While the state president serves as the head of state, the general secretary holds the highest position within the party. Because Tô Lâm now holds both roles simultaneously, he has emerged as the most powerful leader in Việt Nam’s political arena in recent years. 

This development has led to the view that Việt Nam may be gradually moving away from its familiar model of collective leadership, edging closer instead to a system where power is concentrated in a single individual. [1]