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Vietnam is a Socialist Republic in South East Asia. It is a one-party state with the Communist People’s Party being the only political party in the country. The nation’s President is the Head of State and Head of Government. The President is also the Commander of Vietnam’s Armed forces. Vietnam’s head of state works alongside the prime minister of Vietnam as head of government. The President appoints the prime minister, Vice President, and government officials with the approval of the National Assembly. Vietnam has had ten Presidents since its time of independence. Ho Chi Minh was the first President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam from 1945-1969.

Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh was born in 1890. His name at was Nguyen Sinh Cung, but he later changed it to Ho Chi Minh, which means "Bringer of Light". He played a pivotal role in Vietnam’s independence. He lived in France as a young man. He was inspired to return home and liberate Vietnam from the Japanese and French occupiers. When France was defeated by Germany in 1940 during WWII, Ho Chi Minh saw an opportunity Vietnam nationalist cause. In 1941 he returned to Vietnam with some of his lieutenants and organized the League for the Independence of Vietnam or the Viet Minh. He sought assistance from China for his organization, and he was sentenced to 18 months by Chiang Kai-shek’s government which was anti-communist. He was a revolutionary leader who led the Viet Minh Independence movement in 1941. The Northern region of Vietnam was declared a democratic republic in 1945 and Minh became its first President. He is credited for uniting the communist North and non-communist south parts of Vietnam under communist rule. Ho Chi Minh died at the age of 79 in Hanoi in 1969.

Ton Duc Thang

He served as Vice President under Ho Chi Minh and took over leadership after Ho Chi Minh’s death in 1969. He was President when North Vietnam captured South Vietnam after the Vietnam War. The US played a pivotal role in the war by funding French occupants in South Vietnam who fought against the communist North. Eventually, the North won and the two regions united to form the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Ton Duc Thang led the reconstruction of North and South Vietnam which had been destroyed by the war. He served as the President until 1980.

Truong Chinh

He served as the Chairman of the Council of State in Vietnam for six years between 1981 and 1987. Truong’s career in politics started at an early age in 1928 when he joined Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary organization. His government introduced economic reforms that brought rapid growth in Vietnam’s economy. He served as the President from 1980 to 1981.

Tran Dai Quang

He is the current President of the Republic of Vietnam. He was born in October of 1956 in Ninh Bihn the Northern Province in Vietnam. He attended the People’s police school when he was 16 years old. Mr. Tran served as a police chief before being elected as President in April of 2016. He will serve for a five-year term as provided in the Vietnam Constitution.