493 candidates were elected as deputies to the XIIth National Assembly through the May 20 poll, Election Council Secretary Bui Ngoc Thanh announced on May 29.
Graduate and postgraduate deputies made up the backbone of the new legislature, with 164 holding postgraduate degree (33.27 per cent) and 309 holding graduate degree (62.68 per cent), the Election Council Secretary said.
Of the elected deputies, women accounted for 25.76 per cent, while ethnic minority people represented 17.65 per cent. Non-Party members won 43 seats, and one self-nominated candidate also won a seat in the National Assembly.
153 elected candidates were recommended by central agencies, while 340 were recommended by localities. There are 345 deputies who join the National Assembly for the first time.