By Micah Jonah
March 15, 2026
Millions of voters across Vietnam went to the polls on Sunday to elect members of the country’s parliament, with the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam fielding nearly 93 percent of the candidates.
The election will determine 500 members of the National Assembly of Vietnam as well as representatives for local councils. Voting takes place every five years, but the political system remains tightly controlled under a one party structure where the most powerful leadership positions are typically decided by senior party officials before the public vote.
According to the national election council, about 864 candidates are contesting the parliamentary seats. Of that number, roughly 93 percent belong to the Communist Party, while only about 7.5 percent are independent candidates, a drop from the 8.5 percent recorded in the 2021 election. The ruling party currently controls about 97 percent of the seats in parliament.
The National Assembly rarely challenges decisions made by the party leadership, though it has occasionally amended draft legislation. Analysts say the vote serves largely as a formal process to confirm the country’s political leadership structure.
Election officials estimate that between 73.5 million and 79 million eligible voters participated in the polls. Official turnout in Vietnam’s previous parliamentary elections has consistently exceeded 99 percent, according to the state news agency.
Results from the election are expected to be announced on March 23. When parliament convenes in early April, lawmakers are expected to formally approve top state leaders already nominated by the Communist Party.
Among the key figures in Vietnam’s political leadership is To Lam, who was confirmed earlier this year as the party’s general secretary, the most powerful political role in the country. Observers expect him to also assume the presidency, consolidating leadership authority similar to the model seen in neighbouring China.
The candidate list also includes several business figures linked to the party, including Vietcombank chief Nguyen Thanh Tung and technology entrepreneur Le Hong Minh, reflecting Vietnam’s continued push toward economic modernization and digital development.
