Overview
- Roughly 1,600 delegates convened in Hanoi to elect a ~200‑member Central Committee that will then select 17–19 Politburo members and confirm top posts.
- General Secretary To Lam is expected by officials to secure a full term, while the presidency decision is likely to be taken later and is less certain.
- Reports diverge on Lam’s bid to hold both roles, with one source saying it was provisionally approved and others indicating it may have been set aside for now.
- The congress will finalize a policy resolution that, per an October draft, prioritizes security and targets at least 10% annual GDP growth from 2026 to 2030, elevating the private sector and environmental protection.
- Proceedings are tightly controlled with mobile‑phone jamming at the venue, as Lam’s reform record—deep job cuts, agency abolitions, and faster infrastructure—unfolds in a system that rights groups say imprisons more than 160 critics.