President To Lam of Vietnam, known for his aggressive anti-corruption efforts, has been appointed as the next Communist Party general secretary, the top leadership position in Vietnam. This appointment follows the death of the previous general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong, and gives Lam the opportunity to solidify his position within the party before the 2026 congress. His rapid rise within the party, from minister of public security to president, has been marked by his implementation of an anti-corruption campaign that targeted official corruption in Vietnam. However, this campaign has faced criticism for causing paralysis in new projects and impacting the economy. Additionally, the U.S. Commerce Department's decision to continue classifying Vietnam as a nonmarket economy country may further complicate Vietnam's economic relations with the U.S. Despite these challenges, Vietnam's foreign policy approach is expected to remain stable, with a focus on balancing the influence of both the U.S. and China in the region. As the new party chief, Lam will face the test of managing complex foreign relations and diverse views on the anti-corruption drive, while working within Vietnam's collective leadership system. The country's leadership structure, which includes the party general secretary, president, prime minister, and chairman of the National Assembly, is designed to prevent the concentration of power in a single leader and ensure stability. Regardless of the individual in the top position, policy is determined collectively by the party, with a long-term goal of becoming a modern industrial country with high income by 2045.