Vietnam re-elects Communist party leader after secretive congress Trong, a 76-year-old pro-China conservative, was given the nod after a week of closed-door talks. By AFP Sunday 31 Jan 2021, 4:32 PM Jan 31st 2021, 4:32 PM 16,597 Views 28 Comments Hanoi, Vietnam. File photo Image: Shutterstock/tipwam VIETNAM’S RULING COMMUNIST Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong was re-elected today but his win was overshadowed by a serious coronavirus outbreak in the country. Trong, a 76-year-old pro-China conservative who is rumoured to be in poor health, was given the nod after a week of closed-door talks at the twice-a-decade Communist Party congress. It will be his third term in office — a feat unprecedented in Vietnam’s modern era.