At the session, member of the National Assembly Standing Committee Le Quang Manh presented the draft resolution on the election of the State President for the 2026-2031 term.

The resolution clearly stated that the National Assembly elected General Secretary To Lam, a deputy of the 16th National Assembly, as President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the 2026-2031 term.

The National Assembly then voted to pass the resolution using an electronic system.

The result showed that all 495 deputies present voted in favor, officially approving the resolution.

Following the election, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man invited General Secretary and State President To Lam to take the oath of office before the Assembly.

to lam.jpg
Photo: Pham Hai

“Under the sacred red flag with a yellow star of the Fatherland, before the National Assembly, compatriots and voters, 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; to strive and do my utmost to fulfill all duties assigned by the Party, the State, and the people,” To Lam declared.

This afternoon, General Secretary and State President To Lam will submit nominations for the National Assembly to elect the Prime Minister, Vice President, Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, and Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy.

General Secretary and State President To Lam was born on July 10, 1957, in Hung Yen province. He is a Professor and Doctor of Law.

He has served as a member of the Politburo in the 12th, 13th, and 14th terms; a member of the Party Central Committee in the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th terms; Head of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption and Negative Phenomena; and a deputy of the 14th and 15th National Assemblies.

to lam1.jpg
Photo: Pham Hai

He began his career in the Political Protection Department 1 under the Ministry of Public Security in the 1980s.

During his time at the Ministry of Public Security, he held various positions including Deputy Head of Division, Head of Division, Deputy Director, and Director of the Political Protection Department 1 under the General Department of Security.

He later served as Deputy Director General, Acting Director General, and then Director General of General Department of Security 1 until July 2010.

He was appointed Deputy Minister of Public Security from August 2010 to April 2016, and Minister of Public Security from April 2016 to May 2024.

He was promoted to the rank of General in February 2019.

On May 22, 2024, at the 7th session of the 15th National Assembly, he was elected State President.

In August 2024, the 13th Party Central Committee elected him as General Secretary.

The 2013 Constitution stipulates that the State President is the head of state, representing the country in both domestic and foreign affairs. The President is elected by the National Assembly from among its deputies and is accountable to the Assembly.

The term of the State President follows that of the National Assembly. When the Assembly’s term ends, the President continues to serve until a new President is elected by the new Assembly.



Article 88 of the 2013 Constitution outlines the duties and powers of the State President as follows:

Promulgate the Constitution, laws, and ordinances; request the Standing Committee of the National Assembly to reconsider ordinances within 10 days of their adoption. If the ordinance is still approved but the President disagrees, the matter is submitted to the National Assembly at its next session for decision.

Propose to the National Assembly the election, dismissal, or removal of the Vice President and Prime Minister; based on resolutions of the National Assembly, appoint, dismiss, or remove Deputy Prime Ministers, ministers, and other members of the Government.

Propose to the National Assembly the election, dismissal, or removal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court and the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy; based on resolutions of the National Assembly, appoint, dismiss, or remove judges of the Supreme People’s Court; appoint, dismiss, or remove deputy chief justices, judges of other courts, deputy prosecutors general, and prosecutors; grant amnesty; and announce general amnesty decisions based on resolutions of the National Assembly.

Decide on the awarding of orders, medals, state prizes, and honorary titles; decide on granting, renouncing, restoring, or revoking Vietnamese nationality.

Serve as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council; decide on promotions, demotions, or revocations of military ranks at the general and naval admiral levels; appoint, dismiss, or remove the Chief of the General Staff and the Director of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People’s Army; based on resolutions of the National Assembly or its Standing Committee, declare or abolish a state of war; based on resolutions of the Standing Committee, issue or cancel orders of general or partial mobilization, declare or abolish a state of emergency; and in cases where the Standing Committee cannot meet, declare or abolish a state of emergency nationwide or in specific localities.

Receive foreign ambassadors; based on resolutions of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, appoint, dismiss, or recall Vietnamese ambassadors; confer ambassadorial ranks; decide on negotiations and signing of international treaties on behalf of the State; submit to the National Assembly for ratification or decision on accession to or termination of treaties specified under Clause 14, Article 70; and decide on ratification, accession to, or termination of other international treaties on behalf of the State.

Tran Thuong