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| Vice President of Vietnam | |
|---|---|
| Post | Vice President |
| Body | Socialist Republic of Vietnam |
| Native name | Phó Chủ tịch nước |
| Department | State |
| Style | His/Her Excellency |
| Status | Constitutional office |
| Seat | Hanoi |
| Nominator | President of Vietnam |
| Appointer | National Assembly of Vietnam |
| Term length | Five years |
| Formation | 1946 |
| First | Nguyễn Hải Thần |
Vice President of Vietnam
The vice presidency is a constitutionally established high office in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam that functions within the framework of the President of Vietnam, the National Assembly of Vietnam, and the Communist Party of Vietnam. The office has evolved through constitutional revisions linked to events such as the Vietnamese Declaration of Independence, the First Indochina War, and the reunification after the Vietnam War. Occupants have included figures associated with institutions like the Vietnamese Fatherland Front, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Vietnam), and the State Bank of Vietnam.
The origin of the vice-presidential role traces to the post‑colonial era following the August Revolution and the 1946 Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, with early officeholders active during the First Indochina War and negotiations involving the Geneva Accords (1954). During the division between the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), officeholders engaged with international actors including delegates to the United Nations and correspondence related to the Paris Peace Accords (1973). After the Fall of Saigon and the 1976 reunification, the position was reconfigured in constitutions influenced by leaders from the Communist Party of Vietnam such as Ho Chi Minh and later party secretaries like Le Duan and Nguyen Van Linh. Constitutional amendments in the 1990s and 2013 reflected shifts paralleling economic reforms tied to Doi Moi and interactions with organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
The vice president performs representative and ceremonial tasks on behalf of the President of Vietnam and may exercise presidential duties in circumstances defined by the Constitution of Vietnam. Typical responsibilities involve engagements with foreign dignitaries from states such as the People's Republic of China, the United States, the Russian Federation, and members of regional bodies like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Vice presidents frequently participate in functions connected to the Vietnamese Fatherland Front, state delegations to summits like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings, and state award ceremonies including the Order of Ho Chi Minh and the Gold Star Order. In practice, duties overlap with those of other senior officials including the Prime Minister of Vietnam, the Chairman of the National Assembly, and ministers from the Ministry of National Defence (Vietnam) and Ministry of Public Security (Vietnam).
The vice president is nominated in practice by the President of Vietnam and formally elected by the National Assembly of Vietnam for a five‑year term concurrent with the assembly's tenure. Eligibility criteria trace to qualifications codified in the Constitution of Vietnam and norms of the Communist Party of Vietnam; nominees often have prior service in bodies such as the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Politburo, provincial leadership in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, or leadership in state organs like the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam and the Government Inspectorate of Vietnam. Historical elections have occurred during sessions of the National Assembly attended by delegations from provinces including Quang Ninh and Da Nang.
Constitutional provisions specify that the vice president assumes the duties of the president if the president is temporarily unable to perform obligations or if the presidency becomes vacant, pending action by the National Assembly of Vietnam. This succession mechanism has been considered in contexts involving major events such as state health crises, interregnum periods after resignations, and periods of party transition involving figures like Tran Duc Luong and Truong Tan Sang. The vice president may also support state policy implementation coordinated with the Government of Vietnam and liaise with international partners like the United Nations Development Programme and the European Union.
A chronological register of officeholders reflects political eras from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam through the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, including leaders who served in administrations alongside presidents such as Ho Chi Minh, Ton Duc Thang, Vo Chi Cong, Le Duc Anh, and Nguyen Phu Trong. Officeholders have included revolutionaries, diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Vietnam), and cadres elevated from the Communist Youth Union and provincial committees in regions like Hue and Can Tho.
Notable vice presidents have ranged from influential revolutionaries tied to the August Revolution and the Indochinese Communist Party to reformers associated with Doi Moi and international engagement. Figures who gained prominence engaged with external partners such as delegations from the United States Department of State, the Ministry of Commerce (Vietnam), and multilateral forums including the World Trade Organization. Several have been members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and have held concurrent roles in institutions such as the Vietnam Television and the Vietnamese Academy of Social Sciences.
The office uses national symbols including the Flag of Vietnam and the Emblem of Vietnam. Ceremonial aspects align with state protocol observed during receptions of foreign heads of state from countries like the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Australia, and during award ceremonies for decorations such as the Military Exploit Order and the Labor Order. Official residences and venues for oath ceremonies are typically located in Hanoi in facilities associated with the Presidential Palace, Hanoi and state reception houses used for visits by delegations from bodies like the Asia-Europe Meeting.