Vietnam Elects General Secretary To Lam as State President in Unanimous Parliamentary Vote
Top leader receives 100% support from all 495 deputies present at first session of 16th National Assembly, consolidating power in Southeast Asian nation
HANOI — April 7, 2026 — Vietnam’s National Assembly has elected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam as the country’s State President for the 2026-2031 term, in a unanimous vote that further consolidates the top leader’s hold on the nation’s highest offices.
The vote took place on the morning of April 7 during the first session of the 16th National Assembly at the National Assembly building in Hanoi . All 495 deputies present — representing 100% of the delegates at the session and 99% of the total National Assembly membership — voted in favor of the resolution electing To Lam as President .
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Following the vote, the 68-year-old leader took the oath of office in a solemn ceremony broadcast live across the nation. “Under the sacred red flag with a yellow star of the Fatherland, before the National Assembly and the people and voters nationwide, I — the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam — solemnly swear: To be absolutely loyal to the Fatherland, to the People, and to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and to strive to fulfill all the tasks entrusted to me by the Party, the State, and the People,” To Lam declared in his oath .
Unprecedented Consolidation of Power
To Lam’s election as State President marks the second time he has held the position. He was first elected President in May 2024 at the 7th session of the 15th National Assembly . In August 2024, while serving as President, he was elected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam by the 13th Central Committee following the passing of his predecessor Nguyen Phu Trong .
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The 14th National Party Congress, held in January 2026, reaffirmed To Lam’s position as General Secretary for the 2026-2031 term . With his election as State President, To Lam now holds both of Vietnam’s most powerful positions simultaneously — a consolidation of authority rarely seen in the country’s modern political landscape.
Inaugural Address Emphasizes ‘People Are the Root’
In his inaugural address delivered to the National Assembly immediately after the swearing-in ceremony, To Lam laid out his vision for the nation’s development and emphasized the principle that “the people are the root” .
“The highest and ultimate objective is that the people are enabled to fully enjoy the fruits of development,” the top leader stated, according to the World and Vietnam Report .
To Lam expressed gratitude to voters and people nationwide for their “patriotism and steadfast trust in the Communist Party of Vietnam,” which contributed to the success of the recent elections for the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels .
He also conveyed appreciation to the Party Central Committee for nominating him and to the National Assembly for entrusting him with what he described as a “heavy responsibility” .
Priorities for the New Term
The newly elected President outlined several key priorities for his tenure, including safeguarding a peaceful and stable environment, promoting rapid and sustainable national development, and improving all aspects of people’s lives .
To Lam emphasized that citizens must fully benefit from the fruits of development, alongside enhancing Vietnam’s contributions to “peace, stability, development and progress in the region and the world” .
He called for close coordination among the Party Central Committee, the Political Bureau, the Secretariat, the National Assembly, the Government, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, ministries, agencies, localities, and overseas Vietnamese communities to successfully fulfill the mission of “safeguarding, building and developing the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland and serving the people” .
Government Structure Approved
Following the presidential election, the National Assembly also approved the organizational structure of the Government for the 2026-2031 term . The vote saw 488 delegates voting in favor — 100% of those present and 97.6% of the total number of National Assembly delegates .
The new government structure includes 14 Ministries and 3 ministerial-level agencies:
- Ministry of National Defence
- Ministry of Public Security
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ministry of Interior
- Ministry of Justice
- Ministry of Finance
- Ministry of Industry and Trade
- Ministry of Agriculture and Environment
- Ministry of Construction
- Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
- Ministry of Science and Technology
- Ministry of Education and Training
- Ministry of Health
- Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religion
- State Bank of Vietnam
- Government Inspectorate
- Government Office
Remaining Agenda Items
The first session of the 16th National Assembly continues with additional agenda items. Later on April 7, the legislature is scheduled to elect the Prime Minister, Vice President, Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, and Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy .
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who led the government during the 2021-2026 term, presented a proposal on the organizational structure of the Government for the new term earlier in the day .
A Career Dedicated to Security and Law
To Lam, born on July 10, 1957, in Hung Yen Province, has a distinguished background in law and security. He holds a doctorate in law and is a professor of Security Science .
His career spans decades within the Ministry of Public Security, where he rose to become Minister of Public Security from 2016 to 2024 . He was promoted to the rank of General of the People’s Public Security in January 2019 .
To Lam has served as a member of the Party Central Committee for four consecutive terms (11th, 12th, 13th and 14th) and a member of the Politburo for three terms (12th, 13th and 14th). He has also served as a National Assembly deputy for the 14th, 15th and 16th tenures .
He is also the Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Head of the Central Steering Committee on Prevention and Combat of Corruption, Waste, and Negative Phenomena — positions he has held since 2024 .
Regional Context
Vietnam’s leadership transition comes as the Southeast Asian nation continues to navigate a complex geopolitical environment. The country has maintained its traditional “bamboo diplomacy” approach — flexible and resilient — balancing relations with major powers including China, the United States, and Russia.
The unanimous election of To Lam signals political continuity and stability as Vietnam pursues its economic development goals and seeks to enhance its international standing. The country has emerged as a key manufacturing hub in global supply chains, attracting significant foreign investment in electronics, semiconductors, and high-tech industries .
As the 16th National Assembly continues its first session, the swift and unanimous election of the country’s top leader reflects the centralized nature of Vietnam’s political system, where party and state leadership positions are carefully coordinated to ensure unity and effective governance .
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