Vietnam’s Communist Party Secretary General To Lam was unanimously elected president by the National Assembly for a five-year term, elevating him to the country’s most powerful leadership position in decades.
Speaking after his swearing-in, Lam said his immediate priority is to preserve peace and stability, which he called the foundation for rapid, sustainable economic growth. “We aim to improve people’s livelihoods so all can share the benefits of development,” he added.
According to the parliament’s website, all 495 deputies present at Tuesday’s session endorsed the Party’s nomination; five lawmakers were absent. Lawmakers are set to vote later the same day on a new prime minister to succeed outgoing Pham Minh Chinh.
Lam’s elevation marks a notable shift in Vietnam’s political arrangement, where the roles of party secretary and state president have typically been held by separate individuals. The consolidation of these positions brings Vietnam’s leadership model closer to that of China under Xi Jinping and to Laos.
Analysts warn the concentration of power in a single figure could deepen authoritarian tendencies in the one-party state, even as it may enable faster decision-making similar to that seen in China.
Since becoming party chief less than two years ago, Lam has moved swiftly to reshape Vietnam’s governance, sidelining rivals and implementing an aggressive reform agenda. He has merged provinces, eliminated eight ministries, reduced bureaucracy, and pushed large infrastructure projects.
Lam has proposed a “new growth model” designed to speed up decision-making and stimulate the private sector, with an aim of achieving double-digit annual growth over the next five years. He has also emphasized a priority on defense self-reliance alongside his economic goals.
Lam described his dual role as a “huge honor” and a “sacred and noble duty,” reiterating his stated objectives of maintaining stability, promoting rapid and sustainable national development, and improving all aspects of citizens’ lives.
Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher