Vietnam begins closed-door party congress as Tô Lâm set to cement power
Vietnam begins closed-door party congress as Tô Lâm set to cement power
HANOI, Jan 19, 2026 — Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party opened its national congress on Monday, with nearly 1,600 delegates gathering behind closed doors to select top leaders and set policy priorities through 2030. Party chief Tô Lâm, who rose to power in 2024, is widely expected to secure a full term and may seek to combine the party leadership with the state presidency, further consolidating authority. The congress, which runs until Jan 25, is also set to endorse an agenda centred on security and rapid economic expansion, with draft plans targeting annual growth of at least 10%.
