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Tô Lâm

Tô Lâm

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam

Appears in 2 stories

Born: July 10, 1957 (age 68 years), Nghĩa Trụ, Vietnam
Previous offices: President of Vietnam (2024–2024), Minister of Public Security of Vietnam (2016–2024), and Deputy Minister of Public Security of Vietnam (2010–2016)
Spouse: Ngô Phương Ly
Party: Communist Party of Vietnam
Office: Secretary of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Parents: To Quyen and Dang Thi Cam
Education: People’s Security Academy (1974–1979) and Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics

Notable Quotes

"Xi Jinping is a sincere comrade and a close friend of Vietnam." — To Lam, during a 2025 state visit to Beijing

"We must fundamentally reform our development thinking, governance methods, and resource allocation." — Opening of 14th Party Congress, January 2026

"The 14th National Congress marks the start of a 'new era.'" — Congress address, January 2026

Stories

Vietnam elects new National Assembly as To Lam consolidates party and state power

Rule Changes

Unanimously reelected as General Secretary at 14th Party Congress, January 2026

Since 1976 Vietnam's Communist Party has split power among four pillars: party general secretary, state president, prime minister, and National Assembly chairman—but on March 15, 2026, nearly 73.5 million voters elected 500 members of the 16th National Assembly from 864 candidates (93 percent Communist Party) to shift that structure. In April the legislature will appoint To Lam, the former security chief, to lead both party and state, a choice made at January's Party Congress.

Updated May 30

Vietnam's power consolidation

Rule Changes

Re-elected General Secretary for full 5-year term (2026-2031); expected to assume presidency at National Assembly session in April 2026

Vietnam's 14th Party Congress concluded January 23, 2026, unanimously re-electing Tô Lâm as General Secretary with all 180 Central Committee votes. A merger of party chief and state presidency (which would make Lâm Vietnam's most powerful leader since Hồ Chí Minh) was not finalized.

Updated May 22