Vietnam’s Communist Party General Secretary To Lam takes the oath of office as President during a National Assembly session in Hanoi, April 7, 2026. (National Assembly/Handout via REUTERS)
Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Secretary-General Tô Lâm was elected to become the country’s state president on April 7. His tenure will last for five years until 2031.
A 68-year-old retired general, Tô Lâm previously served as Minister of Public Security from 2016 to 2024. He was approved unanimously by 495 deputies present at the 16th National Assembly meeting, who voted in favor of the resolution to elect him.
This appointment made a significant breakthrough due to his concomitant role as a CPV’s General Secretary and a state president, making him the strongest figure in Vietnam’s recent history—a structure similar to Xi Jinping’s dual leadership in neighboring China.
Previously, Tô Lâm was first elected as CPV General Secretary in August 2024, replacing the Nguyễn Phú Trọng who passed away in office, and was re-elected for the 2026–2031 tenure in January 2026 during the first 14th Central Committee meeting.
Separately, Lê Minh Hưng—former Governor of State Bank of Vietnam and Head of CPV’s Central Organisation Commission which advises the party’s political trajectory and internal security of the party—was elected as prime minister, in line with SEA Daily’s earlier forecast. In a speech after he was sworn in, Tô Lâm claimed that holding this dual role was a “sacred and noble duty.” He also claimed to initiate a “new growth model” targeting double-digit growth. Furthermore, he pledged to push reform by changing administrative structures, including eliminating government ministries.
While chairing the Ministry of Public Security, he is renowned for conducting a “Blazing Furnace” (Dot Lo), a massive anticorruption campaign. He once removed high-ranking officials, including former state presidents and the head of the National Assembly, for alleged involvement in corruption scandals.
Some sources, including Reuters and the BBC, reported that his anti-corruption campaign has become the primary means of consolidating power and eliminating political rivals.
As Tô Lâm was re-elected, he yielded an extraordinary power, holding the top leadership position in the Party and State.
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