Inaugural address of General Secretary and State President To Lam

Distinguished leaders and former leaders of the Party and the State, the National Assembly, the Government, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front,

Comrade Chairperson of the National Assembly, distinguished deputies of the National Assembly,

Compatriots, comrades, voters nationwide, and international friends,

At this sacred and solemn moment of the inauguration ceremony of the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, I sincerely thank voters and People across the country who, with a spirit of responsibility, the aspiration to build the homeland and the country, and steadfast trust in the Communist Party of Vietnam, have made the elections of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and deputies to People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term a great success. This is the convergence of the the nation's millennia-old civilization, fostering a spirit of resilience and determination and a strong determination to realize the two centenary strategic goals, so that by 2045, Vietnam will become a developed, high-income country, a peaceful, independent, democratic, prosperous, strong, civilized, and happy socialist country.

I respectfully thank the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam for its trust in recommending me to assume the position of State President, and the National Assembly for its confidence in electing me and entrusting me with this responsibility.

I express my boundless gratitude for his immense and historic contributions of President Ho Chi Minh, the great and outstanding leader of our Party and our People; to the predecessors, revolutionary fighters, Communist Party members, and millions of heroic martyrs who bravely fought and sacrificed for the independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Fatherland, for socialism and noble international duties; and to generations of the People who devoted themselves to labor and creativity, making great contributions to the glorious revolutionary cause of the Vietnamese nation.

I am deeply aware that being entrusted with the positions of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an immense honor, as well as a sacred and noble responsibility, and at the same time the trust and expectations of the entire Party, the entire People, and the entire army placed in the leader of the Party and the State. Together with the entire Party, the entire People, and the entire army, especially the Central Committee, I will steer the revolutionary ship through all storms to achieve its goals at an early date, fulfilling the aspirations of President Ho Chi Minh and the wishes of the nation: “Our entire Party and the People unite and strive to build a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic, and prosperous Vietnam, and make worthy contributions to the world revolutionary cause”.

In the context marked by numerous challenges of the times, as the country is implementing major strategic policies with historically significant goals, my top priority in my capacity as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is to “maintain a peaceful and stable environment; promote rapid and sustainable national development; comprehensively improve the People’s living standards so that the People can benefit from the achievements of development; and increase Vietnam’s contributions to peace, stability, development, and progress in the region and the world”.

Together with the entire Party, the entire People, and the entire army, we will focus on building a socialist rule-of-law state; developing an independent, self-reliant and resilient economy; building an all-people, comprehensive, and modern national defense and security; a streamlined, effective, and efficient political system; and a developed, united, cultured, and humane society. Creating a new development ecosystem, achieving strategic autonomy, taking development as the foundation for stability and stability as the premise for rapid and sustainable national development. Establishing a new growth model with science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as the main driving forces. Building a modern national education system, comprehensively developing the Vietnamese people, and developing high-quality, highly skilled human resources to meet development requirements in the new period. Improving the model, mechanisms, and policies for modern, comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable social development governance. Fostering a strong sense of responsibility and strict discipline in implementation, ensuring that words are matched with actions, actions are carried through to completion, actions are for the People, and that work results are effective and substantive across the entire political system.

Advancing foreign affairs and international integration to a higher level, contributing more effectively to the country’s strategic objectives and demonstrating greater responsibility for peace and development in the world; with the guiding principle of “ensuring the highest national interests; taking peace, independence, self-reliance, and self-reliance as the foundation; placing the People at the center of all policies; and considering contributions to the international community as a responsibility”; integrating our country into the mainstream of global politics, the international economy, and human civilization

Improving and implementing the Strategy for Safeguarding the Fatherland and the National Security Strategy to meet the requirements and tasks of protecting the Fatherland and national security in the new era. Prioritizing the strengthening of capacity and achieving strategic autonomy in national defense and security; building revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern armed forces capable of proactively preventing and neutralizing risks early and from afar and firmly safeguarding the Fatherland and national security in all situations. Consolidating a peaceful, stable, secure, orderly, disciplined, safe, and healthy environment at a high level, contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world.

In performing the duties of General Secretary and State President, the foremost priority is to firmly uphold and consistently implement the viewpoint that “the People are the root", strongly promoting the central role of the People, mobilizing the strength of the people and the great national unity unity. The highest objective and ultimate goal is that the People benefit from the achievements of development.

I wish to receive the close coordination of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Politburo, the Secretariat, the National Assembly, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Government, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations, ministries, sectors, local authorities, compatriots, comrades, soldiers nationwide, and overseas Vietnamese, so that I may fulfill the highest mission of the head of State: to safeguard, build, and develop the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and to serve the People.

With the thousand-year tradition of nation-building and defense, and the great heritage passed down from our ancestors; with the unceasing aspiration to rise, strong will, and resilient courage; with the truth that “Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese nation is one”; with the determination not to let the country fall behind and not to let the People miss development opportunities, we must act for a long-term and bright future for the nation. With the support and assistance of international friends, Vietnam will certainly continue to write new glorious chapters in its development journey and accomplish the set strategic objectives.

Once again, I would like to express my sincere and profound gratitude for the trust placed in me by the Party, the State, the National Assembly, and the People in entrusting me with this great responsibility.

I wish the leaders of the Party, the State, the National Assembly, the Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, veteran revolutionaries, former leaders of the Party and the State, deputies of the National Assembly, distinguished guests, and all the People good health and happiness.

Thank you very much!