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| The milestones of the NA elections continue to affirm the essence of the State as one of the people, by the people, and for the people__Photo: VNA |
Vietnam has successfully held fifteen National Assembly (NA) elections. Each election took place against different historical backdrops, yet all clearly reflected the will, aspirations, and trust of the people in the Party and the State. At the same time, they affirmed the NA’s central role in the political system and in the process of building a socialist law-ruled State in Vietnam.
The first NA election (the 1946-1960 tenure)
On January 6, 1946, the first general election in Vietnam’s history was held nationwide, at a time when the country had just gained independence but faced countless challenges, particularly the fierce sabotage by the French colonialists.
Despite all dangers, people across the country eagerly took part in the election, with a voter turnout of 89 percent, and 91.95 percent in Hanoi alone. President Ho Chi Minh was elected with 98.4 percent of the total votes.
In southern Vietnam, the election proceeded amid bombs and bullets, with 42 revolutionary cadres and soldiers heroically sacrificing their lives, demonstrating a spirit of readiness to die for the people’s right to mastery. As a result, 333 outstanding deputies were elected to the first NA, representing all classes, strata, ethnic groups and religions across the country.
Eighty years ago, under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese people solemnly held the first general election in the nation’s history to elect the NA of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
This general election was a great historical event, marking the beginning of the process of building a new democratic regime, and laid the foundation for the formation and development of the NA - an important democratic institution in a State of the people, by the people, and for the people.
The second NA election (the 1960-1964 tenure)
On May 8, 1960, the election to the second National Assembly was held throughout northern Vietnam. Nearly 8.2 million voters in the North, from urban to rural areas, exercised their right at 22,530 polling stations.
The outcome was that 362 deputies were elected to the second NA, along with 91 deputies from southern Vietnam whose term from the first NA was extended, demonstrating the broad national unity and fully reflecting the will and aspirations of the Vietnamese people.
The third NA election (the 1964-1971 tenure)
On April 26, 1964, the election to the third NA was held throughout northern Vietnam. More than 8.58 million voters from 31 provinces, zones and cities took part in voting.
The third NA had 453 deputies, including 366 elected in the North and 87 southern deputies from the first NA retained, continuing to represent the people nationwide during the resistance war against the United States.
The fourth NA election (the 1971-1975 tenure)
On April 11, 1971, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam’s citizens aged 18 and over, regardless of ethnicity, gender, social background, religion or belief, took part in the election at 80 polling stations across the North.
Voter turnout reached 98.88 percent. Voters elected 420 deputies from a total of 529 candidates to the fourth NA.
The fifth NA election (the 1975-1976 tenure)
On April 6, 1975, as victorious news from the South kept arriving, millions of voters in the North eagerly elected deputies to the fifth NA.
As a result, 424 NA deputies were elected from a total of 527 candidates to continue leading the country in this special historical period before the complete liberation of the South and national reunification.
The sixth NA election (the 1976-1981 tenure)
On April 25, 1976, the general election for the National Assembly of a reunified Vietnam was held nationwide.
In an atmosphere of jubilation for this great festival, more than 23 million voters exercised their civic rights, electing 492 deputies to the sixth NA - the first NA of an independent, reunified Vietnam.
The seventh NA election (the 1981-1987 tenure)
The election of deputies to the seventh NA took place on April 26, 1981, with a voter turnout of 97.96 percent.
Out of 614 candidates in 93 polling stations, 496 NA deputies were elected.
The eighth NA election (the 1987-1992 tenure)
On April 19, 1987, the election of deputies to the eighth NA was held nationwide.
Out of 828 candidates, 496 NA deputies were elected, with a voter turnout of 98.75 percent.
The ninth NA election (the 1992-1997 tenure)
On July 19, 1992, nearly 37.2 million voters nationwide took part in the ninth NA election, selecting 395 NA deputies from a total of 601 candidates.
The tenth NA election (the 1997-2002 tenure)
The tenth NA was elected on July 20, 1997, with a voter turnout of 99.59 percent.
A total of 450 deputies were elected, representing all strata of the people. Among them, female deputies accounted for 26.2 percent; deputies aged under 40 years, 18.6 percent; and non-Party member deputies, 15 percent.
The eleventh NA election (the 2002-2007 tenure)
On May 19, 2002, nearly 50 million voters nationwide cast their ballots to elect 498 deputies to the eleventh NA, with a voter turnout of 99.73 percent.
The twelfth NA election (the 2007-2011 tenure)
On May 20, 2007, the election of deputies to the twelfth NA took place in an atmosphere of enthusiasm and confidence. Voters nationwide elected 493 NA deputies from a total of 876 candidates.
The thirteenth NA election (the 2011-2016 tenure)
On May 22, 2011, voters nationwide took part in electing deputies to the thirteenth NA and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2011–2016 tenure. This was the first time the people voted simultaneously for representative bodies at four levels: the National Assembly, and provincial-, district-, and commune-level People’s Councils. Voter turnout reached 99.51 percent, with 500 NA deputies elected.
The fourteenth NA election (the 2016-2021 tenure)
The election of deputies to the fourteenth NA and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2016-2021 tenure took place on May 22, 2016. More than 67 million voters, with a turnout of 99.35 percent, elected 494 NA deputies who possessed good virtue, competence and prestige.
The fifteenth NA election (the 2021-2026 tenure)
The election of deputies to the fifteenth NA and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure took place on May 23, 2021, amid the country’s efforts to prevent and combat the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 69 million voters took part, electing 499 NA deputies, with a voter turnout of 99.60 percent.
The success of these fifteen NA elections has affirmed the people’s political awareness, sense of civic responsibility, level of education, and trust in the Communist Party of Vietnam’s leadership, as well as the success of the cause of renewal, the national industrialization and modernisation, and the building of a socialist law-ruled State.
The people nationwide have exercised their right to mastery, wisely selecting outstanding deputies who possess good virtue and competence worthy of representing the people’s will and aspirations.
The election of deputies to the 16th NA and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 tenure falls on the occasion of 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s first general election (January 6, 1946 - January 6, 2026).
This is not only an important political and legal event, but also a broad democratic activity throughout society, enabling every citizen to exercise their right to mastery and demonstrate their will and responsibility towards the country’ development.
Whether in wartime or peacetime, the people’s right to vote has always been guaranteed and promoted. The milestones of the NA elections continue to affirm the essence of our State as one of the people, by the people, and for the people, providing a solid foundation for the national development in the new period.- (VLLF)
