From four pillars to five: Vietnam reshapes its collective leadership model
With the elevation of the standing member of the Secretariat, the Communist Party of Vietnam is restructuring its top leadership while keeping collective rule intact.
The structure of Vietnam’s top leadership has long centered on the long-established “Four Pillars”: the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), the state president, the prime minister, and the chairperson of the National Assembly. But this arrangement has now been expanded into a “Five Pillars” structure, following a new regulation issued by the CPV’s Central Committee on September 8.
Regulation No. 368-QD/TW adds the standing member of the Secretariat to the list of “key Party and State leaders,” officially recognizing the post as a “fifth pillar.” The new regulation replaces Politburo Conclusion No. 35, dated May 5, 2022, which previously standardized the leadership roles within the political apparatus. As noted in the earlier framework, the standing member of the Secretariat was classified as a “senior Party and State leader,” sitting just below the “Four Pillars.”
Within the CPV system, the standing member of the Secretariat is an important post, filled from among the Party’s most senior and trusted cadres. Regulation 214-QD/TW 2020 describes this person as a “unifying center” within the Central Committee, Politburo, and Secretariat, with a sharp political-theoretical understanding of both domestic and foreign affairs. In particular, the candidate must “have substantial experience in Party-building and system-building activities” – qualities that make the position central to succession planning and leadership continuity.
Even before Regulation No. 368, the standing member of the Secretariat was already considered the de facto “fifth pillar,” overseeing the CPV’s day-to-day affairs and possessing the authority to “inspect and supervise personnel management under the authorization of the Politburo.” In practice, the role functions much like a “deputy general secretary” in Vietnam’s system of one-party leadership.
This position has also served as a springboard to higher office. Several past holders of this senior leadership position, including Truong Tan Sang, Vo Van Thuong, and Luong Cuong, later became state presidents. The 2021-2026 term, however, has seen unprecedented turnover in the pose, which has been filled by Vo Van Thuong and Truong Thi Mai, followed by Luong Cuong and now Tran Cam Tu.
This churn has been a result of the CPV’s “burning furnace” anti-corruption drive, which was ignited by late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Both Vo Van Thuong and Truong Thi Mai were dismissed for “violations and shortcomings” that “left a bad mark on the reputation of the Communist Party.” Thuong resigned as president in March 2024 after just over a year in office, while Mai, the first woman to hold the Secretariat’s top role since 1976, was removed in May 2024 for earlier misconduct dating back to the 2016-2021 term. Her ouster was notable, as she had once been touted as a contender for parliamentary chair or state president.
The dismissal of Thuong and Mai – two top-ranking officials – has cast a shadow over the Party’s legitimacy. The unprecedented shakeup in the CPV’s upper echelons since the 13th National Congress has raised questions about leadership credibility and continuity, just as preparations intensify for the 14th National Congress, slated for early 2026.
For years, standing members of the Secretariat have regularly appeared alongside the “Four Pillars” at key CPV Central Committee meetings. In March 2022, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong chaired a high-level meeting to review domestic and global developments in the first two months of the year. Attending with the “Four Pillars” was Standing Member of the Secretariat Vo Van Thuong, who often occupied the front row and was regarded as Trong’s protégé. Similarly, in June 2024, Standing Member of the Secretariat Luong Cuong joined the top leaders in gatherings of the “Four Pillars.”
With Tran Cam Tu now earning recognition as one of Vietnam’s most powerful leaders, observers are watching his rise and performance closely. The ascent of Tu can be attributed to his long service and his political alignment with General Secretary To Lam.
Appointed as a standing member of the Secretariat in October 2024, Tu quickly gained Lam’s backing. At his inauguration, Lam declared that the Politburo had “complete confidence” in Tu, citing his “deep expertise and a lot of working experience” and extensive leadership experience at both central and local levels. That confidence likely stems from Tu’s key role in the anti-corruption crusade that Lam led for years as the minister of public security. As chairman of the CPV Central Inspection Commission, Tu oversaw numerous high-profile disciplinary cases, which earned him Lam’s praise for “having strictly and promptly handled many new, difficult, complicated, and serious cases” that strengthened Party discipline and governance.
In his speeches, Tu has often urged Party officials to “set an example in work and in life,” and take the lead under the spirit of “daring to think, daring to act, and daring to take responsibility.” These talking points closely echo Lam’s rhetoric. Speaking at a national conference in May, Lam reminded his comrades: “Leaders at all levels (…) must set an example and take the lead in innovating thinking and action; dare to think, dare to act, dare to make breakthroughs, and dare to take responsibility for the national interest.”
Tu has similarly been a steadfast ally in Lam’s battle against corruption, a mission that has become central, even defining, as the Party moves towards the 2026 National Congress. As Lam noted in July, “Preventing and fighting against corruption, wastefulness, and negativity aims to best serve the task of socio-economic development and successful organization at all levels of the Party, and the 14th Party Congress.” With his political mettle, sense of duty, and extensive experience, Tu stands as a crucial ally in helping Lam fulfill this commitment and consolidate his political power.
Born in August 1961, Tu remains eligible for re-election to the Politburo, as he will not be over 65 in early 2026. A Central Committee member since January 2011 and a Politburo member since January 2021, Tu’s long tenure and experience bolster his chance of advancing into the original “Four Pillars” circle. If that happens, his political profile and career will experience a major step forward, giving him more credibility and power and making him more visible in international diplomacy.
At the same time, Tu’s potential promotion could leave a vacuum in the Secretariat, raising concerns about possible factional competition. Nevertheless, given that Vietnam’s political culture regarding leadership selection and generational transition “favors stability and sectoral balance,” a major crisis or a power struggle remains implausible.
By formalizing the “Five Pillars” structure, the CPV has shown adaptiveness while keeping the principle of collective leadership intact. With preparations for the 14th National Party Congress now in full swing, the move reflects the Party’s intent to secure calm within its upper echelons and prevent any shake-up among its senior ranks. Though it may be too early to tell whether this new institutionalization of the leadership model will translate into greater equilibrium and internal cohesion, pundits can gain two insights from this new arrangement.
First, as succession, stability, and resilience remain the main priorities of Vietnam’s political system, the Five-Pillar leadership model reflects the CPV’s attempt to renew its leadership ranks without loosening its grip on power. Second, and perhaps no less important, this new arrangement also carries a strong political message. It conveys to senior officials that an upswing in their career fortunes is possible only when performance and unwavering loyalty go hand in hand. For ambitious Party cadres, competence may open up opportunities, but it is loyalty that ultimately determines how high they are able to climb.
By Huynh Tam Sang – The Diplomat – October 13, 2025