Brief biography of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam

On April 7, 2026, at the first session of the 16th National Assembly, he was elected President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam./.

President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam To Lam at the swearing-in ceremony. (Photo: VNA)
President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam To Lam at the swearing-in ceremony. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The 16th National Assembly (NA) elected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam, a deputy to the 16th legislature, as State President for the 2026–2031 term at its first session on April 7.

The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) respectfully introduces a brief biography of comrade To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Full name: To Lam
Date of birth: July 10, 1957, Ethnicity: Kinh
Native place: Nghia Tru commune, Hung Yen province
Date of Party admission: August 22, 1981
Political theory level: Advanced
Professional expertise: Law – Security
Academic title and degree: Professor of Security Science, PhD in Law.

Positions:

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee in the 13th and 14th tenures

- Member of the Party Central Committee's Political Bureau in the 12th, 13th and 14th tenures

- Member of the Party Central Committee in the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th tenures.

- President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Chairman of the Council for National Defence and Security (2024)

- Secretary of the Central Military Commission (since August 2024)

- Head of the Central Steering Committee for Prevention and Control of Corruption, Wastefulness and Negative Phenomena

- Deputy to the National Assembly in the 14th, 15th and 16th tenures

Summary of career

1974-1979: Student at the People’s Security University (now the People’s Security Academy).

1979 -2010: Officer of the Ministry of Public Security.

2010-2016: Deputy Minister of Public Security.

2016-2024: Secretary of the Central Public Security Party Committee and Minister of Public Security.

January 2019: Promoted to the rank of General of the People's Public Security.

May 2024 – October 2024: President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

August 3, 2024: Elected by the Party Central Committee as General Secretary of the 13th Party Central Committee.

January 22, 2026: At the 14th National Party Congress, elected as a member of the 14th Party Central Committee for the 2026–2031 term.

January 23, 2026: At its first session, the 14th Party Central Committee unanimously agreed to re-elect comrade To Lam, General Secretary of the 13th Party Central Committee, to continue serving as General Secretary of the 14th Party Central Committee.

April 7, 2026: At the first session of the 16th National Assembly, elected as President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam./.

VNA

See more

Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (left) meets with Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Numan Kurtulmus in Istanbul on April 17. (Photo: VNA)

Top legislators of Vietnam, Türkiye meet on sidelines of IPU-152 in Istanbul

The top Vietnamese legislator expressed his admiration for Türkiye’s cultural identity and its friendly, hospitable people, while highly valuing the European country’s growing role and position at multilateral forums and in regional mediation efforts. He affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening ties with Türkiye.

Officials sign cooperation documents in the presence of Party General Secretary and President of Vietnam To Lam, and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on April 15, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, China sign 32 cooperation documents

The documents include a cooperation plan between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of China (CPC) for the 2026–2030 period; a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the Organisation Commission of the CPV Central Committee and its Chinese counterpart; and a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee.

The meeting between Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Tran Thanh Man and Speaker of the Federation Council of Russia’s Federal Assembly Valentina Matviyenko in Istanbul, Türkiye, on April 17 (Photo: VNA)

Parliamentary leaders hail development of Vietnam – Russia ties

The top legislator of Vietnam proposed that both sides deepen political and diplomatic connections, as well as parliamentary cooperation, through delegation exchanges, high-level meetings through various channels, and the successful organisation of a visit to Vietnam by the Speaker of Russia’s Federation Council and a trip to Russia by the NA Chairman to co-chair the 5th session of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in 2026.

Wei Wei, a researcher on Vietnam and head of the Vietnamese-language service at the China Media Group, grants an interview to the Vietnam News Agency. (Photo: VNA)

Expert highlights new trends in Vietnam – China relations

A Chinese expert has paid attention to General Secretary and President To Lam's visit to the Xiong'an New Area, meeting with youth representatives of both countries together with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, and experience of high-speed rail travel.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam and his spouse, together with a high-level Vietnamese delegation, leave Nanning on April 17, successfully concluding their state visit to China from April 14–17 (Photo: VNA)

General Secretary, State President To Lam concludes state visit to China

The trip also included meetings with Vietnamese diplomatic staff and the Vietnamese community in China, exchanges with relatives of Chinese generals, experts and others who had supported Vietnam-China friendship, attendance at a Vietnam - China friendship art programme, a visit to the historic Nanning Yucai School, and participation in activities launching a Vietnam–China Border People’s Festival 2026.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President Xi Jinping (R) welcomes General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, China issue joint statement on deepening Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership in new era

The State visit to China by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam was a great success, positively contributing to strengthening the traditional friendship and accelerating the building of the Vietnam–China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, thus promoting peace, stability, development, and prosperity in the region and the world.