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Here’s What to Know About Vietnam’s Communist Government
The departure of President Vo Van Thuong, who occupied a largely ceremonial role, could have implications for the country’s future.
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President Vo Van Thuong of Vietnam speaking in San Francisco last year. He announced his resignation on Wednesday.Credit...Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
By Jin Yu Young and Sui-Lee Wee
March 20, 2024Updated 11:12 a.m. ET
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Vietnam’s Communist Party has ruled the country for nearly half a century, often priding itself on unity and longevity. It is one of the world’s last remaining Communist dictatorships.
It has also become one of Asia’s fastest growing economies and a pivotal player in the growing U.S.-China rivalry and has been adept at balancing its interests between the two powers. In recent years, many foreign companies and investors have flocked to Vietnam, which has touted its political stability in presenting itself as an alternative to China as a manufacturing hub.
But the announcement Wednesday that President Vo Van Thuong had resigned, the second president to step down in a little over a year amid allegations of corruption, has undercut that message of stability even though the post is largely a ceremonial one. The resignation could spook investors.
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Here is what you need to know about Vietnam’s leadership:
Who is the person in charge?
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Nguyen Phu Trong, third from left, the leader of the Communist Party in Vietnam, in Hanoi in January.Credit...Luong Thai Linh/EPA, via Shutterstock
Unlike China, Vietnam, a country of 99.5 million people, does not have a paramount leader. Instead it is governed by “four pillars” of leadership: the general secretary of the Communist Party, the president, the chairperson of Parliament and the prime minister.
Power largely resides with Nguyen Phu Trong, the Communist Party head, who is serving an unprecedented third five-year term as party chief.
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Jin Yu Young reports on South Korea, the Asia Pacific region and global breaking news from Seoul. More about Jin Yu Young
Sui-Lee Wee is the Southeast Asia bureau chief for The Times, overseeing coverage of 11 countries in the region. More about Sui-Lee Wee
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