Government and Politics of Vietnam

Government Type

Communist state

Administrative Divisions

58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), and 3 municipalities* (thu do, singular and plural); An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Can Tho, Cao Bang, Dac Lak, Da Nang, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Hai Duong, Hai Phong*, Ha Nam, Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hoa Binh, Ho Chi Minh*, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai

Legal System

based on communist legal theory and French civil law system

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Vietnam dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Luong Cuong (since 21 October 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (since 26 July 2021); Deputy Prime Ministers Le Thanh Long, Ho Duc Phoc, Tran Hong Ha, and Nguyen Hoa Binh (all since 2023) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president based on the proposal of the prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its members for a five-year term; election last held 21 October 2024 (next to be held following legislative elections in 2026); prime minister appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly and confirmed by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime minister and confirmed by the National Assembly election results: Luong Cuong elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - approximately 99%

Legislative Branch

Unicameral National Assembly or Quoc Hoi (500 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) Elections: last held on 23 May 2021 (next to be held in 2026) Election results: percent of vote by party - CPV and CPV-approved candidates 100%; seats by party - CPV 475, non-party members approved by the CPV 25. All candidates, whether formal CPV members or not, must be vetted and approved by the Vietnam Fatherland Front, an umbrella organization overseen by the CPV, before standing for election.

Judicial Branch

Supreme People's Court (chief justice is elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president)

Political Parties

only party - Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nong Duc MANH, general secretary]

Head of State

President Luong Cuong

Head of Government

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by president based on proposal of prime minister and confirmed by National Assembly

Elections

last held on 23 May 2021 (next to be held in 2026)

Election Results

percent of vote by party - CPV and CPV-approved candidates 100%; seats by party - CPV 475, non-party members approved by the CPV 25. All candidates, whether formal CPV members or not, must be vetted and approved by the Vietnam Fatherland Front, an umbrella organization overseen by the CPV, before standing for election.

Constitution

15-Apr-92

Independence

2 September 1945 (from France)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 2 September (1945)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Nguyen Tam CHIEN chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737 FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917 consulate(s) general: San Francisco

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael W. MARINE embassy: 7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [84] (4) 772-1500 FAX: [84] (4) 772-1510 consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City

Capital City

Hanoi (Ha Noi)

Location

21 02 N, 105 51 E

Time Difference

UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

the city has had many names in its history going back to A.D. 1010 when it first became the capital of imperial Vietnam; in 1831, it received its current name of Ha Noi, meaning "between the rivers," which refers to its geographic location

U.S. Embassy in Hanoi 170 Ngoc Khanh Ba Dinh District Hanoi, Vietnam 24 hour telephone number: (84-4) 3850-5000 Fax: (84-4) 3850-5010 U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City 4 Le Duan, District 1 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 24 hour telephone number: (84-8) 3520-4200 Fax: (84-8) 3520-4244

Military Branches

People's Armed Forces: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN; includes Vietnam People's Navy (with Naval Infantry), Vietnam People's Air and Air Defense Force, Border Defense Command, Coast Guard)

Service Age and Obligation

18-25 years of age for male compulsory and voluntary military service; females may volunteer for active duty military service; conscription typically takes place twice annually and service obligation is 18 months (Army, Air Defense), 2 years (Navy and Air Force); 18-45 years of age (male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force or Self Defense Force service; males may enroll in military schools at age 17