Vietnam has initiated an extraordinary digital lockdown as its secretive Communist Party Congress convenes in Hanoi to select the country's top leadership for the coming ten years. The week-long event, which began on Monday, 19 January 2026, sees around 1,600 delegates operating under stringent security measures, including blocked mobile networks and internet-free devices.
Unprecedented Security Protocols Enforced
Delegates attending the pivotal congress have been subjected to what observers describe as notably strict arrangements, even by Vietnam's controlled standards. According to individuals briefed on the proceedings, attendees have been issued Samsung tablets that function solely on an internal intranet, deliberately devoid of any connection to the global internet. This measure is designed to allow work on internal documents while preventing external digital communication.
Mobile network access has been actively jammed within the National Convention Centre in Hanoi and its surrounding areas, rendering personal phones useless for calls or data. From Tuesday onwards, delegates will reportedly be prevented from carrying their mobile phones into the congress altogether. Furthermore, all delegates, including those residing in Hanoi, have been instructed to stay in designated accommodation for the duration of the event, isolating them from the outside world.
The Stakes of the Leadership Selection
The congress is a once-in-five-years gathering that holds significant power in determining Vietnam's political direction. The core task for the 1,600 delegates, who represent approximately 5.6 million party members in the nation of 100 million people, is to elect the 200-strong central committee and approve the congress resolution. Their most critical duty, however, is to select the nation's top leader for the next decade.
Incumbent party chief To Lam is widely reported to be seeking reconfirmation in his role and is angling for expanded powers. The leadership vote is scheduled for an unspecified day during this week's meetings. The preparatory session on Monday was held in a grand conference hall adorned with a red carpet, featuring a towering statue of the party's founder, Ho Chi Minh, alongside images of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin.
Media Controls and Information Monopoly
The restrictions extend beyond the delegates to the journalists covering the event. Guidelines issued to the foreign media by Vietnam's foreign ministry explicitly prohibit reporters from carrying mobile phones. While they may use their own computers, connectivity is restricted to the event's tightly controlled network.
The guidelines sternly warn that journalists "shall not cause any negative impact on the image or reputation of Viet Nam, its senior leadership, or its delegates in any form." A Reuters correspondent on the ground confirmed the mobile signal jamming, highlighting the extreme lengths taken to control information flow. The foreign ministry did not provide an immediate comment when approached about these stringent measures.
This comprehensive digital blackout underscores the Vietnamese one-party state's firm monopoly on information, especially during moments of high-stakes political transition. The congress proceedings, shrouded in secrecy and shielded from digital scrutiny, will ultimately chart the course for Vietnam's governance until 2036.
