Vietnam has entered a new political cycle following the 14th Communist Party Congress and the first session of the 16th National Assembly (April 2026). The newly formed government reflects a more centralized leadership structure.
Beeld: TTXVN
Party General Secretary and State President with members of the new government term 2026-2031. VNA/VNS Photo
To see Infographics of Government members for 2026–2031 term, please click here.
The consolidation of the General Secretary of the Communist Party and State President roles under Mr. To Lam is widely seen as strengthening centralized decision-making and accelerating policy execution, ensuring more consistent and effective implementation of Party directives. It is also expected to reduce overlap in leadership functions and minimizes misalignment between Party and government institutions, thereby improving overall policy coordination and efficiency.
The appointment of Le Minh Hung as Prime Minister further underscores a technocratic approach in economic governance. As a former central bank governor, he is associated with macroeconomic discipline, financial sector reform, and international integration.
Beeld: National Assembly
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung speaking at National Assembly meeting on future socio-economic plan
The new government is expected to deliver greater policy coherence and faster implementation, while maintaining a strong focus on economic growth and macroeconomic stability. At the same time, it is likely to strengthen the central oversight of strategic sectors including agriculture and environment, ensuring effective coordination and implementation of key policies.
The new government is also expected to pursue growth orientation and reform driven agenda, aligned with Vietnam’s long-term goal of becoming a high income economy by 2045. Its priorities include upgrading the economy from labor intensive to higher value added production, streamlining institutions by reducing administrative barriers and enhancing regulatory transparency, aligning economic growth with environmental and climate objectives, and diversifying trade to strengthen Vietnam’s position in the global supply chains.
Ministry of Agriculture and Environment
Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), established in 2025 from the merge of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, represents a major institutional reform. By uniting agricultural and environmental governance under a single authority, it reflects Vietnam’s acknowledgement of the agriculture’s vulnerability to climate change and the growing importance of sustainability compliance for export competitiveness. The mandate of the MAE includes agriculture, fisheries and rural development, as well as the management of land, water and natural resources while overseeing environmental protection and climate policy, signaling a structural shift toward comprehensive resource management and sustainability driven regulation.
Minister of Agriculture and Environment Trinh Viet Hung
Leadership and strategic direction
On 8th April 2026, Trinh Viet Hung was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Environment for the 2026–2031 term, bringing a younger, reform-oriented leadership profile with both political and technical sectoral experience. His academic background in agricultural economics and business administration position him to drive both strategic reforms and evidence-based policies in Vietnam’s agriculture and environmental sectors. Supporting the minister, the ministry is structured with 09 vice ministers, enhancing capacity for specialized oversight and inter-agency coordination.
For 2026 – 2031, the MAE aims to strengthen resource management, environmental protection and climate adaptation, maximize the use of available resources to support sustainable agricultural development and socio-economic growth. It is required by the government to accelerate the restructuring of the agricultural sector toward greater efficiency, sustainability and high value added production, to implement coordinated and effective measures to address IUU yellow card in fisheries. The ministry will continue streamlining its organizational structure, enhancing policy and regulatory frameworks and improving inter-agency coordination to address emerging challenges and support the export growth of agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
Implications for Dutch businesses
The evolving governance framework presents opportunities for Dutch businesses in agriculture and agri-food sectors: growing demand for advanced agricultural technologies, inputs and services as well as climate-smart agriculture solutions. Vietnam being a major export hub and its ambition in global market, also offers prospects for business to expand into high-quality, traceable and certified products.
However, businesses may face several risks. Stricter environmental regulations and compliance requirements may increase operational costs, while ongoing institutional restructuring also introduces short-term policy uncertainty. Maintaining operational efficiency, supply chain resilience, and regulatory compliance will be critical.
Overall, Vietnam’s new government and MAE mark a strategic turning point toward integrated, sustainability-driven development, expected to accelerate reforms in agriculture and environmental governance.
Beeld: © EKN Hanoi / Hien Pham
A rural area in Northern Vietnam
Contact information
Do you have any questions for the Agriculture Department at the Netherlands Embassy in Vietnam? If so, please send an email to HAN-LVVN@minbuza.nl or HCM-LVVN@minbuza.nl. For the latest updates, news, funding opportunities and more, follow the Netherlands Agricultural Network in Vietnam page on LinkedIn.