16th National Assembly Elections Successfully Held
After casting their ballots in Hanoi, Party General Secretary To
Lam
and other party and state leaders pose for a group photo.
The election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam for the 2026-31 tenure was concluded successfully on March 15.[1] The election, held in 182 constituencies across Viet Nam, saw the participation of some 76 million people representing a turnout of 99.7 per cent of the electorate.
The
election results were announced on March 21 by the National
Election
Commission, confirming that a total of 500 deputies had been
elected to
the 16th National Assembly out of a total of 864 candidates. The
Commission announced that the election was carried out in
accordance
with the law with
careful planning and organization to ensure representation from
across
the country and all strata of Vietnamese society. Digital
transformation and application of technology to the elections
enabled
safe, secure and accurate information gathering and deployment
during
the elections.
According to National Assembly Chairperson Tran Thanh Man, who also serves as Chairperson of the National Election Council, the election was "a major national festival conducted in a democratic, equal, lawful, safe and substantive manner," despite its unprecedented scale and complexity.
The pool of candidates reflected a combination of experience and renewal. More than 70 per cent of candidates were standing for election for the first time, signalling a new generation of representatives expected to bring fresh perspectives and innovative thinking to the legislature.
Of the 500 deputies, women accounted for 30 per cent. Deputies under the age of 40 represented 6.6 per cent of those elected and 15.2 per cent were deputies elected from ethnic minority groups. Notably, for the first time, the National Assembly includes a representative from the O Du ethnic group, one of the smallest of 53 ethnic minorities in Viet Nam. This underscores the commitment of the Vietnamese government to facilitate the participation of ethnic minorities to governance at the highest levels of the state, and in this way enhance their full participation in Viet Nam's modern socialist nation-building project.
In
an article published following the announcement of the results,
Communist Party of Viet Nam General Secretary and now also
President of
Viet Nam To Lam emphasized, "The election is a victory of the
people,
but it also places great responsibilities on the shoulders of
newly
elected
representatives." He stressed that deputies must represent not
only
their constituencies but also the will and aspirations of the
entire
people of Viet Nam. He described deputies as a vital bridge
between the
people and state institutions, entrusted with deciding on key
national
and local
issues.
Quoting President Ho Chi Minh, he emphasized that deputies must always place national interests above personal interests and serve the people with dedication and integrity.
On March 31, at a conference at the National Assembly to sum up the results of the elections, To Lam noted: "Voters' votes do not stop on election day; those votes must be continued by legislative quality, by supervisory effectiveness, by correct and timely policies, meeting the requirements of national development in the new period. Therefore, the responsibility of the 16th National Assembly and of each elected delegate is very great: to quickly concretize the confidence of voters into action, into legislative products, into supervisory effectiveness and into practical policies serving the people and serving national development."
In Hoan Kiem ward in Hanoi polling is held at historic site --
48 Hang Ngang Street, where President Ho Chi Minh drafted the
Declaration of Independence that proclaimed the birth of the
Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
In Bh’lóoc village in the border commune of A Vuong in Da
Nang residents arrive steadily to cast their ballots. The area
suffered
heavy damage from floods and landslides in 2025, but residents
in the
highlands turn out with enthusiasm to exercise their civic
rights and
duties.
Voters in western mountainous communes of Thanh Hoa province
head to
polling stations to elect deputies to 16th National Assembly and
People’s Councils at all levels for 2026-2031 term.
On
Truong Sa Island on Khanh Hoa province residents and stationed
military personnel vote in elections and 50 fishermen operating
in
nearby waters come ashore to cast their ballots.
Residents of Tay Yen Tu commune, a mountainous area of Bac Ninh
province home to 13 ethnic groups, arrive to vote.
Note
1. According to the Government of Viet Nam "The National Assembly is the highest representative organ of the people ... The National Assembly decides the fundamental domestic and foreign policies, the socio-economic tasks, national defence and security issues, the major principles governing the State machinery, the social relations and activities of citizens. The National Assembly exercises the right to supreme supervision of all activities of the State ...The National Assembly is elected by the people, serving as the highest State agency realizing the people's power."
(With files from Nhan Dan, Vietnam Law and Legal Forum. Photos: VNA, VOV.)
This article was published in
Volume 56 Number 26 - April 29, 2026
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/TML2026/Articles/T560262.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca