Editing Politics of Vietnam

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{About|political system in Vietnam|governing body|Government of Vietnam}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox political system
| name                          = Politics of Vietnam
| native_name                   = Chính trị Việt Nam
| image                         = Emblem of Vietnam.svg
| image_size                    = 200
| type                          = [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Marxist-Leninist]] [[One-party state|one-party]] [[Socialist state|socialist]] [[republic]]
| constitution                  = [[Constitution of Vietnam]]
| legislature                   = [[National Assembly (Vietnam)|National Assembly]]
| legislature_type              = [[Unicameralism|Unicameral]]
| legislature_place             = [[National Assembly Building of Vietnam]]
| legislature_speaker           = [[Trần Thanh Mẫn]]
| legislature_speaker_title     = [[Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam|Chairman of the National Assembly]].
| upperhouse                    =
| upperhouse_speaker            =
| upperhouse_speaker_title      =
| upperhouse_appointer          =
| lowerhouse                    =
| lowerhouse_speaker            =
| lowerhouse_speaker_title      =
| lowerhouse_appointer          =
| title_leader                  = [[General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam|General Secretary]]
| current_leader                = [[Tô Lâm]]
| appointer_leader              = [[Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Central Committee]]
| title_hos                     = [[President of Vietnam|President]]
| current_hos                   = [[Lương Cường]] 
| appointer_hos                 = National Assembly
| title_hog                     = [[Prime Minister of Vietnam|Prime Minister]]
| current_hog                   = [[Phạm Minh Chính]]
| appointer_hog                 = National Assembly
| cabinet                       = [[Government of Vietnam]]
| current_cabinet               = [[Government of Vietnam#Cabinet members|Chính government]]
| cabinet_leader                = Prime Minister
| cabinet_deputyleader          = [[Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam|First Deputy Prime Minister]]
| cabinet_appointer             = National Assembly
| cabinet_hq                    = [[Presidential Palace, Hanoi|Presidential Palace]]
| cabinet_ministries            = [[Government of Vietnam#Cabinet members|18]]
| judiciary                     = [[Judicial system of Vietnam|Judicial system]]
| judiciary_head                = 
| courts                        =
| court                         = [[Supreme People's Court of Vietnam|Supreme People's Court]]
| chief_judge                   = [[Nguyễn Hòa Bình]]
| court_seat                    = 
| court1                        = [[Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam|Supreme People's Procuracy]]
| chief_judge1                  = [[Lê Minh Trí]]
| court_seat1                   =
}}
{{politics of Vietnam}}
The '''politics of Vietnam''' is dominated by a [[One-party state|single party]] under an [[Authoritarianism|authoritarian]] system, the [[Communist Party of Vietnam]] (CPV). The [[President of Vietnam]] ([[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese:]] {{lang|vi|Chủ tịch nước}}) is the [[head of state]], and the [[Prime Minister of Vietnam]] is the [[head of government]]. Both of these offices are separate from the [[General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam]], who leads the CPV and is head of the [[Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Politburo]] and the [[Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Central Military Commission]]. The General Secretary is thus the ''de facto'' highest position in the Vietnamese politics.

[[Executive (government)|Executive power]] is exercised by the government and the President of Vietnam. [[Legislative power]] is vested in the [[National Assembly of Vietnam]] (Quốc hội Việt Nam). The [[Judiciary]] is independent of the executive. The parliament adopted the current [[Constitution of Vietnam]], Vietnam's fifth, on 28 November 2013.

The [[communist state]] which emerged in the 20th century has been described either as [[Totalitarianism|totalitarian]]<ref name="tot1"/><ref name="tot2"/> or not totalitarian but autocratic;<ref>{{cite book|title=Transitions and Non-Transitions from Communism: Regime Survival in China, Cuba, North Korea, and Vietnam|author=Steven Saxonberg|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|year=2013|page=97|isbn=9781139619981|quote=This make Vietnam rather similar to Poland as a country that never succeeded in establishing totalitarian rule.}}</ref> the [[Authoritarianism|authoritarian]] system established after 1986 reforms has inherited many legacies of the past, with the [[freedom of assembly]], [[freedom of association|association]], [[freedom of expression|expression]], [[freedom of the press|press]] and [[freedom of religion|religion]] as well as civil society activism being tightly restricted.<ref name="tot1">{{cite news|last=Morris|first=Stephen J.|date=May 1, 2005|title=The War We Could Have Won|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/opinion/the-war-we-could-have-won.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 11, 2024}}</ref><ref name="tot2">{{cite journal|first=Thuy|last=Nguyen|title=Exploiting Ideology and Making Higher Education Serve Vietnam's Authoritarian Regime|year=2022|journal=Communist and Post-Communist Studies|volume=55|issue=4|pages=83–104|doi=10.1525/cpcs.2022.1819231|doi-access=free}}</ref> There are no freely elected national leaders, political opposition is suppressed, all religious activity is controlled by the CPV, dissent is not permitted, and civil rights are curtailed. [[Elections in Vietnam]] occur under a single-party authoritarian political system. Vietnam is among the few contemporary party-led dictatorships to not hold any direct multiparty elections at the national level. The competitive nature of the elections is highly constrained by the Communist Party's monopoly on power in Vietnam, limitations on free speech, and government interference with the elections.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vietnam |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/186531.pdf |website=state.gov |publisher=[[U.S. State Department]] |access-date=10 June 2022}}</ref>

The National Assembly is a [[Rubber stamp (politics)|rubber stamp]] [[unicameral]] legislative body. The National Assembly has 500 members, indirectly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. The legislature is, according to the constitution, the highest organ of the state. Its powers includes the enactment and amendment of the constitution and laws; the adoption of the [[government budget]]; supervising the Government of Vietnam and other holders of public powers [[Responsible government|responsible]] to the National Assembly; and appointing members of the judiciary. The Vietnamese constitution and legislation provides for regular elections for the office of the President of the Socialist Republic, the National Assembly and the [[People's Council (Vietnam)|People's Councils]].

The President is elected by National Assembly for a five-year term and acts as the ''de jure'' [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Vietnam People's Armed Forces]] and Chairman of the Council for Defence and Security. However, the president has the right to decide on executive brands. The [[Government of Vietnam|government]] ({{lang|vi|Chính phủ}}), the main executive state power of Vietnam, is headed by the Prime Minister, who has several Deputy Prime Ministers and several ministers in charge of particular activities. The executive branch is responsible for the implementation of political, economic, cultural, social, national defence, security and external activities of the state.

Vietnam has a judicial system governed by the Constitution of Vietnam and national legislation enacted by National Assembly. The [[Supreme People's Court of Vietnam|Supreme People's Court]] ({{lang|vi|Tòa án Nhân dân Tối cao}}) is the highest court of appeal in Vietnam. There are other specialised courts in Vietnam, including the Central Military Court, the Criminal Court, the Civil Court and the Appeal Court. The [[Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam|Supreme People's Procuracy]] observes the implementation of state organs and makes sure that Vietnamese citizens follow the law.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONSTITUTION AND POLITICAL SYSTEM |url=https://vietnamembassy-usa.org/vietnam/politics |website=Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the United States of America}}</ref>

== Key figures ==
[[File:Political Structure in Vietnam.png|thumb|Political Structure in Vietnam]]{{Further|Four pillars (Vietnamese bureaucrats)}}{{Multiple image
| header            = Four pillars
| direction         = horizontal
| total_width       = 500
| image1            = Tô Lâm in Hanoi - 2024 (P064238-935063).jpg
| caption1          = [[General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam|General Secretary of the Communist Party]] - [[Tô Lâm]]
| image2            = Luong Cuong 11112024.jpg
| caption2          = [[President of Vietnam|State President]] -<br />[[Lương Cường]]
| image3            = Pham Minh Chinh 2021.jpg
| caption3          = [[Prime Minister of Vietnam|Prime Minister]] -<br />[[Phạm Minh Chính]]
| align             = center
| image4            = Tran Thanh Man JP2024.jpg
| caption4          = [[Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam|National Assembly Chairman]] -<br />[[Trần Thanh Mẫn]]
}}

Practically, a four-person collective leadership is responsible for governing Vietnam. Unofficially referred as the [[Four pillars (Vietnamese bureaucrats)|four pillars]] ({{Langx|vi|tứ trụ}}, {{Lang-vi-hantu|四柱}}), the collection consists of the [[General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam]], [[President of Vietnam]], [[Prime Minister of Vietnam]] and [[Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam]], being four key figures in the Vietnamese political system. It is instrumented to avoid [[Centralisation|consolidating too much power into a single position]], thus avoiding [[dictatorship]].

==Legal framework==
{{Main|Constitution of Vietnam}}
Vietnam is a [[One-party state|one-party]] [[Socialist state|socialist republic]].<ref name="preambleoftheconstitution">{{cite web | title = Preamble of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] | url = http://www.chinhphu.vn/portal/page/portal/English/TheSocialistRepublicOfVietnam/AboutVietnam/AboutVietnamDetail?categoryId=10000103&articleId=10001012 | access-date =20 April 2012}}</ref> The current Vietnamese state traces its direct lineage back to the [[North Vietnam|Democratic Republic of Vietnam]] (North Vietnam) and the [[August Revolution|1945 August Revolution]] led by [[Ho Chi Minh|Hồ Chí Minh]]. The current constitution was adopted on 28 November 2013 by the [[National Assembly of Vietnam]]. There have been four other constitutions in Vietnamese history: the 1946, 1959, 1980, and 1992 constitutions. The [[Communist Party of Vietnam]], the leading non-State organ, operates in accordance with the laws. Government powers in Vietnam are divided into legislative, executive and judiciary powers. Vietnam's [[legal system]] is based upon [[Socialist law|socialist legality]] according to Article 12 of the constitution.<ref name="Socialistlegality">{{cite book | chapter = Article 12 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution }}</ref>

==State ideology==
{{See also|Vietnamese nationalism|Communism in Vietnam|Socialism in Vietnam|Ho Chi Minh Thought}}
[[File:HanoiPropagandaPoster.JPG|thumb|The Communist Party's poster in [[Hanoi]]]]
Vietnam is a [[socialist republic]] with a one-party system led by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). The CPV espouses [[Marxism–Leninism]] and [[Ho Chi Minh Thought|Hồ Chí Minh Thought]], the political philosophy and ideology of the late Hồ Chí Minh. The two ideologies function as a firm ideological basis and serve as guidance for the activities of the Party and state.<ref name="Politicalsystem">{{cite web | title = Political system | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] | access-date =20 April 2012 | url = http://www.chinhphu.vn/portal/page/portal/English/TheSocialistRepublicOfVietnam/AboutVietnam/AboutVietnamDetail?categoryId=10000103&articleId=10001578 }}</ref> According to the Constitution, Vietnam is "in the period of transition to socialism".<ref name="preambleoftheconstitution"/> Marxism–Leninism was introduced to Vietnam in the 1920s and 1930s, and [[Culture of Vietnam|Vietnamese culture]] has been led under the banner of [[patriotism]] and Marxism–Leninism.<ref>{{cite web | title = Vietnam culture overview | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] | access-date =16 April 2012 | url = http://www.chinhphu.vn/portal/page/portal/English/TheSocialistRepublicOfVietnam/AboutVietnam/AboutVietnamDetail?categoryId=10000103&articleId=10000475 }}</ref> Hồ Chí Minh's beliefs were not systematised during his life, nor quickly following his death. [[Trường Chinh]]'s biography of "Chairman Hồ" in 1973 emphasised his revolutionary policies. The thoughts of Hồ Chí Minh were systematised in 1989, under the leadership of [[Nguyễn Văn Linh]].{{sfn|Quinn-Judge|2002|p=2}} Hồ Chí Minh Thought, alongside Marxism–Leninism, became the official ideology of the CPV and the state in 1991.{{sfn|Gillespie|2006|p=90}} The CPV's claim to legitimacy was retained following the [[collapse of communism]] in 1989 and the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]] in 1991 by its commitment to the thoughts of Hồ Chí Minh, according to Sophie Quinn-Judge.{{sfn|Quinn-Judge|2002|p=256}} According to Pierre Brocheux, the author of ''Ho Chi Minh: a Biography'', the current state ideology is Hồ Chí Minh Thought, with Marxism–Leninism playing a secondary role.{{sfn|Brocheux|2007|p=186}} While some claim that Hồ Chí Minh Thought is used as a veil for the Party leadership since they, according to this version, have stopped believing in [[communism]], others claim this is not true considering that Hồ Chí Minh was an avid supporter of the [[dictatorship of the proletariat]]. Others see Hồ Chí Minh Thought as a political umbrella term whose main function is to smuggle in non-socialist ideas and policies without challenging socialist legality.{{sfn|Gillespie|2006|p=90}}

Since its foundation, the key ideology has been Marxism–Leninism, but since the introduction of a [[mixed economy]] in the late 1980s and 1990s, it has lost its monopolistic ideological and moral legitimacy.{{sfn|Gillespie|2006|p=91}} As became clear because of the [[Đổi Mới]] reforms, the Party could not base its rule on defending only the workers and the peasants, which was officially referred to as the "working class-peasant alliance".{{sfn|Gillespie|2006|p=92}} In the constitution introduced in 1992, the State represented the "workers, peasants and intellectuals".{{sfn|Gillespie|2006|p=91}} In recent years, the Party has stopped representing a specific class, but instead the "interests of the entire people", which includes entrepreneurs.{{sfn|Gillespie|2006|p=91}} The final class barrier was removed in 2002, when party members were allowed to engage in private activities. In the face of de-emphasising the role of Marxism–Leninism, the Party has acquired a broader ideology, placing more emphasis on [[nationalism]], [[developmentalism]], and becoming the protector of tradition.{{sfn|Gillespie|2006|pp=91–92}}

==Communist Party of Vietnam==
{{Main|Communist Party of Vietnam}}
[[File:Flag of the Communist Party of Vietnam.svg|thumb|The flag of the Communist Party of Vietnam]]
According to the official version, the Communist Party of Vietnam ({{langx|vi|Đảng Cộng sản Việt Nam}}) is leading the Vietnamese people "in carrying out the country's renovation, modernisation and industrialisation."<ref name="Politicalsystem"/> According to the Party's statute, amended at the [[9th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam|9th National Congress]] on 22 April 2001, the CPV was "established and trained by President Hồ Chí Minh, has led the Vietnamese people to carry out successfully the August Revolution, establishing the Democratic Republic of Việt Nam, now the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam, to defeat foreign invaders, to abolish the colonial and feudalist regime, to liberate and reunify the country, and then carry out the cause of renovation and socialist construction and firmly defend national independence."<ref name="Politicalsystem"/> It believes in [[socialist internationalism]] of the [[working class]], and supports the "struggle for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress of the world's people."<ref name="Politicalsystem"/> The CPV acts as the vanguard of the working people and the whole nation by representing their interests. Its aim is to create "a strong, independent, prosperous and democratic country with an equitable and civilized society, to realise [[Socialism (marxism)|socialism]] and ultimately, communism." The Party's ideological foundation is Marxism–Leninism and Hồ Chí Minh Thoughts. These ideologies guide the activities of the Party, while promoting "the nation's traditions, and absorbing other nations' essential ideas."<ref name="Politicalsystem"/>

The CPV is organised on the principles of [[democratic centralism]]. It practices "criticism, self-criticism, and strict discipline" and pursues "[[collective leadership]] and individual responsibility, and promoting comradeship and solidarity in line with the Party's political programs and statutes."<ref name="Politicalsystem"/> The CPV is subject to Vietnamese laws and the Constitution. It is the country's ruling party and promotes the "[[Lê Duẩn#Political beliefs|mastery of the people over the country]]". The Party is under the supervision of the people. It is dependent on having the people contribute to the party, by strengthening, uniting, and leading the people in the [[Revolutionary socialism|revolutionary cause]]. The political system in Vietnam is led by the CPV, and it "leads, respects and promotes the role of the State, the [[Vietnamese Fatherland Front]] (VFF) and other socio-political organisations."<ref name="Politicalsystem"/>

In 2021, General Secretary of the Communist Party, [[Nguyễn Phú Trọng|Nguyen Phu Trong]], was re-elected for  his third term in office, meaning he is Vietnam's most powerful leader in decades.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vietnam's ruling Communist Party re-elects chief Trong for rare third term |url=https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210131-vietnam-s-ruling-communist-party-re-elects-chief-trong-for-rare-third-term |work=France 24 |date=31 January 2021 }}</ref>

===Congress===
{{Main|National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam}}
The National Congress is the party's highest organ.{{sfn|Van|Cooper|1983|p=56}} The direction of the Party and the Government is decided at the National Congress, held every fifth year. The Central Committee is elected by the National Congress.{{sfn|Ashwill|Thai|2005|p=47}} Delegates vote on policies and candidate posts within the central party leadership. Following ratification of the decisions taken at the National Congress, the National Congress dissolves itself. The Central Committee, which is elected by the National Congress every fifth year, implements the decisions of the National Congress in the five-year period. Since the Central Committee only meets twice a year, the Politburo implements the policies of the National Congress.{{sfn|Van|Cooper|1983|p=56}}

===Central Committee===
[[File:HoChiMinhCity01c.jpg|thumb| [[Communist Party of Vietnam]] billboard marking the 30th anniversary of the reunification of the country in 1975]]
{{Main|Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam}}
The Central Committee (CC) is the CPV's most powerful institution.{{sfn|East|Thomas|2003|p=574}} It delegates some of its powers to the [[Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Secretariat]] and the [[Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Politburo]] when it is not in session.{{sfn|Rowley|2008|p=187}} When the [[Vietnam War]] ended in 1975, the Vietnamese leadership, led by [[Lê Duẩn]], began to centralise power. This policy continued until the [[6th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam|6th National Congress]], when [[Nguyễn Văn Linh]] took power. Linh pursued a policy of economic and political decentralisation.<ref name="Abuza, Zachary 121–145">{{cite journal |author=Abuza, Zachary|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25798583|title=The Lessons of Le Kha Phieu: Changing Rules in Vietnamese politics|journal=Contemporary Southeast Asia |date=16 November 2001|volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=121–145 |publisher=Vietnamese Professionals of America. [[Catholic University of America]]|jstor=25798583 }}</ref> The party and state bureaucracy opposed Linh's reform initiatives; because of this, Linh tried to win the support of provincial leaders. This caused the powers of the provincial chapters of the CPV to increase in the 1990s. The CPV lost its power to appoint or dismiss provincial-level officials in the 1990s; this is proven by the fact that [[Võ Văn Kiệt]] tried to wrestle this power back to the centre during the 1990s without success. These developments led to the provincialisation of the Central Committee; for example, more and more CC members have a background in provincial party work. Because of these changes, power in Vietnam has become increasingly devolved.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Abuza, Zachary|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25798583|title=The Lessons of Le Kha Phieu: Changing Rules in Vietnamese politics|journal=Contemporary Southeast Asia |date=16 November 2001|volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=121–145 |publisher=Vietnamese Professionals of America. [[Catholic University of America]] |jstor=25798583 }}</ref> The number of Central Committee members with a provincial background increased from a low of 15.6 percent in 1982 to a high of 41 percent in 2000. The former [[President of Vietnam|President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] [[Trương Tấn Sang]] (2011–2016) was directly elected from the provinces at the [[8th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam|8th Party Congress]], held in 1996.<ref name="Abuza, Zachary 121–145"/> Because of the devolution of power, the powers of the Central Committee have increased substantially; for instance, when a two-thirds majority of the [[Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Politburo]] voted in favour of retaining [[Lê Khả Phiêu]] as [[General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam|General Secretary]] (the leader of Vietnam), the Central Committee voted against the Politburo's motion and voted unanimously in favour of removing Lê Khả Phiêu from his post of General Secretary.<ref name="Abuza, Zachary 121–145"/> The Central Committee did this because the majority of its members were of provincial background, or were working in the provinces; because of this, these members were the first to feel the pinch when the economy began to stagnate during Lê Khả Phiêu's rule.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Abuza, Zachary|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25798583|title=The Lessons of Le Kha Phieu: Changing Rules in Vietnamese politics|journal=Contemporary Southeast Asia |date=16 November 2001|volume=24 |issue=1 |publisher=Vietnamese Professionals of America. [[Catholic University of America]]|pages=11–12|jstor=25798583 }}</ref>

The Central Committee elects the Politburo in the aftermath of the Party Congress. Since the full Central Committee meets only once a year, the Politburo functions as the Party's leading collective decision-making body.{{sfn|Van|Cooper|1983|p=69}} The Secretariat is also elected by the Central Committee, and is headed by the [[General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam|General Secretary]] ({{langx|vi|Tổng Bí thư Ban Chấp hành Trung ương Đảng Cộng sản Việt Nam}}). It is responsible for solving organizational problems and implementing the demands of the Central Committee. The Secretariat oversees the work of the Commissions of the Central Committee. The General Secretary is the de facto leader of Vietnam.

{{office-table}}
|[[General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam|General Secretary]] of the [[Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Central Committee]]
|rowspan="2"| [[Nguyễn Phú Trọng]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|rowspan="2"| 19 January 2011
|-
|Secretary of the [[Central Military Commission (Vietnam)|Central Military Commission]]
|Communist Party
|-
|Secretary of the [[Central Public Security Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Central Public Security Commission]]
|[[Tô Lâm]]
|Communist party
| May 2016
|-
|[[Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Executive Secretary]] of the [[Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Secretariat]]
|vacancy ([[Võ Thị Ánh Xuân]] (par intérim))
|Communist Party
|2024
|-
|Head of the [[Central Commission of Organization of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Central Commission of Organization]]
|[[Trương Thị Mai]]
|Communist Party
|5 April 2021
|-
|Chairman of the [[Central Inspection Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Central Commission for Inspection]]
|[[Trần Cẩm Tú]]
|Communist Party
|9 May 2018
|-
|Head of the [[Central Commission of Propaganda of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Central Commission of Propaganda]]
|[[Nguyễn Trọng Nghĩa]]
|Communist Party
|2021
|-
|Chairman of the [[Central Theoretical Council of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Central Theoretical Council]]
|[[Nguyễn Xuân Thắng]]
|Communist Party
|28 March 2011
|-
|Head of the [[Central Commission of Popularization of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Central Commission of Popularization]]
|[[Bùi Thị Minh Hoài]]
|Communist Party
|2021
|-
|Head of the [[Central Office of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Central Office]]
|[[Lê Minh Hưng]]
|Communist Party
|2021
|-
|Head of the [[Central Commission of External Affairs of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Central Commission of External Affairs]] 
|[[Lê Hoài Trung]]
|Communist Party
|2021
|-
|Head of the [[Central Commission of Economy of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Central Commission of Economy]]
|[[Trần Tuấn Anh]] 
|Communist Party
|2021
|-
|Head of the [[Central Commission of Internal Affairs of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Central Commission of Internal Affairs]]
|[[Phan Đình Trạc]]
|Communist Party
|26 February 2016 (Acting Head since 2015)
|}

The following is the official order of precedence of the Politburo according to the [[13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam|13th National Party Congress]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.dangcongsan.vn/activities-of-the-party-and-state/mr-nguyen-phu-trong-re-elected-to-be-party-general-secretary-569004.html|title=Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong re-elected to be Party General Secretary|website=en.dangcongsan.vn}}</ref>

# [[Nguyễn Phú Trọng]], Party General Secretary
# [[Nguyễn Xuân Phúc]], State President
# [[Phạm Minh Chính]], Prime Minister
# [[Vương Đình Huệ]], Chairman of the National Assembly
# [[Trần Tuấn Anh]], Head of the PCC's Commission of Economics
# [[Nguyễn Hoà Bình]], Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court
# [[Lương Cường]], General, Chairman of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army
# [[Đinh Tiến Dũng]], Secretary of Ha Noi Municipal Party Committee
# [[Phan Văn Giang]], Minister of National Defence
# [[Tô Lâm]], Minister of Public Security
# [[Trương Thị Mai]], Head of the Party's Central Committee's Commission of Organisational Affairs
# [[Trần Thanh Mẫn]], Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly
# [[Phạm Bình Minh]], Deputy Prime Minister
# [[Nguyễn Văn Nên]], Secretary of the [[Ho Chi Minh City|Ho Chi Minh]] city Party Committee
# [[Nguyễn Xuân Thắng]], Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council
# [[Võ Văn Thưởng]], Standing Member of the Secretariat of the Party
# [[Phan Đình Trạc]], Head of the PCC's Commission of Internal Affairs
# [[Trần Cẩm Tú]], Chairman of the PCC's Commission of Inspection

The Secretariat (term 13) includes some Politburo members assigned to join the Secretariat and 5 comrades elected at the first PCC meeting (term 13).
# [[Nguyễn Phú Trọng]], Party General Secretary
# [[Võ Văn Thưởng]], Standing Member of the Secretariat of the Party
# [[Trương Thị Mai]], Head of the Party's Central Committee's Commission of Organisational Affairs
# [[Trần Cẩm Tú]], Chairman of the PCC's Commission of Inspection
# [[Phan Đình Trạc]], Head of the PCC's Commission of Internal Affairs
# [[Nguyễn Hòa Bình]], Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court
# [[Đỗ Văn Chiến]], Chairman of the Presidium of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front
# [[Bùi Thị Minh Hoài]], Head of the [[Central Commission of Popularization of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Central Commission of Popularization]]
# [[Lê Minh Hưng]], Chief of the Office of the PCC
# [[Lê Minh Khái]], Deputy Prime Minister
# [[Nguyễn Trọng Nghĩa]], Head of the [[Central Commission of Propaganda of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Central Commission of Propaganda]]

==Fatherland Front==
{{Main|Vietnamese Fatherland Front}}
The [[Vietnamese Fatherland Front]] (VFF) ({{langx|vi|Mặt trận Tổ quốc Việt Nam}}) is an umbrella group of pro-communist movements. According to Article 9 of the Constitution, the VFF and its members constitute "the political base of people's power".{{sfn|Hasan|Onyx|2008|p=42}} The state must create a favorable environment for the VFF and its member organisations.{{sfn|Hasan|Onyx|2008|p=42}} The VFF is a voluntary mass organisation of political, socio-political and social organisations and "individuals from all classes, social strata, ethnic groups, and religions, including overseas Vietnamese."<ref name="Politicalsystem"/> Its main objectives are to gather and build a people unity bloc, "strengthen the people's political and spiritual consensus, encourage the people to promote their mastership, to implement the CPV's guidelines and policies, and to abide by the Constitution and laws."<ref name="Politicalsystem"/> The VFF is governed on the principles of [[democratic centralism|"democratic consensus, coordinated and united action."]]<ref name="Politicalsystem"/> Its organisation has been modelled after the state structure, and the VFF has its own independent statute.<ref name="Politicalsystem"/> Notable member organisations of the VFF include the [[Vietnam General Confederation of Labour|General Confederation of Labour]], the [[Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union|Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union]] and the [[Veteran Association (Vietnam)|Veteran Association]], among others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mattran.org.vn/Home/Tin-cactochucthanhvien/tinhoatdong-TCTV.htm#A|publisher=[[Vietnamese Fatherland Front]]|author=Staff writer|language=vi|title= TIN HOẠT ĐỘNG CỦA CÁC TỔ CHỨC THÀNH VIÊN|trans-title=Activities of member organisations|access-date=8 May 2012}}</ref>

{{office-table}}
|Chairman of the Central Committee
|[[Đỗ Văn Chiến]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|2021
|-
|Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee
|rowspan="2"|[[Hầu A Lềnh]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|rowspan="2"|2017
|-
|General Secretary of the Central Committee
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|}

==Executive==
{{Main|President of Vietnam|Prime Minister of Vietnam|Government of Vietnam}}{{See also|2023 Vietnamese presidential election}}
The [[President of Vietnam|President of the Republic]] ({{langx|vi|Chủ tịch nước Việt Nam}}) is the [[head of state]], elected to a five-year term by the [[National Assembly of Vietnam|National Assembly]], and is limited by the Constitution to a maximum tenure of 3 terms.<ref>{{cite book | chapter = Article 102 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref> In addition to being the Chairman of the Council for Defence and Security and [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Vietnam People's Armed Forces]], the president has the procedural duty of appointing or dismissing the [[Vice President of Vietnam|Vice President]], [[Prime Minister of Vietnam|Prime Minister]], Deputy Chief Judge of the Supreme People's Court and Head of the Supreme People's Procuracy, with the consent of the National Assembly through a simple majority vote. The President has influence on foreign policy, and has the right to declare a [[state of emergency]] and to declare war.<ref>{{cite book | chapter = Article 103 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref>

The [[Government of Vietnam|Government]] ({{langx|vi|Chính phủ}}) is headed by the President, Prime Minister and consists of several Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers and other members. The Government is a unified administration responsible for the implementation of political, economic, cultural, social, national defence, security and external activities of the state. It is also responsible for the effectiveness of the state apparatus itself from the top down, stabilisation in the country and the observance of the constitution.<ref>{{cite book | chapter = Article 110 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref> As with the President, the Government is elected by the deputies of the National Assembly for a five-year term.<ref>{{cite book | chapter = Article 113 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref> The [[Prime Minister of Vietnam|Prime Minister of the Government]] ({{langx|vi|Thủ tướng Chính phủ}}) is the [[head of government]] and is elected or dismissed by the National Assembly, at the request of the President. Since 5 April 2021, the Prime Minister has been [[Phạm Minh Chính]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Chính|first1=Phạm Minh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UOWeP5ehjGwC&pg=PA186|title=Kinh tế Việt Nam: Thăng trầm và đột phá|last2=Hoàng|first2=Vương Quân|date=2009|publisher=NXB Chính trị Quốc gia}}</ref>

{{office-table}}
|[[President of Vietnam|President]]
|[[Tô Lâm]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|2024
|-
|[[Vice President of Vietnam|Vice President]]
|[[Võ Thị Ánh Xuân]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|2021
|-
|[[Prime Minister of Vietnam|Prime Minister]]
|[[Phạm Minh Chính]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|2021
|-
|First-ranked Deputy Prime Minister
|Vacant
|
|
|
|-
|Deputy Prime Minister
|[[Lê Minh Khái]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
| 2021
|-
|Deputy Prime Minister
|[[Trần Lưu Quang]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|2023
|-
|Deputy Prime Minister
|[[Trần Hồng Hà]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|2023
|-
|}

==Legislative==
{{Main|Standing Committee of the National Assembly|National Assembly of Vietnam}}
[[File:Ba Dinh Hall 1462359227 71b04ee08a.jpg|thumb|The National Assembly convened at the [[Ba Dinh Hall|Ba Đình Hall]] until 2007, when the building was demolished ]]
The [[National Assembly of Vietnam|National Assembly]] ({{langx|vi|Quốc hội}}) is a [[unicameral]] legislative body, and is governed on the basis of [[democratic centralism]].<ref name="articlesix">{{cite book | chapter = Article 6 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref> It is the highest representative organ and the highest state organ. The National Assembly is the only organ vested with constitutional and legislative powers. It is responsible for fundamental domestic and foreign policies, socio-economic policies, defence and security issues, and it exercises supreme control over all state activities.<ref>{{cite book | chapter = Article 83 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref> Delegates (or members) of the National Assembly are elected through [[secret ballot]]s in democratic elections<ref>{{cite book | chapter = Article 7 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref> which are held every fifth year.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite book | chapter = Article 85 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref> The National Assembly is convened twice a year,<ref name="ReferenceA"/> and its [[Standing Committee of the National Assembly|Standing Committee]] represents it between sessions.<ref name="Politicalsystem"/>

The membership of the Standing Committee consists of the [[Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam|Chairman]] ({{langx|vi|Chủ tịch Quốc hội}}), deputy chairmen and other members; these members are elected by the National Assembly.<ref>{{cite book | chapter = Article 90 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref> Standing Committee members cannot simultaneously be members of the Government. Members work on a full-time basis, and their terms of office correspond with the term of the National Assembly. The Standing Committee continues to function until a new National Assembly is elected. According to the constitution, the Standing Committee is responsible for 12 duties. Of these, the most important are the powers to announce, convene and chair the National Assembly sessions, to interpret the constitution, laws and ordinances, and to issue ordinances on those matters assigned by the National Assembly. It supervises and guides the [[People's Council (Vietnam)|People's Councils]] and their activities, and directs, regulates and coordinates the activities of the Ethnic Council and the committees of the National Assembly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.na.gov.vn/htx/English/C1377/default.asp?Newid=1607#oz7A3C8uhCT0|title=Standing Committee|publisher=[[National Assembly of Vietnam|National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]]|access-date=11 April 2012}}</ref>

There are seven committees of the National Assembly. Committee membership is determined by the National Assembly. They are responsible for the studying and examination of bills, legislative initiatives, drafts of ordinances and other drafts of legal documents and reports assigned by the National Assembly or the Standing Committee. The committees provide the National Assembly and its Standing Committee with their opinions on the legislative programme. The committees supervise and conduct investigations within their respective competency and exercise powers which are stipulated by law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.na.gov.vn/htx/English/C1377/default.asp?Newid=1611#cq7nDaiZQeGo|title=Committees|publisher=[[National Assembly of Vietnam|National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]]|access-date=11 April 2012}}</ref> The National Assembly elects the Ethnic Council, which consists of a chairman, deputy chairmen and other members.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 19, 2013 |title=Ethnic council |url=https://adsdatabase.ohchr.org/IssueLibrary/ETHNIC%20COUNCIL%20(Vietnam).pdf}}</ref> The Ethnic Council studies and recommends actions to the National Assembly; the National Assembly has to consult with the Ethnic Council before issuing any decisions on ethnic policy. The Chairman of the Ethnic Council has to attend meetings of the Government which concern ethnic policy. The powers of the Ethnic Council are comparable to those of the committees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.na.gov.vn/htx/English/C1377/default.asp?Newid=1609#eV6vOQMpNuEX|title=Ethnic council|publisher=[[National Assembly of Vietnam|National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]]|access-date=11 April 2012}}</ref>

{{office-table}}
|[[Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam|Chairman]]
|[[Trần Thanh Mẫn]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|2024
|-
|First-ranked Deputy Chairman
|[[Trần Thanh Mẫn]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|2021
|-
|Deputy Chairman
|[[Nguyễn Khắc Định]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|2021
|-
|Deputy Chairman
|[[Nguyễn Đức Hải]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|2021
|-
|Deputy Chairman
|Col. Gen. [[Trần Quang Phương]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|2021
|-
|Chairman of the Ethnic Council
|[[Y Thanh Hà Niê Kđăm]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|2021
|}

==Judiciary==
{{Main|Judiciary of Vietnam}}
The Vietnamese judicial system is based upon [[Socialist law|Socialist legality]]. The country's highest judicial organ is the [[Supreme People's Court of Vietnam|Supreme People's Court]] (SPC) ({{langx|vi|Tòa án Nhân dân Tối cao}}). The composition of the SPC includes the Chief Justice ({{langx|vi|Chánh án Tòa án Nhân dân Tối cao}}), Deputy Chief Judge, jurors and court secretaries. The structure of the SPC (from the top down) is as follows: Council of Judges, Commission of Judges, [[Military Courts of Vietnam|Central Military Court]], Criminal Court, Civil Court, Appeal Court, and assisting staff. The Chief Judge of the SPC is elected by the National Assembly, while the President of the Socialist Republic has the power to nominate and dismiss the Deputy Chief Judge and judges at the Chief Judge's request. The Central Committee of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front introduces People's Jurors, which are in turn appointed by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly. According to the Government Web Portal, the operating principles of the courts are, during hearings, that the "judges and jurors are independent and only obey the laws." Justice and democracy within the system is supposedly ensured because legal decision-making is an open process. Jurors play an essential role, and defenders have the right of defence and to hire a lawyer.<ref name="Politicalsystem"/>

The [[Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam|Supreme People's Prosecutor]] (SPP) ({{langx|vi|Viện Kiểm sát Nhân dân Tối cao}}), the Vietnamese equivalent to an [[attorney general]], observes the implementation process of the Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government organs, local authorities, social and economic organisations, the armed forces, security forces and the Vietnamese citizens in general. The SPP respects the Constitution and state laws, practices public prosecution as stated by the law and ensures law enforcement. The head of the SPP is elected, dismissed, or removed from office by a proposal of the President. The Deputy Heads, prosecutors and inspectors appointed by the SPP head can be dismissed by the President on the Head's request.<ref name="Politicalsystem"/>

The SPC is the highest court for appeal and review, and it reports to the National Assembly, which controls the judiciary's budget and confirms the president's nominees to the SPC and SPP. The SPP issues arrest warrants, sometimes retroactively{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}. Below the SPC are district and provincial people's courts, military tribunals, and administrative, economic and labor courts. The people's courts are the courts of first instance. The [[Ministry of Defense (Vietnam)|Ministry of Defence]] (MOD) has military tribunals, which have the same rules as civil courts. Military judges and assessors are selected by the MOD and the SPC, but the SPC has supervisory responsibility. Although the constitution provides for independent judges and lay assessors (who lack administrative training), the [[United States Department of State]] maintains that Vietnam lacks an independent judiciary, in part because the Communist Party selects judges and vets them for political reliability. Moreover, the party seeks to influence the outcome of cases involving perceived threats to the state or the party's dominant position. In an effort to increase judicial independence, the government transferred local courts from the [[Ministry of Justice (Vietnam)|Ministry of Justice]] to the SPC in September 2002. However, the Department of State saw no evidence that the move actually achieved the stated goal. Vietnam's judiciary is also hampered by a shortage of lawyers and by rudimentary trial procedures{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}. The death penalty often is imposed in cases of corruption and drug trafficking.<ref name="LOC">{{cite web | url = http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Vietnam.pdf | title = Country Profile: Vietnam | date = December 2005 | access-date=12 April 2012|publisher=[[Federal Research Division]] of the [[Library of Congress]]|page=16}}</ref>

{{office-table}}

|Head of the Steering Committee of the Central Judicial Reform
|[[Nguyễn Xuân Phúc]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|2021
|-
|Chief Justice of the [[Supreme People's Court of Vietnam|Supreme People's Court]]
|[[Nguyễn Hòa Bình]]
|[[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]]
|8 April 2016
|-
|Director of the [[Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam|Supreme People's Prosecutor]]
|[[Lê Minh Trí]]
|Communist Party
|8 April 2016
|}

==Elections==
{{Main|Elections in Vietnam}}
Article 6 of the Constitution states that "The people make use of state power through the agency of the National Assembly and the People's Councils, which represent the will and aspirations of the people, are elected by them and responsible to them".<ref name="articlesix"/> Deputies (members) of the National Assembly are directly elected on a democratic basis through secret ballots. All citizens who are 18 or older, regardless of ethnic group, gender, social position, belief, religion, level of education, occupation or length of residency have the right to vote, the exceptions being the mentally disabled and those people who have been deprived of the right to vote by law. People aged 21 or older have the right to stand as a candidate at elections. Three election commissions have been established to manage elections; at the central level is the Election Council, at the provincial level and in centrally-run cities the Election Committee is responsible for election monitoring and the Election Commission is responsible for election monitoring at constituencies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.na.gov.vn/htx/English/C1481/default.asp?Newid=1647#RQKiBLZbuyHP|title=Election|publisher=[[National Assembly of Vietnam|National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]]|access-date=11 April 2012}}</ref>

The current 500 members of the National Assembly were elected during the [[2016 Vietnamese parliamentary election|2016
 parliamentary election]], and they have a five-year term. Despite foreign criticism, it is generally believed that the National Assembly has become more powerful in recent years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5if2Z8EcyMNAQO70JpKCuTR8SGcTw|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525133440/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5if2Z8EcyMNAQO70JpKCuTR8SGcTw|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 May 2011|title= One-party Vietnam votes in national election|author=Timberlake, Ian|agency=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=11 April 2012|date=21 May 2011}}</ref> The last election was held, according to the authorities, in a democratic, fair, lawful and safe manner and was considered a success. Voter turnout was 99.51 percent; nearly 62 million people voted. In their respective constituencies, [[Nguyễn Phú Trọng]], the General Secretary, was elected to the National Assembly with 85.63 percent of the votes, Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng was elected with 95.38 percent and President Trương Tấn Sang was elected with 80.19 percent. Outside the ruling troika, it was [[Nguyen Xuan Phuc|Nguyễn Xuân Phúc]], the Chairman of the Government Office, who was elected with the highest margin, with 94.59 percent of the votes. The number of self-nominated candidates was four times higher than the [[2007 Vietnamese parliamentary election|previous election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.vov.vn/Home/Election-results-for-NA-and-Peoples-Council-deputies-announced/20116/127197.vov|publisher=[[Voice of Vietnam]]|title= Election results for NA and People's Council deputies announced|date=3 June 2011|access-date=11 April 2011}}</ref> Fifteen out of the 182 candidates nominated by the central government and the central party leadership were defeated in the elections. [[Lê Thị Thu Ba]], a member of the [[Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam|Party's Central Committee]] and Chairman of the Committee of Law during the 12th National Assembly (2007–2011), was not re-elected to the National Assembly. Several [[Capitalism|capitalist]]s were elected to the assembly, but due to the socialist ideology of the state, they are not allowed to sit on the assembly's Committee on Economy and Budget.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.reuters.com/global/2011/06/04/party-wins-big-in-vietnam/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605124911/http://blogs.reuters.com/global/2011/06/04/party-wins-big-in-vietnam/|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 June 2011|title= Party wins big in Vietnam, but with a few twists|author=Ruwitch, John|access-date=11 April 2012|date=4 June 2011}}</ref>

[[Nguyễn Sinh Hùng]], the [[Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam|Chairman]] of the National Assembly, nominated [[Trương Tấn Sang]] for the Presidency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asean-cn.org/Item/3239.aspx|title=Truong Tan Sang nominated as Vietnam's State President|publisher=[[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]]–China|access-date=11 April 2012|date = 25 July 2011 | author = Staff writer }}</ref> 487 deputies of the National Assembly,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/National-Assembly-elects-new-State-President/20117/19841.vnplus | title = National Assembly elects new State President | publisher = en.vietnamplus.vn | date = 25 July 2011 | access-date =11 April 2011 | author = Staff writer }}</ref> meaning 97.4 percent, voted in favour of Trương Tấn Sang.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-07/25/c_131008089.htm | title = Truong Tan Sang elected Vietnamese state president | access-date =11 April 2011 | date = 25 July 2011 | author = Yang, Lina | agency=[[Xinhua News Agency]]. Xinhuanet }}</ref> In his victory speech, Trương Tấn Sang said, "I pledge to improve my moral quality and study the example of the late President Hồ Chí Minh to cooperate with the government to bring Vietnam to become a fully industrialized country by 2015."<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=25 July 2011 |title=Truong Tan Sang elected Vietnamese state president |url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7451057.html |access-date=11 April 2011 |work=[[People's Daily]] |publisher=}}</ref>

===Latest parliamentary election===
{{Main|2021 Vietnamese legislative election}}
{{#section-h:2021 Vietnamese legislative election|Results}}

===Latest presidential election===
{{Referendum
| title      = Vietnamese presidential election, 2011
| yes        = 488
| yespct     = 97.6
| no         = 12
| nopct      = 2.4
| total      = 500
| totalpct   = 100%
}}

==Local government==
{{Main|Provinces of Vietnam}}
Provinces and municipalities are subdivided into towns, districts and villages. Provinces and municipalities are centrally controlled by the national government. Towns, districts and villages are locally accountable to some degree through elected people's councils.<ref name="LOC"/> Certain cities and provinces are under direct control of the central government. The provinces are divided into districts, provincial cities and towns; cities under direct rule are divided into towns, urban and rural districts. In turn, the district is divided into communes and townlets. In the words of Article 118 of the Constitution, the "provincial city and the town are divided into wards and communes; the urban district is divided into wards."<ref name="hundredeighteen"/> The establishment of [[People's Council (Vietnam)|People's Council]] and [[People's Committee (Vietnam)|People's Committees]] is determined by law.<ref name="hundredeighteen">{{cite book | chapter = Article 118 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref>

In the provinces, the People's Council is the "local organ of State power", and it represents the "aspirations, and mastery of the people". The People's Council is democratically elected, and is accountable to the people and to superior organs of the state.<ref>{{cite book | chapter = Article 119 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref> It must pass resolutions which are formal orders of superior organs of state, and it acts on behalf of the constitution. The People's Council decides the plans for socio-economic development, decides the budget and is responsible for national defence and security at the local level.<ref>{{cite book | chapter = Article 120 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref> The deputy (member) of the People's Council acts on the behalf of the people,<ref>{{cite book | chapter = Article 121 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref> and has the right to make proposals to the People's Council and other local State organs. In turn, officials of these local organs have the responsibility to receive and to examine them.<ref>{{cite book | chapter = Article 122 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref>

The People's Council appoint a People's Committee, the executive organ of the People's Council. It is the People's Committee which has the responsibility to implement "the Constitution, the law, the formal written orders of superior State organs and the resolutions of the People's Council."<ref>{{cite book | chapter = Article 123 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref> The People's Committee is headed by a chairman, who acts as the body's leader. All decisions of the People's Committee are taken through a collegial decision-making process, and have to "conform to the will of the majority."<ref name="hundredtwentyfour"/> The chairman has the power to annul decisions of lower standing organs.<ref name="hundredtwentyfour">{{cite book | chapter = Article 124 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref>

Local officials of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front, its local head, and officials from other mass organisations in the locality have the right to attend the meetings of the People's Council and the People's Committee if relevant problems are discussed.<ref name="hundredtwentyfour"/> According to Article 125 of the constitution, "The People's Council and the People's Committee shall make regular reports on the local situation in all fields to the Fatherland Front and the mass organisations; shall listen to their opinions and proposals on local power building and socio-economic development; shall cooperate with them in urging the people to work together with the State for the implementation of socio-economic, national-defence, and security tasks in the locality."<ref>{{cite book | chapter = Article 125 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | publisher = [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |title=Constitution}}</ref>

===List of provinces===
{{Sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" style="font-size: 95%;"
!Province/City
!Capital
!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)<br /><ref name="GSOV">{{cite web|title= Report on completed census results: The 1/4/2009 Population and Housing Census |url=http://www.gso.gov.vn/default_en.aspx?tabid=462&idmid=2&idmid=2&ItemID=9789|publisher=General Statistics Office of Vietnam. [[Government of Vietnam|Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] |date=1 April 2009| access-date=11 April 2012}}</ref>
!Population<br /><ref name="GSOV"/>
!Density (/km<sup>2</sup>)<br /><ref name="GSOV"/>
!% Urban<br /><ref name="GSOV"/>
![[Human Development Index|HDI]]<br /><ref name="GSOV"/>
!Region
|---
|[[Hà Tĩnh province]]
|[[Hà Tĩnh]]
|6,026.5
|1,227,038
|203.6
|14.9
|0.543
|[[North Central Coast]]
|---
|[[Nghệ An province]]
|[[Vinh]]
|16,498.5
|2,912,041
|176.5
|12.9
|0.547
|[[North Central Coast]]
|---
|[[Quảng Bình province]]
|[[Đồng Hới]]
|8,065.3
|844,893
|104.8
|15.0
|0.553
|[[North Central Coast]]
|---
|[[Quảng Trị province]]
|[[Đông Hà]]
|4,760.1
|598,324
|125.7
|27.4
|0.529
|[[North Central Coast]]
|---
|[[Thanh Hóa province]]
|[[Thanh Hóa]]
|11,136.3
|3,400,595
|305.4
|10.4
|0.579
|[[North Central Coast]]
|---
|[[Thừa Thiên Huế province]]
|[[Huế]]
|5,065.3
|1,087,420
|214.7
|36.0
|0.565
|[[North Central Coast]]
|---
|[[Hà Giang province]]
|[[Hà Giang]]
|7,945.8
|724,537
|91.2
|11.6
|0.600
|[[Northeast (Vietnam)|Northeast]]
|---
|[[Cao Bằng province]]
|[[Cao Bằng]]
|6,724.6
|507,183
|75.4
|16.9
|0.527
|[[Northeast (Vietnam)|Northeast]]
|---
|[[Bắc Kạn province]]
|[[Bắc Kạn]]
|4,868.4
|293,826
|60.4
|16.1
|0.602
|[[Northeast (Vietnam)|Northeast]]
|---
|[[Tuyên Quang province]]
|[[Tuyên Quang]]
|5,870.4
|724,821
|123.5
|13.0
|0.664
|[[Northeast (Vietnam)|Northeast]]
|---
|[[Thái Nguyên province]]
|[[Thái Nguyên]]
|3,546.6
|1,123,116
|316.7
|25.6
|0.656
|[[Northeast (Vietnam)|Northeast]]
|---
|[[Lạng Sơn province]]
|[[Lạng Sơn]]
|8,331.2
|732,515
|87.9
|19.2
|0.648
|[[Northeast (Vietnam)|Northeast]]
|---
|[[Quảng Ninh province]]
|[[Hạ Long]]
|6,099.0
|1,144,988
|187.7
|51.9
|0.668
|[[Northeast (Vietnam)|Northeast]]
|---
|[[Bắc Giang province]]
|[[Bắc Giang]]
|3,827.4
|1,554,131
|406.1
|9.4
|0.602
|[[Northeast (Vietnam)|Northeast]]
|---
|[[Phú Thọ province]]
|[[Việt Trì]]
|3,528.4
|1,316,389
|373.1
|15.8
|0.513
|[[Northeast (Vietnam)|Northeast]]
|---
|[[Lào Cai province]]
|[[Lào Cai]]
|6,383.9
|614,595
|96.3
|21.0
|0.665
|[[Northeast (Vietnam)|Northeast]]
|---
|[[Yên Bái province]]
|[[Yên Bái]]
|6,899.5
|740,397
|107.3
|18.8
|0.533
|[[Northeast (Vietnam)|Northeast]]
|---
|[[Hòa Bình province]]
|[[Hòa Bình City|Hòa Bình]]
|4,684.2
|785,217
|167.6
|15.0
|0.595
|[[Northwest (Vietnam)|Northwest]]
|---
|[[Điện Biên province]]
|[[Điện Biên Phủ]]
|9,562.5
|490,306
|51.3
|15.0
|0.545
|[[Northwest (Vietnam)|Northwest]]
|---
|[[Lai Châu province]]
|[[Lai Châu]]
|9,112.3
|370,502
|40.7
|14.2
|0.542
|[[Northwest (Vietnam)|Northwest]]
|---
|[[Sơn La province]]
|[[Sơn La]]
|14,174.4
|1,076,055
|75.9
|13.8
|0.497
|[[Northwest (Vietnam)|Northwest]]
|---
|[[Bắc Ninh province]]
|[[Bắc Ninh]]
|823.1
|1,024,472
|1,244.7
|23.5
|0.484
|[[Red River Delta]]
|---
|[[Hà Nam province]]
|[[Phủ Lý]]
|859.7
|784,045
|912.0
|9.5
|0.499
|[[Red River Delta]]
|---
|[[Hải Dương province]]
|[[Hải Dương]]
|1,652.8
|1,705,059
|1,031.6
|19.0
|0.502
|[[Red River Delta]]
|---
|[[Hưng Yên province]]
|[[Hưng Yên]]
|923.5
|1,127,903
|1,221.3
|12.1
|0.501
|[[Red River Delta]]
|---
|[[Nam Định province]]
|[[Nam Định]]
|1,650.8
|1,828,111
|1,107.4
|17.6
|0.539
|[[Red River Delta]]
|---
|[[Ninh Bình province]]
|[[Ninh Bình]]
|1,392.4
|898,999
|645.6
|17.9
|0.601
|[[Red River Delta]]
|---
|[[Thái Bình province]]
|[[Thái Bình]]
|1,546.5
|1,781,842
|1,152.1
|9.7
|0.585
|[[Red River Delta]]
|---
|[[Vĩnh Phúc province]]
|[[Vĩnh Yên]]
|1,373.2
|999,786
|728.1
|22.4
|0.523
|[[Red River Delta]]
|---
|colspan="2"|[[Hanoi|Hà Nội City]]
|3,119.0
|6,451,909
|2,068.6
|41.0
|0.768
|[[Red River Delta]]
|---
|colspan="2"|[[Haiphong|Hải Phòng City]]
|1,520.7
|1,837,173
|1,208.1
|46.1
|0.595
|[[Red River Delta]]
|---
|[[Đắk Lắk province]]
|[[Buôn Ma Thuột]]
|13,139.2
|1,733,624
|131.9
|24.0
|0.596
|[[Central Highlands (Vietnam)|Central Highlands]]
|---
|[[Đắk Nông province]]
|[[Gia Nghĩa]]
|6,516.9
|489,382
|75.1
|14.7
|0.563
|[[Central Highlands (Vietnam)|Central Highlands]]
|---
|[[Gia Lai province]]
|[[Pleiku]]
|15,536.9
|1,274,412
|82.0
|28.6
|0.697
|[[Central Highlands (Vietnam)|Central Highlands]]
|---
|[[Kon Tum province]]
|[[Kon Tum]]
|9,690.5
|430,133
|44.4
|33.5
|0.593
|[[Central Highlands (Vietnam)|Central Highlands]]
|---
|[[Lâm Đồng province]]
|[[Đà Lạt]]
|9,776.1
|1,187,574
|121.5
|37.8
|0.545
|[[Central Highlands (Vietnam)|Central Highlands]]
|---
|[[Bình Định province]]
|[[Qui Nhơn]]
|6,039.6
|1,486,465
|246.1
|27.7
|0.591
|[[South Central Coast]]
|---
|[[Khánh Hòa province]]
|[[Nha Trang]]
|5,217.6
|1,157,604
|221.9
|39.9
|0.555
|[[South Central Coast]]
|---
|[[Phú Yên province]]
|[[Tuy Hòa]]
|5,060.6
|862,231
|170.4
|21.8
|0.594
|[[South Central Coast]]
|---
|[[Quảng Nam province]]
|[[Tam Kỳ]]
|10,438.3
|1,422,319
|136.3
|18.6
|0.548
|[[South Central Coast]]
|---
|[[Quảng Ngãi province]]
|[[Quảng Ngãi]]
|5,152.7
|1,216,773
|236.1
|14.6
|0.618
|[[South Central Coast]]
|---
|colspan="2"|[[Da Nang|Đà Nẵng City]]
|1,257.3
|887,435
|705.8
|86.9
|0.689
|[[South Central Coast]]
|---
|[[Bình Thuận province]]
|[[Phan Thiết]]
|7,836.9
|1,167,023
|148.9
|39.3
|0.637
|[[South Central Coast]]
|---
|[[Ninh Thuận province]]
|[[Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm]]
|3,363.1
|564,993
|168.0
|36.1
|0.556
|[[South Central Coast]]
|---
|[[Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province]]
|[[Vũng Tàu]]
|1,989.6
|996,682
|500.9
|49.9
|0.700
|[[Southeast (Vietnam)|Southeast]]
|---
|[[Bình Dương province]]
|[[Thủ Dầu Một]]
|2,696.2
|1,481,550
|549.5
|29.9
|0.643
|[[Southeast (Vietnam)|Southeast]]
|---
|[[Bình Phước province]]
|[[Đồng Xoài]]
|6,883.4
|873,598
|126.9
|16.5
|0.665
|[[Southeast (Vietnam)|Southeast]]
|---
|[[Đồng Nai province]]
|[[Biên Hòa]]
|5,903.9
|2,486,154
|421.1
|33.2
|0.489
|[[Southeast (Vietnam)|Southeast]]
|---
|[[Tây Ninh province]]
|[[Tây Ninh]]
|4,035.9
|1,066,513
|264.3
|15.6
|0.537
|[[Southeast (Vietnam)|Southeast]]
|---
|colspan="2"|[[Ho Chi Minh City|Hồ Chí Minh City]]
|2,297.6
|7,162,864
|3,528.9
|83.3
|0.798
|[[Southeast (Vietnam)|Southeast]]
|---
|[[An Giang province]]
|[[Long Xuyên]]
|3,536.8
|2,142,709
|605.8
|28.4
|0.596
|[[Mekong Delta]]
|---
|[[Bạc Liêu province]]
|[[Bạc Liêu]]
|2,584.1
|856,518
|331.5
|26.1
|0.586
|[[Mekong Delta]]
|---
|[[Bến Tre province]]
|[[Bến Tre]]
|2,360.2
|1,255,946
|532.1
|9.9
|0.607
|[[Mekong Delta]]
|---
|[[Cà Mau province]]
|[[Cà Mau]]
|5,331.7
|1,206,938
|226.4
|20.4
|0.494
|[[Mekong Delta]]
|---
|[[Đồng Tháp province]]
|[[Cao Lãnh City|Cao Lãnh]]
|3,376.4
|1,666,467
|493.9
|17.8
|0.483
|[[Mekong Delta]]
|---
|[[Hậu Giang province]]
|[[Vị Thanh]]
|1,601.1
|757,300
|473.0
|19.6
|0.666
|[[Mekong Delta]]
|---
|[[Kiên Giang province]]
|[[Rạch Giá]]
|6,348.3
|1,688,248
|265.9
|27.0
|0.708
|[[Mekong Delta]]
|---
|[[Long An province]]
|[[Tân An, Long An|Tân An]]
|4,493.8
|1,436,066
|319.6
|17.4
|0.435
|[[Mekong Delta]]
|---
|[[Sóc Trăng province]]
|[[Sóc Trăng]]
|3,312.3
|1,292,853
|390.3
|19.4
|0.554
|[[Mekong Delta]]
|---
|[[Tiền Giang province]]
|[[Mỹ Tho]]
|2,484.2
|1,672,271
|673.2
|13.7
|0.811
|[[Mekong Delta]]
|---
|[[Trà Vinh province]]
|[[Trà Vinh]]
|2,295.1
|1,003,012
|437.0
|15.3
|0.676
|[[Mekong Delta]]
|---
|[[Vĩnh Long province]]
|[[Vĩnh Long]]
|1,479.1
|1,024,707
|692.8
|15.3
|0.503
|[[Mekong Delta]]
|---
|colspan="2"|[[Cần Thơ|Cần Thơ City]]
|1,401.6
|1,188,435
|847.9
|65.9
|0.389
|[[Mekong Delta]]
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Ashwill | first1 = Mark | last2 = Thai | first2 = Ngoc Diep | title = Vietnam Today: A Guide to a Nation at a Crossroads  | publisher = Intercultural Press | year = 2005 | isbn = 9781931930093}}
* {{cite book | last = Brocheux | first = Pierre | title = Ho Chi Minh: a Biography | publisher = Cambridge University Press | year = 2007 | isbn = 9780521850629 | url = https://archive.org/details/hochiminhbiograp00broc}}
* {{cite book | last1 = East | first1 = Roger | last2 = Thomas | first2 = Richard | title = Profiles of People in Power: The World's Government Leaders | publisher = Routledge | year = 2003 | isbn = 9781857431261 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/profilesofpeople0001east}}
* {{cite book | last = Porter | first = Gareth | author-link = Gareth Porter | title = Vietnam: The Politics of Bureaucratic Socialism | publisher = Cornell University Press | year = 1993 | isbn = 9780801421686 | url = https://archive.org/details/vietnampoliticso00port }}
* {{cite book | last = Gillespie | first = John Stanley | title = Transplanting Commercial Law Reform: Developing a 'Rule of Law' in Vietnam  | publisher = Ashgate Publishing | year = 2006 | isbn = 9780754647041}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Hasan | first1 = Samiul | last2 =  Onyx| first2 = Jenny | title = Comparative Third Sector Governance in Asia: Structure, Process, and Political Economy  | publisher = Springer | year = 2008 | isbn = 9780387755663 }}
* {{cite book | last1 = Napier | first1 = Nancy K. | last2 =  Vuong| first2 = Quan Hoang | title = What We See, Why We Worry, Why We Hope: Vietnam Going Forward  | ref = bsucci | publisher = Boise State University CCI Press | year = 2013 | isbn = 9780985530587}}
* {{cite book | last = Quinn-Judge | first = Sophie | title = Ho Chi Minh: The Missing Years, 1919–1941 | publisher = University of California Press | year = 2002 | isbn = 9780520235335}}
* {{cite book | last = Rowley | first = Chris | title = The Changing Face of Management in South East Asia  | publisher = Taylor & Francis | year = 2008 | isbn = 9780415405447 }}
* {{cite book | last1 = Van | first1 = Canh Nguyen | last2 = Cooper | first2 = Earle | title = Vietnam under Communism, 1975–1982 | publisher = Hoover Press | year = 1983 | isbn = 9780817978518 | url = https://archive.org/details/vietnamundercomm0000nguy}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
* Active Citizens under Political Wraps: Experiences from Myanmar/Burma and Vietnam pub. by the Heinrich Böll [http://www.chinhphu.vn/portal/page?_pageid=439,1&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL chinhphu.vn] Vietnam Government Foundation, Chiang Mai, Thailand, November 2006, p.&nbsp;201.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071027173214/http://www.ngocentre.org.vn/Default.asp?page=vietnam_government_sites VUFO-NGO, Directory of Vietnam government ministry and agency websites]
{{Country study|country=Vietnam|abbr=vn}}

{{Vietnam topics}}
{{Asia topic|Politics of}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Politics Of Vietnam}}
[[Category:Politics of Vietnam| ]]
[[Category:Government of Vietnam]]
[[Category:Politics of Southeast Asia|Vietnam]]

[[bn:ভিয়েতনাম#রাজনীতি]]