Vietnam: Communist Party ends congress with re-election of To Lam

After five days of programming, the Communist Party of Vietnam (PCV) concluded this Friday (23) its 14th National Congress with the unanimous re-election of To Lam as general secretary. It was one of the largest congresses in the history of the party, which brought together 1,586 delegates at the National Convention Center in Hanoi. The motto of this edition was “Unity – Democracy – Discipline – Innovation – Development”.

To Lam, former president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, has been at the head of the PCV since 2024. “On behalf of the newly elected 14th Central Committee, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the trust that Congress has placed in us. It is a great honor and responsibility”, declared the leader. “We will fight with all our strength, with all our heart and with all our energy to serve the noble cause of the party, the revolution and the people.”

According to the secretary general, the elected leadership, made up of 180 members, is committed to “continuing to build and firmly strengthen an integral and strong party”. In 2026, the historic legend, founded by the revolutionary Ho Chi Minh on February 3, 1930, turns 96 years old. With 5.6 million members, the PCV is the third largest communist party in the world, behind only the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Workers’ Party of Korea (PTC).

The Resolution of the 14th Congress, also passed unanimously, emphasized the challenge of leading Vietnam “toward the development of a strong and prosperous nation in the new era.” The country has consistently recorded robust rates of economic growth. According to the government, Vietnam’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) jumped 8% in 2025, the highest rate in Southeast Asia. For 2026, the official target is to grow 10%.

These indices are essential for the PCV to be able to achieve the main strategic objectives of the socialist government: to make Vietnam a “developing country with modern industry and upper middle income by 2030” – and, subsequently, “to become a developed country with high income by 2045”.

“The path ahead holds many important tasks, which require great determination, rigorous discipline and tireless effort,” To Lam told the elected leadership – the 14th Central Committee of the PCV –, which met shortly after the end of the Congress. In addition to the general secretary, the leaders elected the party’s new secretariat. The management’s mandate will extend until 2031.

Since its opening, the 14th PCV Congress has demonstrated party unity and strength. For the President of the Republic, Luong Cuong, it was a historic milestone for Vietnamese communists.

“The Congress expresses the will, aspirations and determination of the entire party, the people and the armed forces, with a spirit of strategic self-sufficiency, resilience and confidence”, said Luong Cuong. Regarding the “new era”, the president projects “a peaceful, independent, democratic, prosperous, civilized and happy Vietnam, which moves decisively towards socialism”.

International delegations present at the Congress highlighted the successes achieved by Vietnam. According to the local press, the PCV received “339 congratulatory letters and telegrams, including from 58 political parties, 11 international and regional organizations, 62 individuals, 120 popular and local organizations abroad and 88 Vietnamese associations abroad”.

This Friday afternoon, Congress delegates and guests will follow the artistic presentation “Under the Glorious Flag of the Party”, at the My Dinh National Stadium. This agenda aims to celebrate the 14th Congress and open the celebrations of the PCV’s 96th anniversary.