There are only a few days left until the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly (NA) and People’s Council at all levels in the 2021 - 2026 tenure. Streets across Hanoi have been decorated with colourful billboards, posters, and flags, warming up the atmosphere in the run up to the ‘big festival’ of the nation on May 23. Voting will begin at 7am across around 80,000 voting units nationwide. The election is a great festival of the nation, a chance for voters to exercise the rights and obligations of citizens in selecting capable persons to represent the people’s will, aspiration, and right to mastery in the NA and People’s Councils at all levels. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Going on Hanoi streets these days, people can see that the general elections are just around the corner. In the elections of deputies to the 15th NA and People’s Council at all levels in the 2021 - 2026 tenure, more than 69 million voters across the country will go to the poll to elect 500 deputies to the 15th NA among 866 candidates. Meanwhile, 3,726 deputies will be selected among 6,199 candidates to provincial-level People’s Councils, 22,952 deputies to district-level councils among 37,468 candidates, and 242,312 deputies to communal-level councils among 405,244 candidates. As the elections take place amid the complicated COVID-19 situation, preparations have been made thoroughly to ensure health safety for the people. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
All infrastructure conditions necessary for the ‘big festival’ have been readied in the capital city so as to ensure that the elections will be successful amid complex developments of the latest COVID-19 outbreak. In the State apparatus of Vietnam, the NA is the highest representative body of the people and the supreme organ of State power of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. It exercises constitutional and legislative rights, decides on key matters of the country, and performs supreme supervision over the State’s activities. The legislature is the highest organ of State power as the Constitution stipulates that all power belongs to the people and the people are the subject of State power. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
In Ba Dinh district, decorations at polling stations have been completed since late March. May 23 is a special Sunday when nearly 69 million voters across Vietnam will cast ballots to elect deputies to the 15th-tenure NA and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021 - 2026 tenure. Under the Constitution, the legislature has the right to make and adjust the Constitution and laws. It stipulates the most basic and important matters regarding the format and nature of the State; acknowledges, respects, protects, and ensures the fundamental rights and obligations of citizens; and prescribes the basic contents on economic, social, cultural, educational, scientific, technological, environmental, and national defence mechanisms, and the State apparatus. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
So far, more than 2,550 banners, 1,246 square metres of billboards, and a large number of posters and red flags have been put up across Ba Dinh district, brightening local streets ahead of the general elections. Through law making and revision, the NA adjusts social relations in each sector. It also decides on the country’s important matters, including major policies, national plans and people’s livelihoods, and basic policies on internal and external affairs, along with socio-economic and national defence and security tasks. The parliament exercises the right to supreme supervision over all activities of the State and reviews the implementation of the Constitution and laws. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports said the city had completed decorations for the general elections by May 18. The NA is the people’s highest representative body as reflected through its formation. It is elected by voters nationwide in universal, equal, and secret ballots. The legislative body represents the will and aspirations of the people and is empowered by the people to decide on the country’s major matters. It takes responsibility before the people. NA deputies form the most basic and important factor in the legislature. They must be eminent citizens in all State and social activities, representing people from all social strata and ethnic groups nationwide. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Colourful flags, flowers, banners, and posters now present in every corner of the city to warm up the atmosphere and encourage the public to support the general elections. The legislature is the image of the great national unity bloc, and a symbol of the power of brainpower of the whole nation. The functions and tasks of the NA have been reflected in areas such as constitution-making, legislation, supreme supervision, and decision-making on the country’s important matters, in order to serve the shared interests of the people. Over the past 75 years, the NA has been dedicated to working for the national interests, listening to the people’s voice, and acting on behalf of the will and aspirations of the people. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports has also deployed vehicles on streets to disseminate information about the general elections. In Vietnam, election is the way for the people to select their representatives in the people-elected bodies at central and local levels, namely the NA and People’s Councils of different levels. Thereby, the people’s power is converted into the state power and agencies formed by the people via election become the state-power agencies at the central and local levels. According to the Constitution and the Law on the NA Organisation, the legislature performs three main functions: exercising the constitutional and legislative rights, deciding on important issues of the country, and performing supreme supervision over the State’s operations. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Lists of candidates and eligible voters have been publicised in line with regulations for many days. Communications and cultural activities have also been increased to popularise the general elections in conformity with guidelines issued by the Vietnam Fatherland Front committee and election councils at all levels. Article 70 of the 2013 Constitution states that the NA is tasked with making and amending the Constitution and laws. It performs supreme supervision over the observance of the Constitution, laws, and resolutions from the NA, and scrutinises performance reports from the President, the NA Standing Committee, the Government, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the National Election Council, the State Audit of Vietnam, and other agencies established by the legislature. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Many streets across Hanoi have been adorned with colourful billboards, flags, banners, and posters in order to help the elections secure the best possible results and truly become the ‘festival of the entire people’. The NA is elected by the people, serving as the highest State agency exercising the people’s power. It determines fundamental targets, policies, and tasks for national socio-economic development, along with basic financial and monetary policies; the issuance, amendment and cancelation of taxes; the allocation of proceeds and the use of central and local budgets; safety limits on national, public, and government debts; and State budget estimates and central budget allocation, while ratifying the State budget balance. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
On May 23, nearly 69 million voters nationwide will cast ballots to elect deputies to the 15th NA and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021 - 2026 tenure. In the State apparatus of Vietnam, the NA is the highest representative body of the people and the supreme organ of State power of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Among its functions, the parliament also makes decisions on the ethnic and religious policies of the State, and sets regulations on the organisation and operation of the legislature, the President, the Government, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the National Election Council, the State Audit of Vietnam, local governments, and other agencies set up by the NA. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Hanoi is assessed as one of the localities that have done a good job of preparing for the elections of deputies to the 15th NA and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021 - 2026 tenure. The NA decides on the election and dismissal of the President, the Vice President, the NA Chairperson, NA Vice Chairpersons, members of the NA Standing Committee, heads of the Council for Ethnic Affairs and committees of the legislature, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the head of the National Election Council, the Auditor General of the State Audit Office of Vietnam, and heads of other agencies established by the NA. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Large billboards and banners are placed at major intersections and roads in the capital city. The NA ratifies proposals to appoint or dismiss Deputy Prime Ministers, ministers, and other Government members, and judges of the Supreme People’s Court, and the lists of members of the National Defence and Security Council and the National Election Council. It also makes decisions on the establishment and dissolution of ministries and ministerial-level agencies of the Government; the establishment, dissolution, division, merger, and adjustment of administrative boundaries of centrally-run cities and provinces and special administrative-economic units; and the establishment and abolition of other agencies in line with the Constitution and laws. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The national flags are hung in front every house in an alley in Hanoi. The atmosphere of the general elections now can be felt in every corner across the capital city. The NA has the right to scrap documents submitted by the President, the NA Standing Committee, the Government, the Prime Minister, the Supreme People’s Court, and the Supreme People’s Procuracy that run counter to the Constitution, laws, or NA resolutions. The legislature will issue decisions on amnesty; military, diplomatic and State ranks; and orders, medals, and other noble titles of the State. Apart from making decisions about war and peace, it also puts forth regulations on state of emergency and special measures to ensure national defence and security. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
A billboard about the general elections placed outside a polling station in Tay Ho district. Other functions of the NA include deciding on basic policies for external relations; ratifying and deciding on the engagement in or invalidation of international treaties relating to war, peace, national sovereignty, Vietnam’s membership of important international and regional organisations, international treaties on human rights and citizens’ fundamental rights and obligations, and other international conventions. The parliament also makes decisions on the organisation of referendums. On May 23, voting will begin at 7am across around 80,000 voting units nationwide in the elections of deputies to the 15th NA and People’s Council at all levels in the 2021 - 2026 tenure. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
In the State apparatus of Vietnam, the National Assembly is the supreme representative body of the people and also the highest organ of the State power of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Meanwhile, People’s Councils at lower levels are the representative bodies of the people and the organs of the State power at local levels. Taking place after the success of the 13th National Party Congress that was held from January 26 to February 1, the elections of deputies to the 15th NA and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021 - 2026 tenure are a special political event and also a widespread democratic activity among people of all social strata. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Large banners and posters hung on the gate of a military unit in Hanoi. The general elections are held after the 13th National Party Congress, which set the goals for not only the next five years but also the 10 and 25 years to come, when Vietnam will mark the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 - 2030) and 100 years since the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 - 2045). The enormous contributions made by the 14th NA and the greater national development goals for the new period require a more visionary parliament. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Large billboards about the general elections can be easily seen on Hanoi streets these days. The Politburo’s Directive No 45-CT/TW, issued on June 20 last year, stated that the elections of deputies to the 15th NA and all-level People’s Councils for 2021 - 2026 is a significant political event of the country to select outstanding and worthy representatives of the people’s will, aspirations, and right to mastery in the NA and all-level People’s Councils in the new term, which will greatly help to build, consolidate, and complete the law-governed socialist State of the people, by the people, and for the people under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The vicinity of Ba Dinh Square is decorated with banners and posters about the general elections. The elections of deputies to the 15th NA and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2021 - 2026 tenure are the largest-ever elections in the country. Nearly 69.2 million voters nationwide will go to the poll to elect 500 deputies to the 15th NA among 866 candidates. Meanwhile, 3,726 deputies will be chosen among 6,199 candidates to provincial-level People’s Councils, 22,952 deputies to district-level councils among 37,468 candidates, and 242,312 deputies to communal-level councils among 405,244 candidates. The 15th tenure will mark a critical period in the development course of the NA and make considerable contribution to realising the country’s aspirations. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
A place in Buoi ward, Hanoi’s Tay Ho district, where lists of candidates in the general elections are publicised. On May 23, more than 69 million voters across the country will exercise their right and responsibility to select moral and talented persons to organs of the State power. Through their elected deputies, people can take part in the making and enforcement of laws and policies and the monitoring of implementation process, while directly benefiting from those laws and policies. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has caused considerable impacts on preparations for the elections, the entire political system has taken urgent solutions to ensure that the ‘national festival’ will take place on schedule with absolute safety guaranteed. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
At a polling station in Buoi ward of Tay Ho district, members of the election organising group are checking ballots to distribute to voters on Sunday, May 23. Both the 1992 Constitution (revised in 2001) and the 2013 Constitution set the orientation of building the Vietnamese State into a law-ruled socialist state of the people, by the people, and for the people. Hence, the law-ruled Vietnamese State must be set up by the Vietnamese people. Through the elections of NA and People’s Council deputies, the people’s right to mastery is demonstrated in accordance with the nature of the socialist state ruled by law. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
A voter reads the lists of candidates in the elections of deputies to the 15th NA and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021 - 2026 tenure. Prior to the election day, election campaigns by 866 candidates in the NA election and nearly 449,000 others in the election of all-level People’s Councils will have to be finished. By law, election campaigns must be completed 24 hours before the voting starts. Under Article 65 of the Law on Election of NA and People’s Council Deputies, candidates can campaign through direct meetings with voters in their electorates or via mass media to report their own action plans and discuss issues of concern. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Preparations have been completed at a polling station in Me Tri ward of Nam Tu Liem district. This year, as Vietnam is coping with COVID-19 outbreaks, under directions by the National Election Council and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, meetings between candidates and voters have been held in a flexible and creative manner to both meet anti-COVID-19 requirements and comply with law. In localities in the normal status or applying social distancing measures, meetings with voters were held both online and offline. Meanwhile, in areas under restrictions or lockdown, election campaigns via mass media are encouraged. For the first time in the history of elections in Vietnam, meetings with voters have taken place via videoconference. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
This polling station has seriously complied with the Health Ministry’s recommendations when a safe distance between tables for voters is kept in the face of the COVID-19 resurgence. Early voting has been permitted in a number of constituencies in a total of 16 cities and provinces so far: Hai Phong and Can Tho cities and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Dinh, Ca Mau, Dak Nong, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Quang Binh, Nghe An, Kon Tum, Dak Lak, Bac Lieu, and Bac Ninh provinces. Voting has wrapped up in certain constituencies of four localities, mostly insular, remote and border areas, with the earliest organised in Vung Tau city of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province on May 4. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
As there remain many latent risks in the current COVID-19 pandemic, relevant agencies in Hanoi have seriously adhered to directions issued by central and municipal authorities to ensure absolute safety for the elections. The general elections will take place nationwide on Sunday May 23. More than 69 million voters will go to the poll to elect 500 deputies to the 15th NA, 3,726 deputies to provincial-level People’s Councils, 22,952 deputies to district-level councils, and 242,312 deputies to communal-level councils. The event takes place as the 35-year Doi moi (Renewal) has recorded great and comprehensive achievements with hallmarks across spheres, notably the success of the 13th National Party Congress. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
A man checks his name in the list of voters at a polling station in Me Tri ward of Hanoi’s Nam Tu Liem district. Vietnam, as Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said, has never had such a fortune and strength like it has today. That achievement is attributable to efforts by the entire nation. The deputies representing people in the 15th NA and all-level People’s Councils in the 2021 - 2026 tenure have a significant role to play to help realise the country’s aspiration to make breakthroughs, move forward, and be comparable with superpowers around the globe. They are expected to make tireless efforts to fulfill their duties to help herald a new stage of stronger development for the country. (Photo: VietnamPlus) VNA
