Vietnam now a party of one under To Lam

As the curtain fell on the Vietnamese Communist Party’s five-yearly 14th National Congress, international observers focused on the headlines: General To Lam’s unanimous re-election as general secretary and his ambitious 10% GDP growth target. The surface narrative was of continuity and stability.

However, a closer examination reveals a structural anomaly. In an unprecedented move, the Congress Resolution included a directive to propose amendments to the Party Charter “immediately after” the five-yearly event.

This directly contradicted pre-Congress statements by senior…