Hanoi, 23 January 2026 – Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party has confirmed Tô Lam as its General Secretary for the next five-year term, solidifying his position as the country’s most powerful political leader. The decision, reflected in official titling at a press event concluding the party’s 14th National Congress, marks a continuation of leadership continuity and signals policy stability in the one-party state.
Lam, who first became party chief in mid-2024, succeeding the late Nguyễn Phú Trọng, has now secured affirmation from the party’s central committee, a body elected by some 1,600 delegates representing millions of party members, to lead through 2030. Although a formal public announcement had yet to be issued at the time of reporting, the party’s internal documents and official communications indicate that Lam will continue to hold the top post.
The five-yearly party congress, which convenes under tight internal security measures in the capital city of Hanoi, also chooses other key leadership figures, elects the central committee, and sets strategic priorities that will guide Vietnam’s political and economic direction through the end of the decade.
Lam’s leadership comes amid efforts to balance rapid economic growth objectives with social and geopolitical challenges. At the congress, delegates outlined ambitious plans to sustain growth well above historical trends while navigating elevated global trade tensions and structural economic reforms.
Observers say the reaffirmation of Lam’s leadership reflects consolidated support within the party and a desire for strong policy continuity, even as Vietnam prepares for a legislative election scheduled for March 2026 that will shape its formal state institutions for the next legislative term.
