The conference, held at the National Assembly building, reviewed the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term.

Success goes beyond numbers

Party leader To Lam said the March 15, 2026 election was a success, citing 76,423,940 voters casting ballots, equivalent to 99.70% turnout, the highest ever recorded.

No constituency required a re-run, while all 500 National Assembly deputies and People’s Council members at provincial and commune levels were elected in full in accordance with regulations.

He said these figures reflect not only effective organisation but also political trust, civic awareness and the people’s sense of ownership of the State and the political system.

The quality, composition and representativeness of deputies have improved. Full-time deputies are expected to account for 40%, the highest to date.

The 16th National Assembly includes 150 women (30%), 76 ethnic minority deputies (15.2%), 18 non-Party members (3.6%), and 33 deputies under the age of 40 (6.6%).

For the first time, the legislature includes a representative from the O Du ethnic group.

He said these outcomes show progress in both improving deputy quality and ensuring inclusiveness and representation of the highest state authority.

Alongside early, coordinated and tightly managed preparations from central to local levels, To Lam highlighted clear progress in digital transformation and the application of technology in election organisation, as well as the maintenance of political security and social order throughout the process.

Lessons and requirements

The Party chief said the election underscored the need to ensure unified, consistent and continuous leadership, while promoting the responsibility of the entire political system.

Personnel work, he said, was prepared thoroughly, democratically, in line with the law and in the common interest. The quality of deputies determines the quality of the National Assembly and People’s Councils.

All stages, from consultation, nomination, verification and publication of candidate lists to voter meetings, voting and vote counting, were conducted in an open, transparent, strict and objective manner.

“An election’s success is not only about filling positions, but more importantly about selecting individuals with integrity, capability, courage, the ability to act and a commitment to serve the people,” he said.

Ballots must be carried through in performance

To Lam stressed that people must be placed at the centre of the entire election process. The record turnout reflects not only effective organisation but also the fact that voters felt respected, well-informed and enabled to exercise their rights.

Early voting in 217 special polling areas across 11 localities ensured that no voter was left out of the country’s democratic process.

He described this as an important lesson in inclusiveness and in ensuring substantive voting rights for all citizens, regardless of location or conditions.

He also underlined the need for communication work to move ahead of the process, with strong changes in both content and methods. In the context of rapid digital media development, if official information is not delivered in a timely, clear and accessible manner, information gaps can easily be filled by false or unverified content.

The election showed that combining grassroots communication with digital platforms, population data, technology applications and diverse media channels improves outreach, guidance and social consensus.

To Lam said the most important lesson is that the success of an election must be reflected in the effectiveness of the new term.

Ballots must be followed by legislative quality, effective oversight and timely, sound decisions that meet development requirements in the new period.

He said the responsibility of the 16th National Assembly and its deputies is to translate voters’ trust into action, legislative output, effective oversight and practical decisions serving the people and national development.

Each elected deputy, he added, must remember that they carry the trust and expectations of voters.

Every decision, supervisory activity and law must aim to serve the nation and the people, while providing fresh impetus for rapid and sustainable development.

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