Vietnam President Lam takes on duties of party chief as Trong focuses on health

Nguyen Phu Trong, the party’s leader, is focusing on an unspecified medical treatment for his health, according to the party’s announcement on Thursday ( 18 July ) in Hanoi.

The unusual action comes after months of rumors that Trong’s heath was deteriorating. The group did not specify how he was being treated.

When his term expires in 2026, Lam, a former head of domestic protection, has been widely regarded as a top choice. The group’s strong Politburo has tasked him with presiding over” the function of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo and the Secretariat”, according to a declaration from the group’s core business.

The celebration chief holds the most prominent position in the Communist-ruled country, despite the fact that Vietnam actually does not have a major ruler. Trong, 80, has been in the blog since 2011.

Trong, a Marxist-Leninist thinker, has since 2017 unleashed what some see as a China-style assault on problem known as “blazing oven”. But in recent months, he has appeared delicate in public situations and missed some top-level sessions.

In a wonder walk, the Politburo awarded Trong on Thursday with the Gold Star prize, the country’s highest honour for public officials.