Vietnam’s National Assembly has unanimously selected Communist Party General Secretary To Lam to serve as the nation’s president for the next five years, according to parliamentary officials following Tuesday’s vote.
This expected decision represents a departure from Vietnam’s longstanding tradition of shared leadership among multiple officials, concentrating power under a single leader in a manner that experts believe could push the communist nation toward increased authoritarian control, while potentially allowing for quicker policy decisions similar to neighboring China.
National Assembly members approved Lam’s selection after the Communist Party formally nominated him during meetings concluded in late March.
The 68-year-old former public security chief now holds dual authority to govern Vietnam for five years ahead, having already secured his second term as general secretary this past January.
“Concentrating greater power in To Lam’s hands could pose risks to Vietnam’s political system, such as increased authoritarianism,” stated Le Hong Hiep, senior fellow at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.
Nevertheless, this power concentration “could enable Vietnam to formulate and implement policies more quickly and effectively,” which would support economic expansion, he noted.
The merging of these two positions “will shift Vietnam’s domestic politics to a new normal where most of the old assumptions about Vietnam’s politics, including those about collective leadership, are no longer valid,” explained Alexander Vuving from the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in the United States.
Lam previously occupied both roles temporarily following the 2024 death of former party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
Despite transferring the presidency to army general Luong Cuong, Lam continued functioning as though he maintained the position, conducting extensive international travel and representing Vietnam in diplomatic meetings with foreign officials.
During his initial tenure as party leader, Lam introduced comprehensive economic reforms aimed at enhancing Vietnam’s competitiveness, generating both support and opposition.
Following his reappointment as party chief, Lam pledged to achieve double-digit economic growth through a fresh development strategy reducing dependence on low-cost manufacturing, which has historically driven Vietnam’s export-focused economic success under foreign multinational leadership.
While Lam’s initiatives have occasionally created uncertainty within government circles and business communities, he has demonstrated practical adaptability in their implementation.
He has supported private conglomerate expansion, though prior to his reappointment, he also released guidance emphasizing state-owned enterprises’ primary importance to satisfy party traditionalists.
International investors, who play a crucial role in Vietnam’s export-dependent economy, frequently commend the nation’s political stability and view Lam as business-friendly. However, his support for domestic champions and aggressive growth targets have sparked concerns among some regarding preferential treatment, corruption possibilities, asset inflation, and resource misallocation.
Regarding international relations, Lam has maintained a practical approach.
He has preserved Vietnam’s “Bamboo Diplomacy” strategy while working to maintain balanced relationships with major global powers and expanding international partnerships.
“Lam’s double-hat would not signal any changes in Vietnam’s foreign policy, even if there are concerns that Vietnam is concentrating more power in a single individual,” said Khang Vu, a visiting scholar at Boston College.
