Ballots in special places

At exactly 6:30 AM on March 15th, in keeping with the nationwide election atmosphere, Truong Sa Island, part of the Truong Sa Special Zone in Khanh Hoa province, also began voting. This is the only offshore polling station in Truong Sa that held its election on the same day as the rest of the country.

A grand festival in the middle of the ocean.

Mr. Pham Thanh Liem, Chairman of the People's Committee of the Truong Sa Special Zone and Chairman of the Election Committee of the Special Zone, was present to monitor, direct, and participate in voting on Truong Sa Island.

A week earlier (March 8th), 20 out of 21 offshore polling stations in the special administrative region simultaneously held early voting, ensuring safety, compliance with regulations, and successful completion of the plan. According to Mr. Pham Thanh Liem, in addition to voters who are officials, soldiers, and citizens working on the island, polling station number 14 included nearly 50 fishermen – special voters who are fishing in the area and came to the island to participate in the election; ensuring that voters, regardless of their location, could fully exercise their rights and civic duties.

Voting takes place on Truong Sa Island.

PHOTO: NGUYEN BA

In Phu Quoc Special Zone, An Giang province, the Command of Coast Guard Region 4 also organized a simultaneous voting process for officers and soldiers on both land and ships performing duties at sea on March 15th. Officers and soldiers of the Command of Coast Guard Region 4 were assigned to vote at polling station No. 58, located at the unit's headquarters. The CSB 6003 vessel of Squadron 401, Command of Coast Guard Region 4, along with members of the election committee, were tasked with carrying supplementary ballot boxes to each ship at sea to organize the election.

According to Major General Nguyen Van Dung, Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Coast Guard Region 4 Command, the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and deputies to People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term is an important political event for the country, demonstrating the people's right to self-governance. For officers and soldiers of the Coast Guard Region 4 Command, this is not only a right but also a political responsibility.

Also in An Giang province, Hon Nghe island commune is located in the southwestern sea of ​​Vietnam, about 22 km from the mainland. In this election, the entire commune has 1,621 registered voters. Thanks to the effectiveness of various forms of propaganda, early on the morning of March 15th, voters enthusiastically went to the polling stations in the commune to exercise their civic rights. By 10:00 AM on March 15th, voter turnout in Hon Nghe commune reached 100%.

General Secretary To Lam , Standing Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu, and voters cast their ballots in the election.

PHOTO: VNA

In Lam Dong province, more than 23,000 voters on Phu Quy Island (Phu Quy Special Economic Zone) simultaneously cast their ballots at 21 polling stations. Mr. Tran Thanh Dao, Vice Chairman of the Phu Quy Special Economic Zone Election Committee, said that due to the nature of their work at sea, many voters arrived at the polling stations very early. After casting their votes, they quickly returned to their boats to continue their work.

Overcoming difficulties to participate in the election.

Inland, voters in border communes and ethnic minority areas also held elections for National Assembly and People's Council representatives at all levels for the 2026-2031 term. On the morning of March 15th, 33 voters from the Dao San Border Guard Post, stationed in the border area of ​​Dao San commune (Lai Chau province), cast their ballots. Meanwhile, in Ha Tinh, the Chut ethnic minority people in Rao Tre village (Phuc Trach commune, Ha Tinh province) woke up very early, eagerly participating in the election. This village has 46 households with over 160 people, including 91 voters. Due to the long distance to the polling station, the People's Committee of Phuc Trach commune mobilized forces to use motorbikes to assist some people who lacked transportation or had poor health to reach the location of this national election.

In Hanoi, the Kim Lien Ward Election Committee brought mobile ballot boxes and voter cards to Bach Mai Hospital for over 100 voters, including patients, their family members, and resident doctors and nurses, to exercise their civic rights. Patients were assisted by medical staff at Bach Mai Hospital during the voting process. The hospital also arranged for personnel to directly deliver ballot boxes to the bedsides of patients who were unable to attend the polling station on this nationwide election day.

Mr. Bui Quang Huy, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Youth Union, casts his vote at the Community Center of Residential Area 16, Ayun Pa Ward (Gia Lai).

PHOTO: TRAN HIEU

In Hue City, A Luoi 2 commune is one of the unique mountainous communes with a large number of ethnic minority people. Therefore, the local authorities meticulously prepared for the election, focusing on disseminating information through various methods suitable to the mountainous terrain, helping voters understand their rights and obligations when participating in the election. By the end of noon, all voters in this commune had completed their voting with a 100% turnout rate. Besides A Luoi 2, polling stations in other mountainous communes of Hue City, such as Long Quang, Khe Tre, Nam Dong, etc., also made thorough preparations in terms of facilities and created favorable conditions for voters to participate in the election.

In Da Nang City, amidst the mountains and forests still bearing the scars of natural disasters, the image of people quietly arriving at polling stations carries with them faith and hope for a better future for their villages. Young mothers and fathers carry their children on their backs, holding their voter cards, patiently queuing to cast their ballots. Some even lull their children to sleep while completing the voting procedures, demonstrating a sense of responsibility towards their rights and duties. To ensure that all voters have the opportunity to participate in this democratic event, the People's Committee of Tra Doc commune proactively contracted buses to transport voters from distant residential areas to the polling stations.

Braving landslides, they brought ballot boxes to voters in Group 4, Xanh Hamlet, Tay Tra Bong Commune, Quang Ngai Province.

PHOTO: PHAM ANH

In Quang Ngai, many polling stations faced difficulties due to poor road conditions. In Tay Tra Bong commune, in particular, landslides caused by heavy rain over the past few days forced polling station members to use motorbikes, walk through mud, wade through streams, and trek through forests to deliver ballot boxes to voters in remote areas of Hamlet 4, Xanh and Tre villages.

From first-time voters to centenarians

At many polling stations across the country, many young people expressed their pride in participating in the election for the first time, exercising their sacred civic right and duty. Ma Thi Xinh (21 years old), a student at the Academy of Journalism and Communication, of Mong ethnicity from Lao Cai province, was voting for the first time while studying far from home. She arrived early at polling station number 4 in Cau Giay ward (Hanoi). The young woman said she felt very honored to exercise her rights and duties as a Vietnamese citizen. According to the Mong student, participating in the election is of great importance to every citizen, as it is an opportunity for people to demonstrate their responsibility in choosing candidates who can contribute to the development of the country.

Also on the morning of March 15th, along with millions of voters nationwide, former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh cast her vote in the election for the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels. Former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh, now 99 years old, has voted since the first election. Personally casting her ballot, she expressed her emotion and hoped that voters would wisely choose representatives with sufficient integrity, competence, and quality to lead the country into a new era of development.

Border guards from Ga Ry Border Post assist people in casting their votes in Hung Son commune, Da Nang city.

PHOTO: NGOC THOM

Across the country, many voters, some over 100 years old, still went to polling stations to exercise their right to vote. At polling station number 4, polling area number 12, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoa (106 years old, residing in Hamlet 14, Xuan Dai 2 Village, An Truong Commune, Hai Phong City) was brought to the polling station by her relatives early in the morning. Dressed in a dignified red ao dai – an outfit she only wears on special occasions – Mrs. Hoa was radiant and cheerful as she waited for her turn to vote. Despite her advanced age, Mrs. Hoa remained very alert, carefully reading each candidate's information before making her choice. Also 106 years old and wearing traditional ao dai, Mr. Nguyen Van Pha (residing in Dong Lao Village, An Khanh Commune, Hanoi City) and researcher Nguyen Dinh Tu (residing in Binh Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) also voted in person yesterday morning.

In Quang Tri province, seven voters over 100 years old participated in direct voting. Mrs. Duong Thi Sao (109 years old, residing in An Nhon village, My Thuy commune) was the oldest voter on the list, attending the opening ceremony and casting her vote herself. In Truong Ninh commune, Mr. Tran Cong Tha (103 years old, with over 70 years of Party membership) had his ballot box brought to his home by the election committee so he could exercise his civic right. He had first voted in 1946. In Dan Hoa commune, officers from the Ra Mai Border Guard Post also assisted in bringing ballot boxes to the homes of two elderly and frail Van Kieu voters.

People eagerly went to vote early.

On March 15th, along with voters nationwide, 9.6 million voters in Ho Chi Minh City enthusiastically participated in the election of representatives to the 16th National Assembly and representatives to the People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term. At many polling stations, voters arrived very early, creating an atmosphere of excitement for this nationwide event.

Researcher Nguyen Dinh Tu (106 years old) was present at polling station No. 3, polling group No. 11, neighborhood 15, Binh Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City to exercise his rights and civic duties.

PHOTO: HAI NHI

From 6:00 AM, former Politburo member and former President Nguyen Minh Triet, along with his wife and Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council Vo Van Minh, cast their votes at the Phu Thuan Ward Office polling station (Phu An Ward) along with a large number of local voters. At Duoc Song Primary School (Tan Dinh Ward), the opening ceremony took place at 6:45 AM with the participation of former Politburo member and former President Truong Tan Sang; Standing Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Le Quoc Phong; Head of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Duong Anh Duc, along with a large number of local voters. Former President Truong Tan Sang was also the first voter to cast his ballot at this location. At polling station No. 2, Xuan Hoa Ward (Tuoi Tho 7 Kindergarten), former Politburo member and former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc exercised their right to vote.

Besides direct polling stations, Xuan Hoa Ward also brought mobile ballot boxes to areas where voters had limited mobility. Accordingly, the election committee, in coordination with law enforcement, organized for 445 detainees at Binh Thoi Detention Center, Facility 1 ( thuộc Chi Hoa Detention Center, Ho Chi Minh City Police) to exercise their civic rights. Voters were guided on how to fill out ballots, learn about the biographies and action programs of candidates for the National Assembly and Ho Chi Minh City People's Council before voting, ensuring order and compliance with regulations. At the No. 1 drug rehabilitation center under the Ho Chi Minh City Police (Xuan Thoi Son commune), 1,081 trainees and 139 officers and soldiers at the facility exercised their rights and civic duties in the election of representatives to the 16th National Assembly and representatives to the People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term. From early morning, the election atmosphere at the facility was serious and well-organized. Local police and supervising officials verify the information and issue voter cards to each eligible trainee.

On the same day, voters in the provinces of Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, and Lam Dong enthusiastically flocked to polling stations to exercise their rights and civic duties. Many voters, including ethnic minorities, wore traditional clothing and arrived at polling stations very early, contributing to the solemn atmosphere of this great national event.

Voting at the detention center was conducted in accordance with regulations and under the guidance of the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department and Chi Hoa Detention Center.

PHOTO: SY DONG

In Gia Lai, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung arrived early to attend the opening ceremony and cast his vote at polling station number 20, Quy Nhon Nam Ward. At the same time, Bui Quang Huy, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Youth Union, also exercised his rights and civic duties at the Community Center of Residential Group 16, Ayun Pa Ward.

The election atmosphere was also vibrant in Vinh Truong village, Phuoc Dinh commune. This is the locality planned for the construction of the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant. Phuoc Dinh commune has 12 polling stations with 23,769 voters. Thanks to early public awareness campaigns, most voters were aware of the time, location, and procedures for voting. Many fishermen, after returning from their early morning fishing trips, also made time to participate in the election. Mr. Nguyen Van Trong (53 years old) shared that the villagers all hoped to elect representatives who are responsible to the locality, especially during the preparation phase for a large project like the nuclear power plant.

In the southernmost part of the country, from early morning on March 15th, many voters in Dat Mui commune (Ca Mau province) went to polling stations to exercise their civic rights on election day. According to the Dat Mui Commune Election Committee, the commune has 23 polling stations with more than 15,300 voters. Due to the unique terrain of rivers and canals, the local authorities have developed a plan to transport voters from areas far from the center of the hamlets to the polling stations on time.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/la-phieu-o-nhung-noi-dac-biet-18526031522302022.htm