Grand ceremony held to mark 80th anniversary of Viet Nam's first General Election
VGP - Top Party and State leaders on Tuesday attended a grand ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of Viet Nam's first General Election (January 6, 1946–January 6, 2026).
General Secretary To Lam delivers a speech at the grand ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of Viet Nam's first General Election (January 6, 1946–2026), Ha Noi, January 6, 2025 - Photo: VGP/Nhat bac
The event, held in Ha Noi, brought together the country's top leadership, including Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, former Party and State leaders, former NA Chairpersons, and representatives of foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations.
In his keynote speech, General Secretary To Lam described the 1946 general election as both a historic turning point and a moment to reflect on the development of Viet Nam's revolutionary democracy.
He paid tribute to earlier generations who secured the people's right to mastery, while reaffirming the Party's political commitment to institutional reform and sustainable national growth in what he called "a new era of the nation's rise."
"Across 80 years and 15 legislative tenures, the National Assembly has grown into the heart of Viet Nam's political and legal life, playing a constitutional role in building a socialist rule-of-law State," he said.
Five Constitutions, constant institutional innovation
Highlighting the NA's law-making legacy, the Party chief stressed that the legislature has adopted five Constitutions, each tied to defining different period in Viet Nam's revolutionary history.
"These documents reflect the country's stage of development and show a continuous spirit of innovation in organizing and exercising State power," he stated.
To pointed to a recent resolution by the 15th legislature to amend parts of the Constitution as a new institutional milestone, one that formalizes a two-tier local administration model, streamlines the State apparatus and strengthens governance efficiency in line with emerging development needs.
He also underscored the NA's proactive role in institutional building by swiftly turning Party policies into law, adopting a development-oriented legislative mindset, and integrating digital transformation and artificial intelligence into the law-making process.
Parliamentary oversight, he added, has become increasingly substantive, targeting urgent socio-economic issues and public concerns, thereby improving discipline, accountability and State performance.
On major national decisions, he commended the NA for demonstrating collective wisdom, political resolve and responsibility, particularly in areas of socio-economic planning, national defense-security, foreign affairs and senior State appointments.
The General Secretary stressed the expanding role of parliamentary diplomacy, which has helped raise Viet Nam's international status and reinforce its image as a trusted and responsible global partner.
He urged the legislature to continue leading institutional reform, open space for innovation, refine oversight and accountability tools, strengthen post-supervision follow-ups, improve confidence voting mechanisms and base national decisions on transparent, reliable data.
The elections of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 tenure in Viet Nam are scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026./.
