Archive · 12 Jan 2026
Vietnam's Communist Party Congress to Pick Leaders
Vietnam's Communist Party is having a big meeting to choose new leaders and decide important goals for the next five years.
About 1,600 people will vote to pick around 200 officials, who will then choose the most powerful group of leaders.
The current leader, To Lam, wants to keep his job and maybe take on another important role.
The party wants Vietnam to grow its economy quickly and become a richer country.
They also want to balance relationships with big countries like China, the U.S., and Russia.
The party has been in charge of Vietnam since 1954 and doesn't allow any other political parties.
Vietnam's Communist Party will hold its 14th five-yearly congress from January 19-25 to select new leaders and set policy goals.
Current party chief To Lam seeks to retain his position and possibly combine it with the presidency, aligning Vietnam's political structure more closely with China's.
The congress will elect 200 members to the Central Committee, which will then select the 17-19 members of the Politburo, the party's most powerful body.
Vietnam aims for annual economic growth of at least 10% from 2026-2030 and plans to increase public spending to fund infrastructure and development projects.
The party operates through collective decision-making, ensuring stability in economic and foreign policy, and maintains a balancing act in ties with major powers.
- Who
- Vietnam's Communist Party, led by To Lam
- What
- A five-yearly congress to select new leaders and set policy goals
- When
- January 19-25, 2024
- Where
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Why
- To ensure stability and continuity in economic and foreign policy, and to set targets for the next five years
- Congress Dates
- January 19-25, 2024
- Delegates
- 1,600
- Party Members Represented
- 5 million
- Central Committee Members
- 200
- Politburo Members
- 17-19
- Economic Growth Target (2026-2030)
- 10% annually
- Budget Deficit (2026-2030)
- 5% of GDP
- Party Founded
- 1930