Annex 2 - The Political System in Vietnam

Summary

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an authoritarian regime headed by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). While the ideological orthodoxy of Communism has become less important, the country is still influenced strongly by the CPV. The separation of powers between executive, legislative and judiciary is weak. The overlap between the CPV and the government is far-reaching. This overlapping extends to the lower levels of the political system. Vietnam consists of 59 provinces (tính) and five cities (thành phoô) — Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Da Nang and Can Tho. On the provincial level there are four forms of administrative units: rural districts (huyeên), provincial cities (thành phoô), provincial towns (thị xã) and urban districts (quaân). On the district level, there exist three administrative units: communes (xã) and district towns (thị trán) in rural areas and wards (phöưòng) in urban areas. Below these official levels of administration there exists the unofficial classification of villages (làng) and the smaller units of hamlets (xóm) in rural areas and neighborhoods (khu phoô) and quarter or residence cells (toô dàn phoô) in urban areas. Figure A.2.1 gives a rough overview of the political and administrative system in Vietnam.

The Communist Party of Vietnam

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) holds National Congresses every five years. At the congresses, the delegates (over 1,000 in 2006; 1,377 in January 2011) set the general direction for the party and the government and elect the next General Secretary. Nong Duc Manh, from Bac Kan Province was appointed by the Central Committee as Party General Secretary in 2001 and re-appointed in 2006. In January 2011, he was succeeded by Nguyen Phu Trong, who has been the head of the National Assemby since June 2006.

The delegates at the National Party Congresses also elect the Central Committee. The Central Committee consists of 175 members and an additional 25 alternate members as of January 2011.