Vietnam elects To Lam as new state president, Le Minh Hung as PM

Vietnam’s lawmakers have unanimously chosen Communist Party General Secretary To Lam to serve as the country’s state president for the next five years, according to local media. Simultaneously, the National Assembly elected former central bank chief Le Minh Hung as prime minister. The 69-year-old Lam, who previously held both roles briefly in 2024, took his oath of office in Hanoi. For Türkiye, which has been expanding economic and diplomatic ties with ASEAN nations, Vietnam’s leadership transition signals policy continuity and a predictable investment climate.

Lam’s political career and development vision

Lam first became party general secretary in August 2024 following the death of Nguyen Phu Trong. Before that, he served as public security minister from 2016 and was promoted to general in 2019. A native of Hung Yen Province in northern Vietnam, Lam has been a four-term Central Committee member and three-term Politburo member. During his 18 months as party chief, he has overseen major policy decisions to accelerate Vietnam’s modernization. The government’s long-term targets include becoming an upper-middle-income nation with modern industry by 2030 and a high-income developed country by 2045.

Administrative reforms and foreign policy

Lam has implemented sweeping administrative changes, streamlining government bodies and reducing the number of provinces and cities. He also promotes expanding Vietnam’s international partnerships under a flexible foreign policy. From Ankara’s perspective, Hanoi’s stable one-party system and pro-business reforms have made Vietnam a reliable partner for Turkish construction, textile, and electronics exports. Bilateral trade between Türkiye and Vietnam has grown steadily, with both sides seeking a free trade agreement.

Implications for Türkiye and regional stability

As Vietnam pursues its ambitious economic goals, Türkiye’s ruling circle views the country as a model of disciplined state-led development. The leadership reshuffle is unlikely to alter Hanoi’s foreign policy, which balances relations with major powers including the US, China, and Russia. For Turkish investors, the continuity of Lam’s administration offers predictability. Meanwhile, Ankara continues to monitor Southeast Asia’s geopolitical shifts, given Türkiye’s growing defense and trade partnerships with regional actors like Indonesia and Malaysia.