Communist Party of Vietnam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Communist Party of Vietnam
Đảng Cộng sản Việt Nam
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| Abbreviation | CPV ĐCS / ĐCSVN |
| Governing body | Central Comittee |
| General Secretary | Vacant |
| Executive Secretary | Lương Cường |
| Founder | Hồ Chí Minh |
| Founded | 3 February 1930 |
| Merger of |
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| Headquarters | 1A, Hùng Vương Street, Ba Đình, Hanoi |
| Newspaper | Nhân Dân |
| Student wing | Vietnam National Union of Students |
| Youth wing | Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union |
| Women's wing | Vietnam Women's Union |
| Pioneer organization | Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organization |
| Armed wing | Vietnam People's Armed Forces |
| Research office | Central Theoretical Council |
| Membership (2021) | 5,300,000 |
| Ideology |
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| Political position | Far-left |
| National affiliation | Vietnamese Fatherland Front |
| International affiliation | IMCWP |
| Colors | Red |
| Anthem | "The Internationale" () |
| National Assembly |
485 / 499
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| Party flag | |
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| Website | |
| (vi-VN) (en-US) |
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The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) is the main political party in Vietnam. It was founded in 1930 by Hồ Chí Minh. The CPV became the ruling party of North Vietnam in 1954. After the Vietnam War ended in 1975, it took control of all of Vietnam.
The CPV is the only legal political party in Vietnam. It guides the government, military, and media. The country's constitution says the CPV is the top political force. People in Vietnam often call it "the Party" or "our Party".
The CPV is organized using a system called democratic centralism. This idea was developed by Vladimir Lenin. The highest group in the CPV is the National Congress. This group meets every five years. It chooses the Central Committee. The Central Committee then picks the Politburo and the Secretariat. It also names the General Secretary, who is the party's top leader.
The party supports a "socialist-oriented market economy". It also follows the ideas of Hồ Chí Minh Thought. During the Cold War, the CPV worked closely with the Soviet Union. They used a command economy in Vietnam. But in 1986, they started economic changes called Đổi Mới. These changes brought in a mixed economy. The party still officially follows Marxism–Leninism. However, it now focuses more on Vietnamese nationalism and developing the country.
Contents
How the Communist Party of Vietnam Began
Early Years and Founding (1925–1945)
The Communist Party of Vietnam started in 1925. That's when Hồ Chí Minh created the Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League. This group wanted to end France's control over Vietnam. They also wanted to give land to farmers. Their goal was to prepare people for a fight against French rule.
In 1928, the Youth League's base in China was destroyed. This caused the group to split. Two new communist parties formed in Vietnam: the Communist Party of Indochina and the Communist Party of Annam. A third group, the Communist League of Indochina, also appeared.
On February 3, 1930, Hồ Chí Minh brought these groups together. They formed the united Communist Party of Vietnam. Later, it was renamed the Indochinese Communist Party (ICP). Even though it was small, the ICP had a big impact. Many farmers were struggling and joined their cause.
In 1930, ICP activists organized protests in the city of Vinh. French rulers responded with force, killing many people. This led to more unrest. The French then arrested many party leaders and members. The party was almost destroyed in that area.
During World War II, France was weakened. Japan occupied Vietnam. This gave the communists a chance to grow. Hồ Chí Minh returned to Vietnam in 1941. He formed the Viet Minh, a group that fought for Vietnam's independence. The Viet Minh became very popular for resisting the Japanese.
Fighting for Independence (1945–1954)
After World War II, Hồ Chí Minh declared Vietnam's independence. He became the leader of the new Democratic Republic of Vietnam. But other countries did not recognize his government. French and Chinese forces took control of different parts of Vietnam.
To unite people against the French, the ICP officially dissolved itself. It became the "Institute for Studying Marxism in Indochina." But the party's core still worked behind the scenes. The Viet Minh led the fight for independence. By 1950, the Viet Minh had about 400,000 members.
In 1951, the party was officially re-established. It was renamed the Worker's Party of Vietnam (WPV). The war against France continued until 1954. Vietnam won a major victory at the Battle of Điện Biên Phủ.
After the war, Vietnam was divided into North and South. The communists ruled North Vietnam. They focused on building a socialist society.
The Vietnam War (1955–1975)
In 1960, the Worker's Party of Vietnam created a group in the South. This group was called the National Liberation Front of Southern Vietnam (NLF). American soldiers often called them the Viet Cong.
The Vietnam War began between North Vietnam and the NLF (communists) against the United States and South Vietnam (anti-communists). Other countries like China and the Soviet Union supported the communists. The war also spread to Laos and Cambodia.
The war ended in 1975 when North Vietnam and the NLF won. Vietnam was unified under communist rule. In 1976, the Worker's Party of Vietnam merged with the People's Revolutionary Party of South Vietnam. They formed the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) again. This change showed their goal of building a strong socialist country.
Leading Vietnam (1976–Present)
In 1976, the CPV had over 1.5 million members. The party set a goal to build a strong socialist country in 20 years. However, their first economic plan did not work well. This led to debates within the party about how to improve the economy.
By the mid-1980s, Vietnam faced many economic problems. Prices increased, and the country was very poor. In 1986, a new leader, Nguyễn Văn Linh, was chosen. He started major economic changes called Đổi Mới. These changes brought in a market economy. They also allowed more freedom of speech.
Since then, Vietnam's economy has grown a lot. The CPV continues to lead the country. In 2021, Nguyễn Phú Trọng was re-elected as General Secretary. He is one of Vietnam's most powerful leaders in decades.
How the Party is Organized
National Congress: The Party's Top Meeting
The National Congress is the highest group in the CPV. It meets every five years. Delegates from all over the country come together. They decide the party's future and the government's direction. They also elect members to the Central Committee and other leadership roles.
Central Committee: The Main Decision-Makers
The Central Committee is the CPV's most powerful group when the National Congress is not meeting. It handles important party matters. In the 1990s, local party leaders gained more power. This meant more Central Committee members came from different provinces.
Because of these changes, the Central Committee's power grew. For example, in 2001, the Politburo wanted to keep Lê Khả Phiêu as General Secretary. But the Central Committee voted against it. They removed him and chose a new General Secretary. The Central Committee elects the Politburo after each National Party Congress.
General Secretary: The Top Leader
The General Secretary is the highest position in the Communist Party. The Central Committee elects this leader. They can serve for two five-year terms. The General Secretary leads the Central Committee, Politburo, and Secretariat. They also handle important issues like defense and foreign affairs. This leader is also in charge of the party's military affairs.
Politburo: Daily Decisions
The Politburo is the top group that makes decisions between Central Committee meetings. These meetings happen twice a year. The Politburo makes sure that the decisions from the National Congress and Central Committee are put into action. It also handles organization and personnel matters. The Central Committee can overrule the Politburo, as seen in 2001.
Politburo members are elected and ranked by the Central Committee. Their rank depends on how many votes they receive. Decisions in the Politburo are made by everyone working together.
Secretariat: Carrying Out Tasks
The Secretariat is led by the General Secretary. It is responsible for solving organizational problems. It also carries out the decisions of the Central Committee. The Secretariat oversees the work of the party's departments. It checks if resolutions and directives are being followed in areas like economy, defense, and foreign affairs.
Central Military Commission: Guiding the Military
The Politburo appoints the Central Military Commission. This group includes military members. It guides military and defense policies. The party's General Secretary leads this commission. The Minister of National Defence is the deputy leader.
Central Inspection Commission: Keeping the Party Honest
The Central Inspection Commission fights corruption and handles wrongdoing within the party. It is the only group that can punish party members. This commission is elected by the Central Committee. Local inspection groups need permission from higher commissions to investigate cases.
Central Theoretical Council: Thinking for the Party
The Central Theoretical Council was created in 1996. It advises the Central Committee, Politburo, and Secretariat. Its job is to develop party theory based on Marxism. It studies topics given by the leadership and its own members.
What the Party Believes
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Vietnam is a socialist republic led by the Communist Party. The CPV follows Marxism–Leninism and Hồ Chí Minh Thought. These ideas guide the party and the state. Vietnam is currently in a period of changing towards socialism.
Marxism–Leninism came to Vietnam in the 1920s and 1930s. Hồ Chí Minh's ideas were put into a system in 1989. In 1991, both Hồ Chí Minh Thought and Marxism–Leninism became the official ideologies. After communism fell in other countries, the CPV kept its power by focusing on Hồ Chí Minh's ideas. Some people think Hồ Chí Minh Thought is a way to bring in non-socialist ideas. Others believe it is true to his support for Lenin's ideas.
Since the economic changes of the 1980s, Marxism–Leninism has become less central. The party used to represent only workers and farmers. Now, it represents the "interests of the entire people," including business owners. In 2006, party members were allowed to start private businesses. The party now emphasizes Vietnamese nationalism and developing the country.
Moving Towards Socialism
According to Hồ Chí Minh, a society must first achieve national freedom. Then it must build a people's democratic system. This means completely getting rid of old feudal and colonial systems. Only then can Vietnam move towards socialism.
A people's democratic system is not yet socialist. For example, private ownership still exists. In a socialist system, private ownership would not exist. Hồ Chí Minh believed that state ownership of some production was key. This was seen as socialist because the state belongs to the people.
The party believes that moving to socialism is a long and complex process. It involves a struggle between old and new ideas. Success depends on correct policies and strong leadership from the party.
Why Socialism is "Superior"
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The Communist Party believes that socialism is better than other systems. They see it as the stage before pure communism. To build a socialist society, communists must study and plan carefully. The party believes socialism frees people from exploitation and injustice.
While the founders of Marxism–Leninism gave ideas for socialism, the party believes they don't have all the answers. But the main ideas are still important:
- Socialism's goal is to free people from exploitation. It helps people develop fully.
- It uses modern production methods.
- Socialism gradually ends private property and capitalism. It changes how things are produced.
- It creates new ways of working with high discipline and productivity.
- It follows the rule of "each according to his contribution."
- State socialism is a new type of democracy. It represents the working class and working people.
- In a socialist society, class and ethnic differences are solved through unity. Nationalism is replaced by internationalism.
Socialist-Oriented Market Economy
The CPV says its "socialist-oriented market economy" is not purely socialist or capitalist. It is a mix. The party believes a market economy does not have to be capitalist. It is a "multi-sectoral commodity economy" that follows market rules but is guided by socialist principles.
According to Nguyễn Phú Trọng, this economy is unique. It follows market rules but is based on socialism. This is seen in ownership, organization, and how wealth is shared. The goal is a prosperous nation with democracy, fairness, and civilization.
In this economy, different types of ownership exist. All economic sectors follow the law and are equal. The state-owned sector is the most important. It forms a strong base for the national economy. Wealth is shared fairly, based on work and contributions. There is also a social security and welfare system.
Unlike capitalist countries, Vietnam does not wait for economic growth before improving social fairness. Policies are made to improve people's lives.
Importance of Classical Marxism
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Classic Marxist writings are still important for the Communist Party's ideas. The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels is seen as a timeless work. The party believes its value is in explaining how the working class gains freedom. It provides the basic ideas for the party's beliefs.
A party member, Trần Bạch Đằng, noted that real life in Vietnam was more complex than he imagined. He said Marxism came to Vietnam through simplified interpretations. Now, reading the original works, they find things are not so simple. But the core principles remain the same.
Party Relations with Other Countries
The CPV works to improve its relationships with other countries. As of 2010, it had good relations with 222 political parties in 115 countries. This helps Vietnam's development.
The party has relations with both communist and non-communist parties. Relations with other communist parties are very important. They are based on "solidarity, friendship, mutual support." The CPV actively participates in international meetings of communist parties.
The CPV has strong ties with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the Cambodian People's Party. It also has good relations with the Chinese Communist Party, the Communist Party of Cuba, and the Workers' Party of Korea. The CPV sends delegates to congresses of communist parties around the world. It also has friendly relations with left-wing parties in Latin America.
Elections in Vietnam
National Assembly Elections
The Communist Party of Vietnam is the only legal party. It always wins the most seats in the National Assembly elections. This is because it is the sole ruling party.
| Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Outcome |
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| 1960 | As part of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front |
421 / 421
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 421 |
1st |
Sole legal party | |
| 1964 |
366 / 366
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 55 |
 1st |
Sole legal party | ||
| 1971 |
420 / 420
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54 |
1st |
Sole legal party | ||
| 1975 |
424 / 424
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4 |
1st |
Sole legal party | ||
| 1976 |
492 / 492
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68 |
1st |
Sole legal party | ||
| 1981 |
496 / 496
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4 |
1st |
Sole legal party | ||
| 1987 |
496 / 496
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|
1st |
Sole legal party | ||
| 1992 |
395 / 395
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101 |
1st |
Sole legal party | ||
| 1997 |
384 / 450
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11 |
1st |
Sole legal party | ||
| 2002 |
447 / 498
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63 |
1st |
Sole legal party | ||
| 2007 |
450 / 493
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3 |
1st |
Sole legal party | ||
| 2011 |
454 / 500
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4 |
1st |
Sole legal party | ||
| 2016 |
473 / 494
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19 |
1st |
Sole legal party | ||
| 2021 |
485 / 499
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12 |
1st |
Sole legal party | ||
Images for kids
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Party emblem sometimes seen on certificates of merit given out by the CPV's internal organizations
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Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in 2014
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General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng with United States Secretary of State John Kerry in Hanoi, 2013
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See also
In Spanish: Partido Comunista de Vietnam para niños
- Politics of Vietnam
- National Assembly (Vietnam)
