Vietnam election selects new National Assembly as To Lam touts stability

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Voters in Vietnam went to the polls Sunday to select members of a new National Assembly, in an election scheduled about two months after the ruling Communist Party reelected To Lam to the country’s top political post, according to a report by Hau Dinh of the Associated Press. The vote is being held nationwide as the country prepares for a new legislature following the party’s leadership decisions at its January national congress.

The race involves nearly 79 million eligible voters choosing 500 representatives from 864 candidates. All candidates are vetted and pre-approved by the Communist Party, a process described as ensuring the National Assembly remains aligned with the party’s political direction, the AP report said.

The Communist Party argues that centralized leadership helps Vietnam pursue long-term development goals without political disruptions, and the National Assembly that results is expected to implement the policy agenda shaped at the congress. The AP report said the election follows the Communist Party’s five-year congress in January, where Lam was reelected as general secretary, the most powerful position in Vietnam’s political system.

Quoting Lam, the AP report said, “We have the people’s support in this election,” adding that he described the vote as a national celebration where citizens choose representatives to guide development and safeguard the country’s sovereignty and stability. Another voter, retired official Doan Thi Bich, said she believed she would be able to choose candidates with “morals, dedication and competence” to serve the country and bring development and prosperity, according to the same report.

Beyond politics, the AP report placed the election in the context of Vietnam’s economic strategy. It 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, and it described Vietnam as positioning itself as an alternative production hub as companies diversify away from China.

The report also said Vietnam has set an ambitious goal of 10% or higher annual economic growth over the next five years, with policymakers placing the private sector at the center of its development strategy. It added that policymakers are recalibrating toward higher-value industries and broader use of science, technology and digital tools, even as export-focused growth faces uncertainty tied to rising trade tensions and tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Vietnam’s elections typically see high participation, the AP report said, with turnout often exceeding 90%. Polling stations are set up in cities, rural communities and remote regions to encourage participation.

The AP report said the incoming National Assembly is expected to convene its first meeting in April, when it will formally approve key government appointments and begin implementing the policy roadmap laid out at the party congress.