of whether Vietnam can transform itself into a high-income economy by 2045, setting a target of 10% or higher annual growth from 2026 to 2030. Party leaders say this will require moving beyond cheap labor and export-led growth toward productivity, technology and a stronger private sector. "We must achieve double-digit growth to reach the set goals," Lam said."

"Lam's reappointment caps the rise of a career policeman who climbed from the security services to the apex of Vietnam's political system. His ascent was propelled by a sweeping anti-corruption campaign launched under his predecessor, Nguyen Phu Trong, which Lam oversaw as head of the powerful Ministry of Public Security. That sidelined or removed dozens of senior officials including two former presidents and Vietnam's parliamentary head, dramatically reshaping the party's balance of power."

To Lam was reelected general secretary and is positioned to become Vietnam's most powerful leader, with analysts expecting him to assume the presidency. The newly elected 19-member Politburo strongly suggests further concentration of authority, a model comparable to power structures in China and Laos, which could speed decision-making but risk weakening intra-party checks and complicating succession. The Party set a long-term goal of transforming Vietnam into a high-income economy by 2045, targeting 10% or higher annual growth from 2026–2030 and calling for a shift from cheap labor and export-led growth toward productivity, technology and a stronger private sector. Lam rose through security services and led an anti-corruption campaign that sidelined senior officials.

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