But unlike, let's say, the United States, where general elections are held to decide on new decision makers in Vietnam Onley Communist Party members get a vote.

Here's how it works Every five years.

Nearly 1600 party delegates gathered in the capital, Hanoi, to select new leaders and said the country's policy directions for the next five years.

The National Party Congress usually goes on for about a week.

This will be the 13th, and it may reshuffle the team who will steer the fast growing Asian nation through a period of global recession, balanced tense relations involving China and the United States, and deal with increasing international attention to human rights concerns.

Now let's take a look at the leadership structure.

Unlike its communist counterparts like China and North Korea, Vietnam has four pillars of leadership made up off the general secretary, prime minister, president and chair off the National Assembly.

At the National Party Congress, delegates will first elect a 200 persons central committee.

The committee will then vote for the Politburo members, who will in turn nominate the country's four highest leaders.

The voting process is highly secretive and opaque.

In theory, ascend to the highest levels of Vietnamese politics is governed by limits on age and geographical origin.

For example, there has never been a general secretary who did not come from the northern half off the country.

Another role is that Politburo members over the age of 65 should retire.

But they're often exceptions on sometimes surprises.

Incumbent 76 year old general secretary You in Future has been one of the most powerful men in Vietnam for decades.

Observers expect him to continue as party chief, but also predict Prime Minister in Winston Folk could be looking to rise up the ranks.

What about policy issues?

Most analysts expect continuity.

Having benefited from the U.

S China trade dispute, Vietnam is steadily growing into one of the world's most important tech manufacturing and textile making hubs.

The country's GDP growth average 6% over the past five years and still expanded 2.9% in 2020.

On the foreign policy front, maintaining a balance between China and the United States will be key.

Even though Vietnam's relations with us have been warm.

In recent years, there have been trade tensions.

As of late, the Trump administration labeled Vietnam a currency manipulator late last year, raising the prospect of U.

S tariffs on Vietnamese goods.

Vietnam's leadership will also be acutely aware off China's continued importance to their nation's security and economic well being.

But they may have to deal with Beijing's increasingly aggressive claims to vast, potentially energy rich swathes off the South China Sea, part of which overlaps with Vietnam's exclusive economic zone.