The ‘four’ behind Vietnam: Can 2026 political reset deliver the growth it promises?

[HO CHI MINH CITY] Vietnam enters 2026 with momentum, ambition and rare political alignment behind what Communist Party chief To Lam has described as an “era of national rise” – a drive to propel the country to high-income status by 2045.

The ruling Communist Party is set to convene its twice-a-decade Congress in January 2026 to select its leaders, followed by nationwide elections for deputies of the National Assembly and local legislative bodies in March.

While past Congresses largely ratified consensus outcomes, the coming transition coincides with the most aggressive development agenda since Vietnam’s Doi Moi liberalisation of the 1980s, as well as rising global trade uncertainties and geopolitical tensions.