The National Party Congress takes place every five years

The announcement was made during the closing session of the eight-day National Party Congress in Hanoi.

Other key positions, such as those of prime minister and president, have yet to be appointed.

The new leadership faces the task of continuing economic reforms while combating wide-scale corruption.

There have been several high-profile scandals in recent months.

Several senior transport ministry officials have been accused of using state funds to bet on football matches and buy luxury cars. Transport Minister Dao Dinh Binh resigned over the issue earlier in April.

Frontrunners

The congress meets every five years to set the country's future policies.

Delegates had already elected a new Central Committee on Sunday. But the announcement of more senior positions was reserved until the closing day of the congress on Tuesday.

The names of the new elite 14-member Politburo were first read out, and then Nong Duc Manh's name was given as general secretary.

Other key roles, including those of president, prime minister and chairman of the National Assembly have yet to be decided, but correspondents say they should become clear once the national assembly, Vietnam's parliament, meets next month.

The frontrunner for the premier's job is Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, while Ho Chi Minh City's party chief Nguyen Minh Triet and Minister of Public Security Le Hong Anh have both been slated as likely presidential candidates.

The congress was held in Ba Dinh Hall, where a golden bust of the country's revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh takes centre stage.

But correspondents said the gathering was overshadowed by recent corruption scandals.

Last week Nong Duc Manh warned party members that the issue was threatening "the survival of our regime".