12th National Assembly: The country achieved great accomplishments.

The 12th National Assembly operates in the context of the comprehensive national reform initiated and led by the Communist Party of Vietnam, which has been underway for more than 20 years and has achieved tremendous successes.

VietnamPlus•12/03/2026

The 12th National Assembly operates in the context of the comprehensive national reform initiated and led by the Communist Party of Vietnam , which has progressed for more than 20 years. The country has achieved tremendous achievements of historical significance, both in theory and practice, creating a foundation for accelerating industrialization, modernization, and international integration.

The 12th National Assembly continued to innovate its operations towards greater democracy, substance, and effectiveness, continuing to build and perfect the legal system, creating the foundation for Vietnam to fundamentally become a modern industrialized country by 2020.

Basic data

Election Day: May 20, 2007

Voter turnout: 99.64% (56,252,543 people)

Total number of delegates elected: 493

Composition of the National Assembly

Independent candidate: 1 (0.2%)

Full-time delegates: 138 (27.99%)

Non-Party members: 43 (8.7%)

Ethnic minorities: 87 (17.6%)

Women: 127 (25.8%)

Religion: 4 (0.8%)

HIGHLIGHTED SESSIONS

First session

Meeting from July 19 to August 4, 2007, the National Assembly elected:

The National Assembly passed a Resolution on shortening the term of the 12th National Assembly (2007-2011) by one year.

3rd Session

Meeting from May 6th to June 3rd, 2008, the National Assembly passed a Resolution on adjusting the administrative boundaries of Hanoi City and some related provinces. Accordingly, from August 1st, 2008, the whole country has 63 administrative units, including 5 centrally-administered cities and 58 provinces.

6th Session

Meetings held from October 24th to November 27th, 2009: The National Assembly passed resolutions on the investment policy for the Lai Chau Hydropower Project and the investment policy for the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, Chairman of the Election Council, supervises and inspects polling station No. 4, voting area No. 4 (Xuan Phuong, Tu Liem, Hanoi) before the election of deputies to the 12th National Assembly. (Photo: Tri Dung/VNA)

Laws passed by the 12th National Assembly

August 4, 2007
Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on prevention and combat of corruption.

June 3, 2008
Law on the management and use of state assets
Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Petroleum
Law on Red Cross activities
Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Publishing
Value Added Tax Law
Corporate income tax law
Law on compulsory purchase and requisition of property
Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on drug prevention and control.
Law on the promulgation of legal normative documents
Atomic Energy Law
Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army

November 13, 2008
Biodiversity Law
High-tech law
Law on officials and civil servants
Road traffic law
Vietnamese Nationality Law
Health insurance law
Law on Civil Enforcement
Excise Tax Law

June 17, 2009
Law on criminal records
Law on Public Debt Management
Urban Planning Law

Citizens and soldiers cast their votes in the election for representatives to the 12th National Assembly, May 20, 2007. (Source: VNA)

June 18, 2009
Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Cinematography
Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Cultural Heritage
Law on Representative Agencies of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Abroad
Law amending and supplementing Article 126 of the Housing Law and Article 121 of the Land Law
Law on State Liability for Compensation

June 19, 2009
Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Intellectual Property
Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Penal Code
Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of laws related to basic construction investment

November 23, 2009
Law on the Elderly
Law on medical examination and treatment
Telecommunications Law
Radio Frequency Law
Militia and Self-Defense Law

November 25, 2009
Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Education
Resource Tax Law

June 16, 2010
Law on the State Bank of Vietnam
Law on Credit Institutions

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong delivers the opening speech at the 28th session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National Assembly (Hanoi, February 9, 2010). (Photo: Tri Dung/VNA)

June 17, 2010
Law on non-agricultural land use tax
Postal Law
Law on the economical and efficient use of energy
Law on persons with disabilities
Adoption Law
Law on the Execution of Criminal Sentences
Commercial Arbitration Law
Food safety law

November 15, 2010
Inspection Law
Environmental Protection Tax Law
Civil Servant Law

November 17, 2010
Law on consumer protection
Mineral Law

November 24, 2010
Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Insurance Business
Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Securities Law
Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on election of National Assembly deputies and the Law on election of People's Council deputies
Administrative Procedure Law

March 29, 2011
Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Civil Procedure Code
Law on preventing and combating human trafficking
Independent Auditing Law

The Ordinances were passed by the Standing Committee of the 12th National Assembly.

October 19, 2007
Ordinance amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Ordinance on the execution of prison sentences

January 26, 2008
Defense Industry Ordinance
Ordinance on the Vietnam Coast Guard

April 2, 2008
Ordinance amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Ordinance on handling administrative violations

August 27, 2008
Ordinance on procedures for the seizure of ships

November 21, 2008
Ordinance on commune police

November 22, 2008
Ordinance amending and supplementing Article 6 of the Ordinance on Resource Tax

December 27, 2008
Ordinance amending Article 10 of the Population Ordinance

February 27, 2009
Ordinance amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Ordinance on the organization of criminal investigations
Ordinance on court fees and charges

March 16, 2010
Ordinance on procedures for seizing aircraft

February 19, 2011
Ordinance amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Ordinance on Judges and Lay Judges of the People's Courts
Ordinance amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Ordinance on Prosecutors of the People's Procuracy

June 30, 2011
Ordinance on the management and use of weapons, explosives, and supporting tools

CONTINUING TO INNOVATE THE OPERATIONS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES

The 12th National Assembly was active, increasingly promoting democracy, practicality, and effectiveness, with innovations in both thinking and practical action.

The National Assembly has made significant progress in reforming and gradually improving its organizational structure and operating methods, increasing the number of full-time representatives; and increasingly better fulfilling its functions of legislation, supreme oversight, and making decisions on important national issues.

Through continuous efforts and innovation, in four years, the 12th National Assembly passed 67 laws and 13 resolutions; the Standing Committee of the National Assembly passed 14 ordinances and 11 resolutions containing legal norms.

The legal documents issued ensure constitutionality, legality, consistency, and uniformity, promptly meeting the requirements of managing and governing the country's socio-economic affairs.

DECIDING ON IMPORTANT NATIONAL ISSUES

During its 12th term, the National Assembly made decisions on 32 important issues, particularly those concerning socio-economic development, the state budget, and national projects; decisions on the state apparatus and high-ranking personnel; a decision to shorten the 12th National Assembly's term by one year; decisions on the investment policy for the Lai Chau Hydropower Plant and the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant projects; decisions on reducing and exempting agricultural land use tax for farmers; and adjustments to the administrative boundaries of Hanoi and several related provinces.

The National Assembly voted to approve the Resolution on adjusting the administrative boundaries of Hanoi city and some related provinces on the afternoon of May 29, 2008. (Photo: Tri Dung/VNA)

On May 29, 2008, the third session of the 12th National Assembly adopted Resolution No. 15/2008/QH12 on the adjustment of administrative boundaries of Hanoi Capital and some related provinces.

According to this Resolution, the expanded area of the new Hanoi city includes: Hanoi, the entire natural area of Ha Tay province (after separating Tan Duc commune, Ba Vi district, and transferring it to Phu Tho province), Me Linh district (Vinh Phuc province), and four communes: Dong Xuan, Tien Xuan, Yen Binh, and Yen Trung in Luong Son district (Hoa Binh province).

With this adjustment, the expanded Hanoi city has a total natural area of nearly 3,358.6 km2 and over 6.2 million inhabitants, compared to the area before expansion of over 920 km2 and approximately 3.5 million inhabitants. After the expansion, Hanoi city has 12 districts, 17 counties, and 577 wards, communes, and towns.

ENHANCE MONITORING AND QUESTIONING ACTIVITIES TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS AND TASKS IN THE NEW SITUATION

The 12th National Assembly reviewed 159 reports of various types (reports from the President, the Government, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, ministries, agencies, etc.); it supervised 7 thematic areas, including "hot" topics such as: the implementation of policies and laws on basic construction investment using state capital in ministries, agencies, and localities from 2005 to 2007; and topics that were both urgent and long-term, such as: the implementation of policies and laws on food safety and hygiene management; and the implementation of administrative procedure reform in some areas directly related to citizens and businesses according to the overall program of state administrative reform for the period 2001-2010.

Expanding Foreign Relations

After 20 years of implementing reforms (1986-2006), the central task and a new point in Vietnam's foreign policy is "to deepen, stabilize, and sustain established international relations," proactively and actively integrating into the international community according to a roadmap, consistent with the national development strategy until 2010 and the vision for 2020.

During its 12th term, the Vietnamese National Assembly assumed the chairmanship of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and successfully organized the 31st AIPA General Assembly in Hanoi from September 20 to 24, 2010. Vietnam became a focal point for ASEAN countries to overcome difficulties and challenges, while simultaneously enhancing the position of ASEAN countries on the international stage.

Over the past four years, under the leadership of the Party, the 12th National Assembly has inherited and built upon the achievements and lessons learned from previous National Assemblies, upholding a spirit of responsibility, unity, and striving to continue comprehensive and vigorous reforms in both organization and operational methods. It has effectively fulfilled its functions and duties as stipulated by the Constitution and laws, achieving many important results and making significant contributions to the overall achievements of the country.