To Lam Secures Unanimous Five‑Year Term as Party General Secretary The 68‑year‑old was re‑elected unanimously by the 180‑member Central Committee at the National Party Congress, granting him a five‑year mandate over the Communist Party and the armed forces. The congress did not announce whether he will also assume the presidency, leaving the power‑consolidation question open. Delegates also approved a new Politburo slate, reinforcing his reformist allies [2][3][4].

Reform Agenda Emphasizes Merit, Private Sector, and High‑Income Goal In his opening speech Lam pledged a merit‑based leadership model, stressing integrity, talent and competence as criteria for officials. The party resolution set a target of becoming a high‑income economy by 2045, with double‑digit growth sought through 2030 and a push to double the number of private firms by that date. Resolution 68 earmarks national‑champion “leading cranes” and aims for about 20 globally competitive private companies by 2030 [2][4][5][6].

Anti‑Corruption Campaign Reshapes Politburo and Bureaucracy Lam’s “blazing furnace” anti‑corruption drive has removed six of the 18 Politburo members, including two former presidents, and triggered a purge of at least 100,000 civil servants. The campaign coincided with a sweeping bureaucratic overhaul that halved the number of provinces and abolished several ministries to streamline governance. Observers note the crackdown has both consolidated Lam’s authority and raised concerns about political repression [2][3][4].

North Korea Sends Congratulatory Message Highlighting Expanded Bilateral Ties Kim Jong‑un sent a congratulatory note on 25 January praising Lam’s reelection and his return as general secretary, calling it a sign of deep trust. The message referenced the 2025 agreement to deepen cooperation and recalled Lam’s October 2025 visit to the Workers’ Party of Korea’s 80th‑anniversary parade, the first Vietnamese leader in North Korea since 2007. Kim expressed confidence that “friendly and cooperative relations … will expand and develop substantially in all fields” [1].

External Pressures Include U.S. Tariffs Threatening Export‑Led Growth Vietnam’s growth model remains heavily dependent on foreign‑owned manufacturing and access to the U.S. market, where tariffs on Vietnamese goods sit at roughly 20 percent. Analysts warn that rising U.S. protectionism and broader geopolitical tensions could curtail export demand and jeopardize the double‑digit growth targets. The government’s strategy of diversifying markets and supporting national champions seeks to mitigate these headwinds [3][4][6].