Vietnam's To Lam re-elected Party General Secretary

A day earlier, the 14th National Party Congress re-elected General Secretary To Lam and nine other members of the 13th Politburo to the 14th Party Central Committee.

Party General Secretary To Lam. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

To Lam, 69, is from Hung Yen Province. He has served as a member of the Party Central Committee for four consecutive terms, from the 11th to the 14th, and as a member of the Politburo for three terms, from the 12th to the 14th. He has also been a National Assembly deputy for two terms, the 14th and 15th.

He studied at the Central Police School, now the People's Security Academy, and began his career in the political security forces. He later held senior positions within the Ministry of Public Security, including head of Security Department 1. He served as deputy minister of public security for six years before being appointed minister in April 2016.

In early 2019, he was promoted to the rank of general, becoming the fourth officer in the history of the Vietnam's People's Public Security force to hold the highest rank.

In May 2024, he was elected State President by the National Assembly. Three months later, he was elected Party General Secretary by the 13th Party Central Committee. He held both positions concurrently for two months and has served solely as Party General Secretary since October 2024.

During his time as Party leader, the Party Central Committee, Politburo and Secretariat have issued a series of major policy decisions, including a large-scale restructuring of the political and administrative system.

Since early 2025, multiple Party, government and National Assembly agencies have been merged and streamlined. In the first half of 2025, the number of provinces and centrally run cities nationwide was reduced from 63 to 34. The number of communes and wards was cut from 10,035 to 3,321, including special administrative units. District-level administrations were abolished, and district-level courts and procuracies were reorganized into regional institutions.

Party General Secretary To Lam has said that the "reordering of the country's administrative landscape" was a strategic decision of historic significance, reflecting the Party and State's strong commitment to administrative reform. He said the move opens a new phase of national development with a vision extending at least 100 years into the future.

The Politburo under his leadership has issued nine resolutions covering areas such as science and technology development, economic policy, legal reform, healthcare and cultural affairs. Among them are policies recognizing the private sector as a key driver of the economy, affirming the leading role of the state sector, and setting a target of basic free healthcare for all citizens from 2030. The Politburo has also designated Nov. 24 Vietnam Culture Day which is to be observed as a paid public holiday.

Party leader To Lam has stressed: "Science and technology, innovation and digital transformation are not merely options but a vital path to rapid and sustainable development. They are the golden key to realizing Vietnam's aspiration to become a strong and prosperous nation by 2045."

In his opening address at the five-day 14th National Party Congress this week, he said: "We have every reason to be confident that with a high level of unity in thinking, decisive action, strict discipline, and with the people truly at the center, we will turn aspiration into reality, lead the country forward strongly and steadily in this era of national renewal, and advance toward socialism."