Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh
Who was Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh?
Vietnamese politician who served as Acting President of Vietnam from September 2018 to April 2021, becoming the first woman to hold the presidency. She previously served as Vice President and held various positions in the National Assembly.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh was born on December 25, 1959, in Duy Trinh, Vietnam. She joined the Communist Party of Vietnam on November 19, 1979, starting a political career that lasted many years and reached the top positions in Vietnam's government. Early on, she worked in the municipal bureaucracy of Ho Chi Minh City, gaining administrative experience and focusing on gender equality and women's empowerment.
Thịnh gained more prominence when she was elected Secretary of the Vĩnh Long Provincial Party Committee in 2010, essentially becoming the leader of the province. This role marked her move from municipal administration to leading a provincial government. She also served in the National Assembly during its 11th and 13th sessions, playing a significant role in Vietnam's national legislature. Throughout her career, she advocated for strengthening the role of women in various aspects of life.
On April 8, 2016, the National Assembly elected Thịnh as the 16th Vice President of Vietnam, with 450 votes, making up 91.09% of the vote. Her election continued the trend of Vietnamese women holding the vice presidency. Her time as vice president took a historic turn on September 21, 2018, when President Trần Đại Quang passed away. As vice president, Thịnh automatically stepped in as acting president, becoming the first woman in Vietnam's history to hold the presidency and the first female head of state in a communist country since Soong Ching-ling of China.
Thịnh served as acting president until October 23, 2018, when Nguyễn Phú Trọng was elected and sworn in as president. She then continued as vice president until she retired from politics in April 2021. At the 13th National Party Congress in January 2021, her name was not on the list of new Party Central Committee members, marking the end of her political career. Her retirement ended a notable period in national office, leaving a significant impact on Vietnam's political history.
Before Fame
Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh grew up in Duy Trinh during a significant and challenging time in Vietnam, coming of age as the country reunited after the Vietnam War ended in 1975. She joined the Communist Party of Vietnam in November 1979, just four years after reunification, when the country was undergoing major changes under a socialist system and facing tough economic conditions.
Her rise to national prominence started in the administrative roles of Ho Chi Minh City, where she gained practical government experience in Vietnam's largest urban area. This local work laid the groundwork for her later role leading Vĩnh Long province in 2010, and eventually her move into national politics as a member of the National Assembly and then as vice president.
Key Achievements
- Became the first woman in Vietnamese history to hold the presidency, serving as acting president from September to October 2018.
- Elected 16th Vice President of Vietnam in April 2016 with over 91% of the National Assembly vote.
- Served as Secretary of Vĩnh Long Provincial Party Committee from 2010, leading the province as its de facto head.
- Recognized as the first female head of state in a communist country since Soong Ching-ling of China.
- Served in the National Assembly during both the 11th and 13th sessions, contributing to national legislative work.
Did You Know?
- 01.She received 91.09% of the National Assembly vote when elected vice president in April 2016, translating to 450 individual votes cast in her favor.
- 02.Her acting presidency lasted just over one month, from 21 September 2018 to 23 October 2018, triggered by the death of President Trần Đại Quang.
- 03.She is considered the first female head of state in a communist country since Soong Ching-ling, who served in China decades earlier.
- 04.Despite reaching the acting presidency, she was not included in the new Party Central Committee at the 13th National Party Congress in January 2021, effectively ending her political career.
- 05.Her career advocacy consistently focused on women's empowerment across all four domains of economic, political, cultural, and social life in Vietnam.