To Lam, reformist risk-taker, seeks to extend his hold on Vietnam
Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam, who is seeking a new mandate as the country’s top leader, has earned a reputation as an ambitious risk-taker whose brief initial tenure was defined by rapid, sweeping reforms and a commanding leadership style.
Inside Vietnam’s leadership transition
Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party will convene its 14th five-yearly congress from January 19–25, a tightly choreographed political event that will determine the country’s top leadership and policy direction through 2030.
Strains showing in Vietnam as Tô Lâm concentrates power
Vietnam is entering the second and more unpredictable phase of its political transition following the July 2024 death of Communist Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and the unexpected elevation of Tô Lâm to replace him as General Secretary in…
Vietnam’s second DoiMoi : growth, bottlenecks,and a role for Australia
Vietnam has announced a new round of sweeping reforms to propel the nation to high-income status. But long-term boldness is meeting short-term inertia.
Vietnam’s race betweenspeed and stamina
To Lam has fast consolidated power, but this new logic of control is not reform in the Western sense.
Will Vietnam consolidate its top two leadership positions ?
Vietnam’s uppermost echelon of political leadership is likely to remain structurally unchanged for various reasons.
To Lam openly legalizing police state rule in Vietnam
New draft laws mark To Lam’s latest move to consolidate legislative power in the security apparatus from which he rose
Vietnam : former political prisoner rearrested
Huynh Ngoc Tuan among wave of activists detained before upcoming party congress
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.
Vietnamese singer Duc Phuc wins $360,000 prize at Russian-hosted Intervision contest
Vietnamese singer Duc Phuc beat 21 contestants to win the Russian-hosted international performance competition Intervision, taking home 30 million rubles (US$360,000).
Vietnam’s Duc Phuc wins Intervision, Russia’s family-friendly answer to the Eurovision
With cheering crowds, glowing lights, a hint of political intrigue and a winning act in Vietnamese singer Duc Phuc, Russia’s answer to the Eurovision song contest – “Intervision” – gave off similar vibes as the competition that inspired it when…
A parade of patriotism or propaganda in Vietnam ?
Vietnam’s National Day parade, replete with tanks, troops and missiles, will be more Communist Party flex than celebration
Vietnam : free imprisoned activists at medical risk
Can Thi Theu, Le Dinh Luong suffering grave health problems
Vietnam adopts constitutional changes to abolish district-level government
Vietnam’s National Assembly on Monday unanimously passed sweeping constitutional amendments, with all 470 delegates present voting in favor.
What is Vietnam’s administrative ‘revolution’ ?
These administrative reforms are set to slash government spending, including rooting out some prestigious and comfortable government jobs. But is it just another way to consolidate power ?
‘Hello, spring victory !’ Vietnamese propaganda art flourishes 50 years after end of war
Much has changed in Vietnamese life in the 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War. The streets of the once-impoverished country now bustle with commerce and young people carry the latest iPhones and sing along to Taylor Swift…
Vietnam goes big in its sprint to 2030
Vietnam’s General Secretary To Lam has staked his leadership on the promise of a transformative ‘era of national rise’ — a bold new phase of development driven by digital transformation, institutional reform, infrastructure expansion, green growth and deeper global integration.
Vietnam to cut provinces by half in radical administrative restructure
The reforms are part of a drive to make the country’s political system “lean, compact, strong, efficient, effective, and impactful.”
Vietnam to reduce provincial-level administrative units by 50%
The number of provincial-level administrative units in Vietnam will reduce by nearly 50% and the number of local-level units will drop by over 70%, according to a draft proposal on government streamlining.
The declining influence of the national assembly in Vietnam’s ‘new era’
Communist Party chief To Lam is reversing a decades-long trend of growing legislative involvement in Vietnamese policy-making.
To Lam’s pragmatic pitch to Vietnam’s youth : economic prosperity, political control
Compared to their Southeast Asian peers, Vietnamese youth are more economically optimistic but politically disengaged. These attitudes concur with pragmatism of the country’s top leader To Lam, which focuses on material prosperity while calibrating civic freedoms to regime imperatives.
Vietnam’s bureaucratic ‘Revolution’ falls short of true reform
Communist Party chief To Lam’s project of institutional renovations stops short of the highest echelons of power.
Vietnam’s bureaucratic ‘Revolution’: rationales and challenges
Communist Party chief To Lam’s unprecedented institutional streamlining is designed to bolster Vietnam’s competitiveness – but it could come at a cost.
A turning point in Vietnam’s politics
Will Communist Party chief To Lam succeed in leading his nation into a “new era” of economic ascendance?
Vietnam’s new regime finds its footing
When Vietnam’s long-time leader Nguyen Phu Trong passed away on 19 July 2024, only the Minister of Public Security, Police General To Lam, was ready to act.
Former legislators sentenced in major corruption case
Former National Assembly deputies Luu Binh Nhuong and Le Thanh Van as well as their associates were sentenced to prison on Monday for extorting property and abusing positions and power to influence others for personal gain.