The Politburo is the single institution through which nearly all of Việt Nam’s major changes must pass. This group of fewer than two dozen people converges on key lines of power, whether it is deciding who rises and falls, adjusting economic policy, or handling crises. Understanding how this “supreme yet low-profile” body functions is the only way to truly grasp how Vietnamese politics operates.

What is the Politburo?

According to the Party Charter, the Politburo is the highest leadership body of the Party, elected by the Central Committee at each Party Congress. [1] Acting as the top-level “executive board,” it decides the strategic direction, personnel arrangements, and major policy choices that the country will pursue for years to come.