The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (Vietnamese: Đại hội đại biểu toàn quốc lần thứ XIV của Đảng Cộng sản Việt Nam), less formally the 14th Party Congress (Đại hội XIV của Đảng), was held in the Vietnam National Convention Center in Hanoi from 19 to 23 January 2026.[1][2] The National Congress, organized in accordance with the Party’s charter, plays a decisive role in determining the direction of development, selecting high-level leadership personnel, and revising important documents for the 2026–2031 term.[3] The National Congress is the highest organ of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and is stipulated to be held every five years. The 14th Congress had 1,586 delegates.[4]
The preparations, which had begun in October 2023, for the 14th National Congress took place during the first 18 months of General Secretary Tô Lâm‘s tenure, who assumed power after the death of General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng in July 2024. During this time, Vietnam witnessed large-scale administrative reforms, restructuring of administrative units and the state apparatus, and the promotion of the private sector while maintaining the state’s leading role in the economy.[5] These reforms received positive attention from investors but also sparked considerable domestic debate. The Congress elected the 14th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam for a five-year term. Tô Lâm remained General Secretary, the party’s leader and the country’s foremost political figure.
Background
Charter
The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) was founded by Ho Chi Minh and is the ruling party of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. According to the Party’s charter, its highest leadership body is the National Congress. The National Congress has the rights to decide the number of Central Committee members,[6] and is convened by the Central Committee on a regular basis every five years. The Central Committee can request that the National Congress be convened earlier or later than usual, though no later than one year.[6] The 14th Congress was held as scheduled in January 2026.
Congress of Delegates at all levels
The Congress of Delegates at all levels (Vietnamese: Đại hội Đại biểu Đảng bộ các cấp) occurred in 2025, electing political leaders and members of local CPV committees for the 2025–2030 term.[7]
Preparations
At the 8th Plenary Session of the 13th Central Committee, held from 2 to 8 October 2023 in Hanoi, a decision was made to establish five subcommittees, including the Document Subcommittee chaired by General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng. The Document Subcommittee is said to aim at “developing the Political Report and the Report summarizing the achievements and results of 40 years of reform” to be submitted to the 14th National Congress.[5][8] Specifically, on 7 July, Plan Number 17 was also issued to develop a plan for the Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat of the 14th Party Congress.[8] On 23 February 2024, at the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the first meeting of the Subcommittee on Documents for the 14th National Congress was held, chaired by Nguyễn Phú Trọng with Võ Văn Thưởng, Phạm Minh Chính, and Vương Đình Huệ in attendance. The Congress took place as Vietnam marked 40 years since the launch of the groundbreaking Đổi Mới reforms and 35 years of implementing the 1991 Platform, described as “for building the country during the transitional period to socialism.” According to the Subcommittee, the 14th National Congress will also determine the directions, goals, and tasks for the next five years (2026–2030); review the 13th term; amend the Party Charter; and elect the 14th Central Committee. One of the stated goals is to “synchronize the reform process with the firm protection of the Fatherland” and to transform Vietnam into a “developing country with modern industry and high middle income” by 2030 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Party’s founding, and into a “developed country with high income” by 2045 when Vietnam celebrates its 100th anniversary.
At the 9th Plenary Session of the 13th Central Committee, held from 16 to 18 May 2024 in Hanoi, the conference discussed and provided feedback on the following contents: Detailed outline of the Political Report of the 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam at the 14th Congress; Detailed outline of the 5-year report on the implementation of the 10-year socio-economic development strategy (2021–2030), and the 5-year socio-economic development plan for the period 2026–2030; Outline of the report summarizing Party building work and the implementation of the Party Charter to be presented at the 14th Party Congress; Project summarizing Directive No. 35-CT/TW, dated 30 May 2019, of the Politburo and the draft Directive of the Politburo on Party congresses at all levels leading up to the 14th Party Congress. On 27 August 2024, General Secretary Tô Lâm, Head of the Subcommittee on Documents for the 14th Party Congress, chaired for the 2nd meeting of the Subcommittee on Documents, giving opinions on the draft Political Report prepared by the Editorial Team based on the detailed outline of the Political Report approved by the 9th Plenum of the 13th Central Committee of the Party. He proposed continuing to thoroughly understand the guiding ideas of former General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng.[9][10][11]
At the 10th Plenary Session of the 13th Central Committee, held from 18 to 20 September 2024 in Hanoi, the conference discussed and provided feedback on the following contents: Draft Political Report of the Central Committee of the 13th Party Congress; Draft Report summarizing some theoretical and practical issues on the socialist-oriented reform process in Vietnam over the past 40 years; Draft Report of the Central Committee of the 13th Party Congress on summarizing Party building work and the implementation of the Party Charter; Draft Report evaluating 5 years of implementing the 10-year socio-economic development strategy 2021–2030; directions and tasks for socio-economic development for the 5 years 2026–2030; The report summarizes the implementation of the Party’s election regulations issued with Decision No. 244-QD/TW, dated 9 June 2014, of the 11th Central Committee, and the draft amendments and additions to the Party’s election regulations; the draft summary of personnel work of the 13th Central Committee of the Party and the direction of personnel work of the 14th Central Committee of the Party; the introduction of the planning for the Politburo and the Secretariat of the 14th Party Congress, term 2026–2031; and the supplementary planning for the 14th Central Committee of the Party, term 2026–2031. On 11 November 2024, at the Party Central Headquarters, General Secretary To Lam chaired a meeting with the Document Subcommittee and the Party Charter Subcommittee to present to the 14th Party Congress. He emphasized and reached a consensus on the scale and significance of the 14th Party Congress. This Congress is closely linked to the context of the country after 40 years of implementing the Đổi Mới reforms, 50 years of Vietnam’s reunification, 80 years of Vietnam’s National Day, 95 years of the Party’s founding, and looking forward to the 100th anniversary of the Party’s founding, opening a new era of development: the Era of national rise [vi] of the Vietnam’s resurgence.[12]
On 23 October 2025, the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department [vi] announced the schedule for the 14th National Congress, to be held over seven days, from 19 to 25 January 2026, in Hanoi.[3] However, on 21 January, the third day of the congress was confirmed to be shortened and concluded on 23 January.[13][2]
Personnel changes and rotations before the 14th National Congress
On the morning of 10 January, the Ministry of Public Security, in coordination with the Hanoi Capital Command, held a preliminary rehearsal of the security plan for the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam at the Mỹ Đình National Stadium (Hanoi).[14]
On 13 January, the Department of Motor Vehicles and Transportation held a ceremony to deploy 121 vehicles and transport delegates who are participating the National Congress.[15]
On 14 January, the Ministry of Science and Technology launched a postage stamp titled “Welcome to the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.”[16][17] On the same day in the afternoon, the Politburo announced the opening of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam Press Center.[18]
Prior to the congress, streets in many provinces and cities across Vietnam were decorated with flags and flowers, similar to what was seen in Hanoi,[19] Ho Chi Minh City,[20][21] Đắk Lắk,[22] Huế, Da Nang,[21] Lào Cai,[23] etc. According to the plan, on 23 January, the Hanoi People’s Committee [vi] organized the art and cultural program “Under the Glorious Banner of the Party,” which included a 30-minute fireworks display at Mỹ Đình National Stadium.[24][25] This is also considered the largest fireworks display ever held in Hanoi.[26] However, the fireworks display was reportedly sponsored by Sun Group.[25]
During the event, the congress was also provided with 1,586 tablets for all delegates to digitize documents, reducing the amount of printed materials by 1.6 million pages.[27] In the main hall, the layout was also significantly changed compared to the previous 13th Congress. The floral arrangements that were present at the 13th Congress—such as the floral garland in front of the central stage with the inscription “Unity – Democracy – Discipline – Creativity – Development,” the large floral garlands on either side of the center, the seating area for the Presidium members, and the speaker’s podium—were completely removed in the 14th Congress. However, the cycad tree—symbolized as representing “eternal glory”—was largely retained on the central podium. Meanwhile, the speaker’s podium has been moved from the right side of the stands (when viewed from the inside) to the center.[28][29] Ho Chi Minh Statue at the 13th Congress, placed on the left side as viewed from the viewing platform,[28][29] has been replaced with a full-body statue with his hand raised in a salute and placed in the center of the stage. According to BBC News Vietnamese, this implicitly confirms the importance placed on Ho Chi Minh Thought as an “indigenous ideology”. At both the 13th and 14th Congresses, images of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin, along with the slogan “Long live the glorious Communist Party of Vietnam”, were placed in the top position.[28]