Voters in Vietnam cast ballots on Sunday to select a new National Assembly, two months after the ruling Communist Party reelected To Lam to the country’s top political post, according to AP.
Nearly 79 million voters across the country are eligible to pick 500 representatives from 864 candidates, AP said. All candidates, AP reported, are vetted and pre-approved by the Communist Party, a process described as keeping the assembly aligned with the party’s political direction.
The Communist Party argues, AP said, that centralized leadership enables Vietnam to pursue long-term development goals without disruptions. Under that system, AP said, the incoming National Assembly is expected to implement the policy agenda shaped at the party’s January congress, with sustained economic growth and political stability among the priorities.
The election came after the Communist Party’s national congress in January, AP said. The congress is held every five years and sets the leadership lineup and policy priorities; AP reported that Lam was reelected as general secretary at that congress, described in the report as the most powerful position in Vietnam’s political system.
After casting his ballot in Hanoi, Lam told voters, “We have the people’s support in this election,” and described the vote as “a national celebration where citizens choose representatives to guide development and safeguard the country’s sovereignty and stability,” AP reported.
AP said Vietnam’s economy has expanded rapidly over the past decade, driven by manufacturing exports, foreign investment, and the country’s growing role in global supply chains. The report said Vietnam has positioned itself as an alternative production hub as companies diversify away from China, and that major electronics and textile manufacturers have been attracted to the country.
AP also said Vietnam has set an ambitious target of 10% or higher annual economic growth over the next five years, placing the private sector at the center of its development strategy. Policymakers, the report said, are recalibrating the economy toward higher-value industries, modernized production, and wider use of science, technology and digital tools.
At the same time, AP reported that Vietnam’s export-driven economy faces uncertainty from rising trade tensions, including tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump. The report said voter turnout in Vietnam’s elections is typically high, often exceeding 90%, with polling stations set up in cities, rural communities and remote regions to encourage participation.
AP quoted retired official Doan Thi Bich as saying, “I believe I will be able to choose candidates with morals, dedication and competence to serve the country,” adding that she expects the election to bring “development and prosperity to our country and our people.”
AP said the incoming National Assembly is expected to convene its first meeting in April, when it would formally approve key government appointments and begin implementing the policy roadmap laid out at the party congress.