Tôn Đức Thắng
Tôn Đức Thắng | |
|---|---|
Tôn Đức Thắng in 1956 | |
| President of Vietnam | |
| In office 2 July 1976 – 30 March 1980 | |
| Preceded by | Himself (as President of North Vietnam) |
| Succeeded by | Nguyễn Hữu Thọ (acting) Trường Chinh (as Chairman of the Council of State) |
| President of North Vietnam | |
| In office 2 September 1969 – 2 July 1976 | |
| Preceded by | Hồ Chí Minh |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as President of reunified Vietnam) |
| Vice President of North Vietnam | |
| In office July 15 1960 – September 2 1969 | |
| President | Ho Chi Minh |
| Preceded by | Nguyễn Hải Thần Võ Nguyên Giáp |
| Succeeded by | Nguyễn Lương Bằng |
| Chairman of the National Assembly | |
| In office 20 September 1955 – 15 July 1960 | |
| Preceded by | Bùi Bằng Đoàn |
| Succeeded by | Trường Chinh |
| President of Liên Việt Front (First Indochina War) | |
| In office 3 March 1951 – 10 September 1955 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 August 1888 Long Xuyên, An Giang, Cochinchina, French Indochina |
| Died | 30 March 1980 (aged 91) Hanoi, Vietnam |
| Political party | Communist Party of Vietnam |
| Spouse | Đoàn Thị Giàu |
| Awards | Gold Star Order |
Tôn Đức Thắng (Vietnamese: [ton˧˧ ʔɗɨk̚˧˦ tʰaŋ˧˦]; 20 August 1888 – 30 March 1980) was the second President of Vietnam under the leadership of General Secretary Lê Duẩn. The position of president is ceremonial and Tôn was never a major policymaker or even a member of the Politburo,Vietnam's ruling council. He served as president, initially of Democratic Republic of Vietnam from September 2, 1969, and later of a united Vietnam, until his death in 1980.
Known affectionately as Uncle Tôn (Bác Tôn), Tôn Đức Thắng was a key Vietnamese nationalist and Communist political figure, was chairman of the National Assembly's Standing Committee (1955–1960) and served as the Vice President to Hồ Chí Minh from 1960 to 1969, succeeding him as president after Ho's death. He died at the age of 91; he was the oldest head of a state with the title of "president" (subsequently surpassed by Hastings Banda).