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Asia Sentinel

Politics

Vietnam's Tô Lâm Makes His Mark

What a small cash gift says about a big political shift

Sep 16, 2025
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By: Leo Tran
Tô Lâm: fast and centralized. Photo from VOV

On August 26, Vietnam said all citizens would receive a ‘gift’ of 100,000 dong (US$3.79) as the country marked 80 years since independence on September 2. The sum is small, but the politics are heavy. What is remarkable is the speed with which the decision flew from idea to policy.

Within days, a ge…

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