Tô Lâm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
His Excellency
General Tô Lâm
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Lâm in 2026
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| General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 18 July 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Nguyễn Phú Trọng | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13th & 15th President of Vietnam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 7 April 2026 |
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| Preceded by | Lương Cường | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 23 May 2024 – 21 October 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Võ Văn Thưởng | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Lương Cường | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 10 July 1957 Văn Giang, Hưng Yên, North Vietnam |
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| Political party | Communist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Ngô Phương Ly | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parents |
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| Alma mater | Vietnam People's Security Academy Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics |
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| Awards |  Military Exploit Order |
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| Signature |  |
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| Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Branch/service | Vietnam People's Public Security | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank |  Police general |
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Tô Lâm, born on July 10, 1957, is a leading politician in Vietnam. Since 2024, he has been the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. This is the highest leadership role in Vietnamese politics. He also became the President of Vietnam in 2026.
Mr. Lâm has a long history in public service. He worked in the People's Public Security Forces for over 40 years. He rose through the ranks to become the Minister of Public Security in 2016. He held this important position until 2024.
He joined the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1981. He studied at police schools and the Vietnam People's Security Academy. He holds the high rank of a four-star General. He has also served on important committees within the Party.
Mr. Lâm has been involved in efforts to ensure fairness and prevent wrongdoing in government. He has also focused on making government operations more efficient. In May 2024, he was first chosen as President. Later, in August 2024, he became the General Secretary. He was re-elected as General Secretary in January 2026. On April 7, 2026, he was elected to a full term as President.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Tô Lâm was born on July 10, 1957, in Hưng Yên province, northern Vietnam. His father, Tô Quyền, was a respected police director. Mr. Lâm grew up in a family dedicated to public service. His father was a hero who participated in the communist revolution. He worked in security during the Vietnam War.
Following his father's path, Tô Lâm studied defense and law. In 1974, he began his studies at the Central Public Security School. This school later became the People's Security Academy. He earned a PhD in law. In 2015, he became a Professor of Security Sciences. He joined the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1981. He also studied political theory at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.
Early Career in Public Security
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Tô Lâm started his career in public security after graduating in 1979. From 1979 to 1993, he worked in the Political Protection Department. He became a Deputy Chief in 1988.
From 1993 to 2006, he became a director in various departments. These were within the Ministry of Public Security. In 2006, he was appointed Deputy Director of the General Security Department. By 2007, he reached the rank of Major-General. He became Director of the General Security Department I in 2009. In July 2010, he was promoted to Lieutenant-General.
Mr. Lâm became Deputy Minister of Public Security in August 2010. He joined the Party Central Committee in 2011. He also worked to strengthen international partnerships. For example, he met with the US Ambassador in 2011. In 2014, he was promoted to Colonel General. In 2016, he became a General. He also served as Vice Chairman of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-corruption.
Rise to Power
Minister of Public Security
In April 2016, Tô Lâm became the Minister of Public Security. This role made him the top leader of Vietnam's police force. He worked under the Prime Minister. His job was to oversee national security and social order. He also managed counterintelligence and criminal investigations.
In 2016, he was also appointed Deputy Head of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-corruption. This meant he helped the General Secretary with efforts to prevent wrongdoing. He also led the Central Highlands Steering Committee for a period. In January 2019, he was promoted to the rank of Police General. He continued to serve as Minister of Public Security after the 2021 National Congress. In 2021, he also joined the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 prevention. He led the Social Order and Security Subcommittee.
Efforts to Uphold Rules
During his time as Minister, Tô Lâm led many important investigations. These investigations focused on preventing wrongdoing and ensuring fairness. He worked to address serious issues related to economic management. He also addressed cases of mismanagement and misuse of public funds.
For example, he oversaw investigations into economic management issues at a construction corporation. He worked with international partners to resolve complex situations. He also addressed issues involving former high-ranking officials. These included cases related to economic management and public investment. He also investigated matters related to state information security. In 2022, he and his Ministry investigated issues related to public health and travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also addressed security challenges in local areas in 2023.
Foreign Affairs
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As Minister, Tô Lâm worked to strengthen Vietnam's international relations. He welcomed leaders from other countries to Vietnam. He also visited partner countries. These visits helped promote cooperation in fighting crime. They also ensured Vietnam's security.
In 2016, he met with China's Public Security minister. They discussed fighting crime together. In 2017, he visited Slovakia. He signed an agreement to cooperate on crime prevention. In 2018, he visited the United Kingdom. He signed an agreement to prevent human trafficking.
In 2019, he visited South Korea to strengthen cooperation. In 2020, he visited Laos and Brunei. These visits focused on sharing information about crime and security. He also met with the US Secretary of State in 2020. This meeting celebrated 25 years of diplomatic relations. In 2023, he visited India and Iran. He discussed deepening partnerships in security and defense. He also signed agreements on extradition and prisoner transfer with Iran.
Leadership (2024–present)
First Presidency (May – October 2024)
In March 2024, the previous President resigned. Vice President Võ Thị Ánh Xuân temporarily served as acting president. On May 18, 2024, Tô Lâm was nominated to become Vietnam's next President. The National Assembly confirmed his appointment. On May 22, 2024, he was elected as President. He served a short term until October 21, 2024. He was then replaced by Lương Cường.
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General Secretaryship (2024–present)
On July 18, 2024, Tô Lâm was appointed caretaker General Secretary. This is the most powerful position in Vietnam. He took on this role after Nguyễn Phú Trọng became ill. Following Mr. Trọng's passing, Tô Lâm was officially elected General Secretary on August 3. He was unanimously re-elected as General Secretary in January 2026.
Administrative Reform
Since November 2024, state media has announced big changes to government structure. General Secretary Tô Lâm outlined a strategy for these reforms. The goal is to make the government "Sharp, compact, strong; High-performance, effective, efficient."
These reforms aim to make the government more streamlined. Many agencies have been dissolved or merged. Functions have been transferred to avoid overlapping work. Local governments also made similar changes. This ensures consistent management across the country. For example, the Ministry of Public Security had already streamlined many departments. This experience helped guide the wider reforms.
By early 2025, many Party, National Assembly, and Government agencies were streamlined. The Politburo also issued a plan to merge provinces and cities. It also aimed to simplify local organizations. This included changes to courts and police systems. These reforms even involved reviewing the Constitution and Party rules.
Development of Science and Technology
On December 22, 2024, Tô Lâm signed a resolution. This resolution focused on breakthroughs in science, technology, and innovation. It also aimed for national digital transformation. In January 2025, a national conference was held in Hanoi. This conference announced a new Central Steering Committee. This committee focuses on science, technology, and digital transformation. Tô Lâm chairs this important committee.
Economic Reform
Since Tô Lâm took office in mid-2024, Vietnam's economy has grown. The stock market climbed nearly 40% last year. This growth was strong compared to other developing markets. He has promised a "new growth model." This model focuses on innovation and the digital economy. It moves away from relying only on exports and cheap labor.
Vietnam still welcomes foreign investment and technology. However, Mr. Lâm wants the country to move beyond cheap labor. He has pledged annual growth of at least 10% for the rest of this decade. The economy grew by 8% in 2025, up from 7% in 2024.
Foreign Affairs
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Tô Lâm has also been active in international relations. On June 19, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Vietnam. He met with Mr. Lâm. President Putin thanked Vietnam for its balanced position on global conflicts. On August 18, 2024, Mr. Lâm visited China. This was his first overseas trip as General Secretary. He met with CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping. They discussed cooperation and signed agreements.
On October 2, 2024, Mr. Lâm made a state visit to Ireland. He met with President Michael D. Higgins. They held wide-ranging talks. This was the first state visit by a Vietnamese leader to Ireland.
On January 18, 2026, General Secretary Tô Lâm accepted an invitation. He joined the US-led Board of Peace as a founding member. On February 19, 2026, he attended the first meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace. This meeting was in Washington D.C. He also met with US President Donald Trump at the White House. They discussed many topics. President Trump congratulated Mr. Lâm on his election. He also said he would work to help Vietnam access advanced US technology.
Second Presidency (2026–present)
On April 7, 2026, Tô Lâm was elected to serve a full term as President of Vietnam.
Personal Life
Tô Lâm is married to Ngô Phương Ly. She is a TV producer and painter. He has four children.
Honours
National Orders
Military Exploit Order (1st class), thrice
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
Foreign Orders
Belarus:
Order of the Friendship of Peoples (2025)
Cambodia:
Commander of the Royal Order of Sahametrei
Cuba:
Order of José Martí (2024)
Order of 6 June (1st class)
Kazakhstan:
Order of Friendship (1st class) (2025)
Laos:
National Gold Medal (December 2, 2025)
Freedom Medal (1st and 2nd classes)
Labor Medal (1st and 2nd classes)
Friendship Medal- Hero Medal
Russia:
Order of Friendship (2021)- Honorary Professor Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (2025)
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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
