Tô Lâm facts for kids
Tô Lâm (born 10 July 1957) is a Vietnamese politician and a former police officer. He is currently the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) since August 2024. He also served as the 13th President of Vietnam from May 2024 to October 2024.
Before becoming General Secretary and President, Tô Lâm worked in the People's Public Security Forces for over 40 years. He was the Minister of Public Security from 2016 until he was elected President in 2024.
Born in Hưng Yên province, Tô Lâm joined the Communist Party of Vietnam on 22 August 1981. He studied at the Central Police School and the Vietnam People's Security Academy. He holds the highest rank of a four-star General in the Vietnam People's Public Security.
Tô Lâm has been a member of the CPV Central Committee since 2011 and a member of the CPV Politburo since 2016. He played an important role in the anti-corruption efforts led by the late General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng. After Nguyễn Phú Trọng passed away in July 2024, Tô Lâm became the head of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-corruption and the Central Military Commission.
On 18 May 2024, the CPV Central Committee nominated him to become Vietnam's 13th president. He took over from Võ Văn Thưởng, who had resigned earlier. The National Assembly approved his new role. On 3 August 2024, after Nguyễn Phú Trọng's death, Tô Lâm was elected CPV General Secretary. This made him Vietnam's top leader.
Quick facts for kids
General
Tô Lâm
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Lâm in 2024
|
|
| General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam | |
| Assumed office 3 August 2024 |
|
| Preceded by | Nguyễn Phú Trọng |
| Secretary of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party | |
| Assumed office 3 August 2024 |
|
| Deputy | Phan Văn Giang |
| Preceded by | Nguyễn Phú Trọng |
| 13th President of Vietnam | |
| In office 22 May 2024 – 21 October 2024 |
|
| Prime Minister | Phạm Minh Chính |
| Vice President | Võ Thị Ánh Xuân |
| Preceded by | Võ Văn Thưởng |
| Succeeded by | Lương Cường |
| Minister of Public Security | |
| In office 9 April 2016 – 22 May 2024 |
|
| Prime Minister | Nguyễn Xuân Phúc Phạm Minh Chính |
| Preceded by | Trần Đại Quang |
| Succeeded by | Lương Tam Quang |
| Secretary of the Central Police Party Committee | |
| In office 4 May 2016 – 6 June 2024 |
|
| Preceded by | Trần Đại Quang |
| Succeeded by | Lương Tam Quang |
| President of the Vietnam Red Cross Society | |
| Assumed office 22 May 2024 |
|
| Preceded by | Võ Văn Thưởng |
| Member of the Politburo | |
| Assumed office 27 January 2016 |
|
| Head of Central Highlands Steering Committee | |
| In office 31 July 2016 – 11 October 2017 |
|
| Preceded by | Trần Đại Quang |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Deputy Minister of Public Security | |
| In office 12 August 2010 – 7 April 2016 |
|
| Minister | Lê Hồng Anh Trần Đại Quang |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 July 1957 Văn Giang, Hưng Yên, North Vietnam (now Vietnam) |
| Political party | CPV |
| Spouse | Ngô Phương Ly |
| Parents | Tô Quyền (father) Đặng Thị Cam (mother) |
| Residences | 64 Phan Đình Phùng street, Ba Đình, Hanoi |
| Alma mater | Vietnam People's Security Academy Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics |
| Awards |  Military Exploit Order |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Vietnam People's Public Security |
| Years of service | 1974–2024 |
| Rank |  Police general |
| a. ^ Acting: 19 July – 3 August 2024 | |
Contents
Early Life and Education
Tô Lâm was born on 10 July 1957 in Xuân Cầu village, Hưng Yên province, Vietnam. He is the oldest son of Colonel Tô Quyền, who was honored as a Hero of the People's Armed Forces. His father was a police director for Hải Hưng province.
Tô Lâm grew up in a family that was active in the revolution. He learned about Vietnam's history and situation from a young age. His father was a hero who served the country from 1966 to 1975 until Vietnam was unified.
Following his father's path, Tô Lâm decided to study security. In October 1974, he became a student at the Central Public Security School. This school is now known as the People's Security Academy. He later earned a PhD in Law. On 22 October 2015, he became a Professor of Security Sciences.
Lâm joined the Communist Party of Vietnam on 22 August 1981. He became a full party member a year later. During his time in the Party and government, he also studied at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics. There, he earned an advanced degree in political theory.
Early Career in Public Security
.jpg)
Tô Lâm started his career in the Vietnam People's Public Security after graduating from university in 1979. For many years, he worked in the Political Protection Department of the Ministry of Public Security. He rose through the ranks, becoming Deputy Chief and then Deputy Director of this department.
From 2006 to 2009, he served as Deputy Director of the General Security Department. In 2007, he was promoted to Major-General. In July 2010, he became a Lieutenant-General.
In August 2010, Tô Lâm was appointed Deputy Minister of Public Security. He also became a member of the Party Central Committee in January 2011. In 2011, he met with the US Ambassador to Vietnam, Ted Osius. The Ambassador described him as intelligent and interested in working with the United States.
On 16 September 2014, President Truong Tan Sang promoted Lieutenant General Tô Lâm to the rank of Colonel General. By January 2016, he was a Senior Lieutenant-General and a member of the Politburo.
Rise to Leadership Positions
Minister of Public Security Role
On 9 April 2016, the National Assembly approved Tô Lâm's appointment as Minister of Public Security. In this role, he became the top leader of the Vietnam People's Police. His job was to manage security, public order, and social safety. This included preventing crime, investigating crimes, and handling fire prevention.
On 27 April 2016, he was also appointed Deputy Head of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-corruption. In this position, he helped General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng in the fight against corruption.
On 29 January 2019, General Secretary and President Nguyễn Phú Trọng promoted Tô Lâm from Senior General to Police General. On 30 January 2021, he was re-elected as a member of the 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The next day, he was also elected a member of the 13th Politburo.
In July 2021, the National Assembly re-appointed him as Minister of Public Security for the 2021-2026 term. In August 2021, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính appointed him a member of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 prevention and control.
Key Cases and Efforts
As Minister of Public Security, Tô Lâm directed investigations into many important cases. One notable case involved Trịnh Xuân Thanh in 2016. He was a former official who was investigated for serious violations while working at a construction company. The Ministry of Public Security issued an arrest warrant for him.
Tô Lâm also led police efforts in investigating other major cases involving high-level officials. These included cases related to economic management violations and misuse of public funds. In 2022, his ministry investigated scandals related to repatriation flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also looked into issues at the Việt Á company.
International Relations
.jpg)
During his time as Minister, Tô Lâm worked to strengthen Vietnam's international relations. He welcomed foreign officials to Vietnam and visited other countries. These visits helped improve cooperation in fighting crime and ensuring security.
In 2016, he met with China's Minister of Public Security to discuss crime fighting. In 2017, he visited Slovakia and signed an agreement to cooperate on fighting crime.
In 2018, he visited the United Kingdom and signed a cooperation agreement. In 2019, he visited South Korea to strengthen ties between the two countries. He also visited Laos and Brunei to discuss crime and security, including cyber security.
At the end of 2020, Tô Lâm met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Hanoi. This meeting was part of the celebration of 25 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States.
In 2023, he visited India and Iran. In India, he discussed deepening the partnership in security and defense. In Iran, he signed agreements on extradition and transferring prisoners. He also discussed fighting organized and transnational crime.
Leadership Roles
President of Vietnam (May–October 2024)
On 21 March 2024, the previous President, Võ Văn Thưởng, resigned. This happened after some of his former colleagues were involved in a corruption case. Võ Thị Ánh Xuân then served as acting president for a short time.
On 18 May 2024, the Central Committee of the Communist Party nominated Tô Lâm to be the next President of Vietnam. The National Assembly confirmed this at its 7th Session. He was officially elected President on 22 May 2024. He served as president until 21 October 2024.
General Secretary (2024–Present)
On 18 July 2024, Tô Lâm was appointed as the caretaker General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. This happened after Nguyễn Phú Trọng became ill. After Nguyễn Phú Trọng's death the next day, Tô Lâm was officially elected as the party's General Secretary on 3 August. This made him the current top leader of Vietnam.
Foreign Affairs as Leader
2024 International Engagements
On 19 June 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Vietnam and met with Tô Lâm. Putin thanked Vietnam for its "balanced position" on the conflict in Ukraine.
On 18 August 2024, Tô Lâm visited China for three days. This was his first overseas trip since becoming President and General Secretary. He met with CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping in Beijing. The two leaders discussed cooperation and signed documents. Xi congratulated Lâm on his new leadership roles.
On 2 October 2024, Lâm began a two-day visit to Ireland. He met with President Michael D. Higgins and his wife. This was the first state visit by a Vietnamese president to Ireland. They held wide-ranging talks. Lâm also attended a state dinner with members of the Irish Vietnamese community.
Honors and Awards
National Awards
Military Exploit Order (1st class), three times
Military Exploit Order (3rd class)
Feat Order (1st class), twice
Feat Order (2nd class)
Feat Order (3rd class)
Victory Banner Medal
Fatherland Protection Medal
Glorious Fighter Medal (1st class)
Glorious Fighter Medal (2nd class)
Glorious Fighter Medal (3rd class)- Medal for National Security
International Awards
Cambodia:
Commander of the Royal Order of Sahametrei
Cuba:
Order of José Martí (2024)
Order of June 6 (1st class)
Laos:
Freedom Medal (1st and 2nd classes)
Labor Medal (1st and 2nd classes)- Friendship Medal
- Hero Medal
Russia:
Order of Friendship (2021)
_ribbon.svg){kind=small}
Published Works
- To Lam, Ho Chi Minh's Thought on the People's Public Security, National Political Publishing House, 2015.
- To Lam, Ho Chi Minh's ideology on cadres and cadre work of the People's Public Security, National Political Publishing House, 2017.
- To Lam, The masses - the decisive factor in winning the struggle to protect security and order, People's Public Security Publishing House, 2017.
- To Lam, Ho Chi Minh's Thought on the role of the people in the cause of protecting security and order, People's Public Security Publishing House, 2017.
- To Lam, Vietnam People's Police with Ho Chi Minh's works as a revolutionary policeman, Truth National Political Publishing House, 2018.
See also
In Spanish: Tô Lâm para niños
