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Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Vietnam, 1976 to today. Draft, not yet reviewed

Vietnam was reunified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on 2 July 1976. In 1986 the Sixth National Congress of the CPV introduced socialist-oriented market economic reforms as part of the Đổi Mới reform programme. Vietnam achieved approximately 8% annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth between 1990 and 1997.

Seat of power: Hanoi

Rulers

Tôn Đức Thắng

President of Vietnam, 1969–1980

The position of president was ceremonial, and Tôn was never a major policymaker or even a member of the Politburo. He served as president, first of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam from September 2, 1969, and later of a united Vietnam, until his death in 1980.

Portrait of Tôn Đức Thắng: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file

Nguyen Huu Tho

President of Vietnam, 1980–1981

After Tôn Đức Thắng's death on 30 March 1980, he became acting President of Vietnam, a post he held until he was replaced by Trường Chinh on 4 July 1981. From 1981 to 1987 he was also Chairman of the National Assembly.

Portrait of Nguyen Huu Tho: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file

Trường Chinh

President of Vietnam, 1981–1987

He was head of state of Vietnam from 1981 to 1987 as the 3rd President of Vietnam. His last vital role was to carry forward the Đổi Mới renovation that still affects Vietnam to this day.

Portrait of Trường Chinh: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file

Vo Chi Cong

President of Vietnam, 1987–1992

He was Chairman of the Council of State of Vietnam, also called President of Vietnam, between 1987 and 1992. He was the Standing Deputy Chairman of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam from 1962 to 1976.

Le Duc Anh

President of Vietnam, 1992–1997

He was regarded as a conservative who advocated maintaining tight party control over domestic policies. As president, he left many traces in foreign affairs, such as normalizing diplomatic relations with the United States. On 28 July 1995, Vietnam officially joined ASEAN.

Trần Đức Lương

President of Vietnam, 1997–2006

Trần Đức Lương was elected state president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on September 24, 1997, and re-elected in 2002. On June 24, 2006, Lương announced his resignation, along with Prime Minister Phan Văn Khải.

Portrait of Trần Đức Lương: Ricardo Stuckert, CC BY 3.0 br, file

Nguyễn Minh Triết

President of Vietnam, 2006–2011

He was elected by the National Assembly of Vietnam with 464 votes (94%) in June 2006. The presidency of Vietnam was a ceremonial position, and the Politburo decided government policy.

Portrait of Nguyễn Minh Triết: President's Secretariat, GODL-India, file

Trương Tấn Sang

President of Vietnam, 2011–2016

In July 2011, Trương Tấn Sang was elected state president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam by the National Assembly of Vietnam. He served as the eighth President of Vietnam from 2011 to 2016.

Portrait of Trương Tấn Sang: Consulate General of the United States, Ho Chi Minh City, Public domain, file

Trần Đại Quang

President of Vietnam, 2016–2018

He served as the ninth president of Vietnam from 2016 until his death in 2018. Before becoming president, he served for five years as the Minister of Public Security, from 2011 to 2016.

Portrait of Trần Đại Quang: Ronite, CC BY-SA 4.0, file

Nguyễn Phú Trọng

President of Vietnam, 2018–2021

During his tenure, Trọng pursued a wide anti-corruption campaign, implicating numerous senior officials to a degree unprecedented in Vietnamese political history. His foreign policy, known as bamboo diplomacy, sought to balance Vietnam's relations with both the United States and China. He was general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam from 2011 until his death, and from 2018 to 2021 he also served concurrently as the tenth president of Vietnam.

Portrait of Nguyễn Phú Trọng: Adam Schultz, Public domain, file

Nguyễn Xuân Phúc

President of Vietnam, 2021–2023

His tenure as prime minister oversaw a period of record economic growth and directed the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He served as the 11th president of Vietnam from 2021 until his resignation in 2023 amidst a series of corruption scandals.

Portrait of Nguyễn Xuân Phúc: State Duma, CC BY 4.0, file

Võ Văn Thưởng

President of Vietnam, 2023–2024

He served as the 12th president of Vietnam from March 2023 to March 2024. On 21 March 2024, he resigned after a series of his former subordinates in Quang Ngai province were arrested in a major corruption case.

Portrait of Võ Văn Thưởng: Quirinale, Attribution, file

Võ Thị Ánh Xuân

President of Vietnam, 2023–2024

She served as the acting president of Vietnam twice, in 2023 and 2024. She was elected to the vice presidency on 6 April 2021 after winning 93.13% of the votes in the National Assembly.

Portrait of Võ Thị Ánh Xuân: USDAgov, Public domain, file

Lương Cường

President of Vietnam, 2024–2026

He served as the 14th president of Vietnam from October 2024 to April 2026. As the country's head of state, he was the second highest official in Vietnam after General Secretary Tô Lâm.

Portrait of Lương Cường: European Council, Attribution, file

Tô Lâm

President of Vietnam, 2026 to today

Since 2024 he has served as the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and as the current President of Vietnam since 2026. Since beginning his tenure as general secretary, Lâm has pursued administrative and bureaucratic restructuring. Lâm is alleged to have led a campaign against dissidents, suppressed civil society organizations, and tightened internet censorship.

Portrait of Tô Lâm: Ministry of Defence (India), GODL-India, file

Culture

Picture

Landmark 81 is a supertall skyscraper in Ho Chi Minh City and the tallest building in Vietnam.

Image: Lê Minh Phát, CC BY 2.0, file

Sources

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.