Vietnam’s Party chief To Lam elected state president for 2026-31 term

The resolution, presented by General Secretary of the NA and Chairman of the NA Office Le Quang Manh at the 16th NA’s first session, was adopted with all 495 deputies present voting in favor and took effect immediately.

Chairman of the NA Tran Thanh Man then invited Party General Secretary and State President To Lam to take the oath of office before the legislature.

Under the national flag, Lam pledged absolute loyalty to the fatherland, the people, and the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, vowing to fulfill all duties assigned by the Party, the state, and the people.

He later delivered an inauguration speech at the NA session.

This marks the second time Lam has simultaneously held the country’s top Party and state positions, after first assuming the dual role in 2024.

Lam was born on July 10, 1957 in Hung Yen Province. He joined the Party on August 22, 1981.

He holds an advanced degree in political theory and is both a professor of security science and a doctor of laws.

Lam has had a long career in the public security sector, beginning as an officer after graduating from the People’s Security Academy in 1979.

He worked at the Ministry of Public Security from 1979 to 2010, before serving as deputy minister from 2010 to 2016.

He then served as Minister of Public Security from 2016 to 2024 and was promoted to the rank of general in January 2019 during this period.

In May 2024, Lam was elected state president by the 15th NA for the 2021-26 term, and three months later was elected Party general secretary by the 13th Party Central Committee.

He held both roles until October 21, 2024, before continuing as Party general secretary until being elected again as state president by the 16th NA for the 2026–31 term.

Throughout his career, he has been a member of the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Party Central Committees, a member of the Politburo in the 12th, 13th, and 14th tenures, and a deputy to the 14th, 15th, and 16th National Assembly.