Vo Thi Anh Xuan

Vice President (State); Secretary, Party Central Committee — Socialist Republic of Vietnam

About Vo Thi Anh Xuan

Key facts Role: Vice-President (State); Secretary, Party Central Committee Organisation: Socialist Republic of Vietnam Country: Vietnam Sector: Politics & Government Headline figures: Re-elected with all 485 deputies present voting in favour; twice acting president (2023 and 2024) On 1 September 2026, in Bishkek, Vo Thi Anh Xuan told the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Plus summit that Vietnam was "ready to become an SCO partner" and to serve "as a bridge" between ASEAN and the Eurasian grouping. She was there as the designated representative of General Secretary and President To Lam. The trip showed the role Vietnam's vice-president has taken on: its most senior female state official and a trusted stand-in at the top of the state. She was re-elected in April with every vote cast. The role On 7 April 2026 the 16th National Assembly re-elected Xuan as Vice-President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for 2026–2031. All 485 deputies present voted in favour, 97 per cent of the full assembly, Nhan Dan reported. She is also a Secretary of the party's 14th-term Central Committee, one of the members of the Secretariat that handles the party's day-to-day work, to which she was elected on 23 January 2026, and a National Assembly deputy. Much of the office's political weight comes from the holder's party standing and from deputising for the head of state. Acting head of state She has deputised at the very top twice. From 18 January to 1 March 2023, and again from 21 March to 21 May 2024, she served as acting president during two vacancies in the presidency, according to her official biography. She has also served as vice-chair of the National Election Council. Background Her career has been rooted in the Mekong Delta. Born in 1970 in An Giang province, she trained as a chemistry teacher and holds a master's degree in public administration. She began as a teacher and research specialist in the An Giang provincial party office. She led the provincial Women's Union and served as party secretary of Tan Chau town and vice-chair of the provincial People's Committee. She then became deputy secretary and, later, secretary of the An Giang provincial party committee. She was elected an alternate member of the Central Committee in 2011, became vice-president in April 2021 to complete the previous term, and was elected to a full term that July. Diplomacy In 2025 and 2026 her profile has been largely diplomatic and ceremonial, but prominent. In Bishkek she called for multilateralism, support for the United Nations and cooperation on counter-terrorism, cybercrime, trade, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum technology. At home she represents party and state at major national occasions. In July she presented Vinamilk chief executive Mai Kieu Lien with the Third-Class Independence Order at the dairy company's 50th anniversary. Her regional impact comes from Vietnam's multidirectional diplomacy. She increasingly represents Hanoi at forums the general secretary or prime minister does not attend, from Eurasian groupings to state ceremonies, which widens Vietnam's reach. What to watch next: whether Vietnam formally becomes an SCO dialogue partner, her role in Vietnam's hosting of APEC in 2027, and whether her place in the Secretariat leads to a more executive party or state post during the 2026–2031 term. She ranks 27th because she is Vietnam's highest-ranking woman in the state apparatus and a proven acting head of state, but the vice-presidency gives her less direct control over policy and budgets than those ranked above her. Sources Vietnam.vn (from Nhan Dan), Comrade Vo Thi Anh Xuan was re-elected as Vice President of Vietnam , 7 Apr 2026 Viet Nam News/VNA, Vice President attends Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Plus Summit in Kyrgyzstan , 1 Sep 2026 The World and Vietnam Report, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan to attend SCO Plus Summit in Kyrgyzstan , 29 Aug 2026 VOV1, 50 năm phụng sự khát vọng Việt: Vinamilk hai lần nhận danh hiệu Anh hùng Lao động , 24 Jul 2026 Bao Phu nu Viet Nam, Tiểu sử 3 nữ Bí thư Trung ương Đảng khóa XIV , 30 Jan 2026

Why this entry is on the list

She ranks 27th because she is Vietnam's highest-ranking woman in the state apparatus and a proven acting head of state, but the vice-presidency gives her less direct control over policy and budgets than those ranked above her. The National Assembly re-elected her for 2026–2031 on 7 April 2026 with all 485 deputies present voting in favour, and she served as acting president in 2023 and 2024.