13th National Congress of the

Viet Nam Communist Party

Emeritus Professor Carlyle Thayer
Presentation to
Roundtable on XIII Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Fulbright University of Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
January 24, 2021
1. What do you say to young Vietnamese people
who believe that, since they have very little direct
say in who their leaders are outside of the
National Assembly elections, there is no point to
follow Vietnamese politics closely?
• Join the Communist Party of Vietnam
• Join an organization or association affiliated with the
Fatherland Front
• Follow Social Media
• Explain to foreigners (from ASEAN countries) how Vietnam’s
political system works
2a. Can you briefly explain some basics about
the 13th VCP National Congress?
25 January to 2 February 2021
(Nine days)
 Regularization of Politics
National Congress held The Congress:
every 5 years
• 1976 Fourth • Approves the Political
• 1982 Fifth
Report
• 1986 Sixth • Approves 5-Year& 10-Year
• 1991 Seventh Socio-Economic Plans
• 1996 Eighth • Approves other reports
• 2001 Ninth • Amends Party Statutes
• 2006 Tenth
• 2011 Eleventh
• Amends Party Platform
• 2016 Twelfth • Elects Central Committee
• 2021 Thirteenth
 Leadership Election
Delegates elect
Central Committee
Central Committee
elects Politburo
Central Committee
*New voting procedure: elects Secretary
delegates conduct straw
poll and the results are
General from among
provided to the new Politburo members*
Central Committee
 2b. Why is the 15th Plenum of the Central
Committee so important?
• The last plenum before the 13th national party
congress
• Decides on all unresolved matters including personnel
issues
• Decides on “exceptional cases”
• Approves final agenda, approves Presidium,
Committee to vet credentials of party delegates
2c. What is the point of having a Party Congress if
the top four positions have already been decided
by the 15th Plenum?
Nearly 1,600 delegates will vote on Central Committee membership –
need 50% + 1 to be elected
New Central Committee will elect Politburo
New Central Committee will select a Politburo member to be Secretary
General
2d. And what is this system called “bỏ phiếu tín
nhiệm” (votes of confidence), how does it work,
and is it important in the selection of personnel?
• Votes of confidence are conducted by National
Assembly
• A separate vote of confidence is conducted by the
Party
• High confidence, confidence, low confidence
3a. What are the formal and informal rules for
selecting the “four pillars” of Vietnamese politics
with regards to age, term limits, regional
background, and factions?
• Retirement at 65 years (exemption can be granted)
• Must retire after two terms in office
• Criteria set out for each of the four pillars
• Generally regional balance, but Party Secretary General is
from the North
3b. Might any of those formal and informal rules
be transgressed at this Party Congress, and what
precedents will this set for the future of
Vietnamese politics?
Party Platform set two term limit on party Secretary General
Only national congress can alter Platform
3rd term? Amend Platform at Congress? Or justify as “exceptional”?
No one from South is among four pillars
4. What continuities and what changes on critical
issues do you expect from Vietnam’s new
leadership on critical issues, including economic
development, foreign policy, freedom of speech,
the environment, and the fight against corruption?
 Continuity and Change

• Economic development – recover from COVID

• Foreign policy – no change
• Freedom of speech – no change
• Environment – greater emphasis on protection
• Fight against corruption – continuation
5. What is your secret for staying at the
forefront of studying Vietnamese politics?
13th National Congress of the Viet
Nam Communist Party
Emeritus Professor Carlyle Thayer
Presentation to
Roundtable on XIII Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Fulbright University of Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
January 24, 2021