List of leaders of South Vietnam facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

"President of the Republic of Vietnam" redirects here. For the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, see President of Vietnam.

Office of the President of the Republic of Vietnam in Independence Palace, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)

This article lists the main leaders of South Vietnam. South Vietnam was a country that existed from 1954 to 1975. It was formed when Vietnam was divided into two parts after a long war. This list covers leaders from the first government in 1946 until Vietnam became one country again in 1976. You will learn about the different people who were in charge during this important time in history.

Understanding the Leaders of South Vietnam
- Who Were the Heads of State?
- Who Were the Heads of Government?
Symbols of South Vietnam
See also

Understanding the Leaders of South Vietnam

Colour key (for political parties)
Cochinchinese Democratic Party Military (VNA / RVNMF) Independent Constitutional Party Vietnamese Nationalist Party Nationalist Party Cần Lao Party National Social Democratic Front Democratic Party Forces for National Reconciliation National Liberation Front (Việt Cộng)

Who Were the Heads of State?

The Head of State is like the main representative of a country. They are often seen as the symbol of the nation.

State of Vietnam (1949–1955)

The first period was called the State of Vietnam. During this time, the top leader was known as the Chief of State.

No.	Portrait	Name (Born-Died)	Time in Office			Party
No.	Portrait	Name (Born-Died)	Started	Ended	How long	Party
1		Bảo Đại (1912–1997)	13 June 1949	26 October 1955	6 years, 135 days	Independent

First Republic of Vietnam (1955–1963)

After the State of Vietnam, the country became the First Republic of Vietnam. The main leader was called the President.

Quick facts for kids President of South Vietnam
Presidential Standard (1963-1975)
Seal of the President (1963–75)
Residence	Independence Palace, Saigon
Appointer	Elected by people
Precursor	Chief of the State of Vietnam
Formation	26 October 1955
First holder	Ngô Đình Diệm
Final holder	Dương Văn Minh
Abolished	30 April 1975
Succession	Chairman of the Consultative Council of the Provisional Revolutionary Government

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Time in Office		How long	Party
1		Ngô Đình Diệm (1901–1963)	26 October 1955	2 November 1963	8 years, 7 days	Personalist Labor Revolutionary Party

Vice President

The Vice President helps the President and can take over if the President cannot do their job.

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Time in Office		How long	Party
1		Nguyễn Ngọc Thơ (1908–1976)	18 December 1956	2 November 1963	6 years, 319 days	Independent

Military Rule (1963–1967)

During this time, military leaders often held the real power, even if someone else was officially the Head of State.

No.	Name (Birth–Death)	Time in Office		Party	Title
1	Dương Văn Minh (1916–2001)	2 November 1963	30 January 1964	Military	Chief of State and Chairman of Military Revolutionary Council
1	Dương Văn Minh (1916–2001)	30 January 1964	16 August 1964	Military	Chief of State
2	Nguyễn Khánh (1927–2013)	16 August 1964	27 August 1964	Military	Chief of State and Chairman of Military Revolutionary Council
*	Provisional Leadership Committee (Minh, Khánh and Khiêm)	27 August 1964	8 September 1964	Military	Provisional Leadership Committee
1	Dương Văn Minh (1916–2001)	8 September 1964	26 October 1964	Military	Chief of State and Chairman of Provisional Leadership Committee
3	Phan Khắc Sửu (1893–1970)	26 October 1964	20 December 1964	Independent	Chief of State and Chairman of High National Council
3	Phan Khắc Sửu (1893–1970)	20 December 1964	12 June 1965	Independent	Chief of State
4	Nguyễn Văn Thiệu (1923–2001)	19 June 1965	31 October 1967	Military	Chief of State and Chairman of National Leadership Committee

Second Republic of Vietnam (1967–1975)

This was the final period of South Vietnam as a republic.

Presidents

Number	Name (Birth–Death)	Time in Office		How long	Party
2	Nguyễn Văn Thiệu (1923–2001)	31 October 1967	21 April 1975	7 years, 172 days	National Social Democratic Front
3	Trần Văn Hương (1902–1982)	21 April 1975	28 April 1975	7 days	National Social Democratic Front
4	Dương Văn Minh (1916–2001)	28 April 1975	30 April 1975	2 days	Military

Vice Presidents

Number	Name (Birth–Death)	Time in Office		How long	Party
2	Nguyễn Cao Kỳ (1930–2011)	31 October 1967	29 October 1971	3 years, 363 days	National Social Democratic Front
3	Trần Văn Hương (1902–1982)	31 October 1971	21 April 1975	3 years, 172 days	National Social Democratic Front
4	Nguyễn Văn Huyền (1913–1995)	28 April 1975	30 April 1975	2 days	Independent

Provisional Revolutionary Government (1969–1976)

This government was formed during the Vietnam War and claimed to be the true government of South Vietnam.

Chairman of the Consultative Council

Number	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Time in Office		How long	Party
1		Nguyễn Hữu Thọ (1910–1996)	8 June 1969	2 July 1976	7 years, 24 days	National Liberation Front

Who Were the Heads of Government?

The Head of Government, often called the Prime Minister, is in charge of the daily running of the government.

Prime Minister of South Vietnam
Flag of the Republic of Vietnam (1948–75)
Coat of Arms of the Republic of Vietnam (1963–75)
Government of South Vietnam
Residence	Gia Long Palace (1946–55)
Appointer	Emperor (1949–55) President (1963–75)
Precursor	Prime Minister of the Empire of Vietnam
Formation	1 June 1946 4 November 1963
First holder	Nguyễn Văn Thinh
Final holder	Vũ Văn Mẫu
Abolished	26 October 1955 30 April 1975
Succession	Chairman of the Provisional Revolutionary Government

No.	Portrait	Name (Born-Died)	Time in Office			Party
No.	Portrait	Name (Born-Died)	Started	Ended	How long	Party
Prime Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Cochinchina (1946–1948)
1		Nguyễn Văn Thinh (1888–1946)	1 June 1946	10 November 1946	162 days	Cochinchinese Democratic Party
2		Lê Văn Hoạch (1896–1978)	7 December 1946	8 October 1947	305 days	Independent
3		Nguyễn Văn Xuân (1892–1989)	8 October 1947	27 May 1948	232 days	Military
Chief of the government of the Provisional Central Government (1948–1949)
3		Nguyễn Văn Xuân (1892–1989)	27 May 1948	14 June 1949	1 year, 18 days	Military
Prime Ministers of the State of Vietnam (1949–1955)
1		Bảo Đại (1912–1997)	14 June 1949	20 January 1950	220 days	Independent
2		Nguyễn Phan Long (1888–1960)	20 January 1950	7 May 1950	107 days	Constitutional Party
3		Trần Văn Hữu (1896–1984)	7 May 1950	3 June 1952	2 years, 27 days	Independent
4		Nguyễn Văn Tâm (1893–1990)	25 June 1952	17 December 1953	1 year, 175 days	Nationalist Party
5		Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Lộc (1914–1990)	17 December 1953	16 June 1954	181 days	Independent
6		Ngô Đình Diệm (1901–1963)	16 June 1954	26 October 1955	1 year, 132 days	Personalist Labor Revolutionary Party
Prime Ministers of the Republic of Vietnam (1955–1975)
Position removed (26 October 1955 – 4 November 1963)
1		Nguyễn Ngọc Thơ (1908–1976)	4 November 1963	30 January 1964	87 days	Independent
2		Nguyễn Khánh (1927–2013)	8 February 1964	29 August 1964	203 days	Military
—		Nguyễn Xuân Oánh (1921–2003) (Acting)	29 August 1964	3 September 1964	5 days	Independent
(2)		Nguyễn Khánh (1927–2013)	3 September 1964	26 October 1964	62 days	Military
—		Phan Khắc Sửu (1893–1970) (Acting)	26 October 1964	3 November 1964	8 days	Independent
3		Trần Văn Hương (1902–1982)	4 November 1964	27 January 1965	84 days	Independent
—		Nguyễn Xuân Oánh (1921–2003) (Acting)	28 January 1965	15 February 1965	18 days	Independent
4		Phan Huy Quát (1908–1979)	16 February 1965	12 June 1965	116 days	Nationalist Party
5		Nguyễn Cao Kỳ (1930–2011)	19 June 1965	28 October 1967	2 years, 131 days	Military
6		Nguyễn Văn Lộc (1922–1992)	31 October 1967	18 May 1968	200 days	Independent
7		Trần Văn Hương (1902–1982)	25 May 1968	22 August 1969	1 year, 89 days	Independent
8		Trần Thiện Khiêm (1925–2021)	23 August 1969	4 April 1975	5 years, 224 days	National Social Democratic Front
9		Nguyễn Bá Cẩn (1930–2009)	4 April 1975	28 April 1975	24 days	National Social Democratic Front
10		Vũ Văn Mẫu (1914–1998)	28 April 1975	30 April 1975	2 days	Forces for National Reconciliation
Chairman of government Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam (1969–1976)
1		Huỳnh Tấn Phát (1913–1989)	6 June 1969	2 July 1976	7 years, 26 days	National Liberation Front

Symbols of South Vietnam

These are some of the important symbols used by the leaders and government of South Vietnam.

Presidential Standards

Personal standard of Bảo Đại, Chief of State of the State of Vietnam (1949–1955)
Presidential standard of the Republic of Vietnam (1955–1963)
Presidential standard of the Republic of Vietnam (1964–1975)
Flag of the president of the Republic of Vietnam as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces