On the morning of 27/3, at its first session, the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Council (HDND) elected Nguyen Hong Phong, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee, as chairman of the Provincial People's Council for the 2026-2031 term with 100% of the votes.

The position of chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Council had been vacant since mid-9/2025, after the Central Committee decided to allow Lai The Nguyen, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Council, to retire early.

Also at the session, delegates elected heads of the Provincial People's Council's committees for the new term. Luong Tien Thanh was elected head of the Ethnic Minorities Committee, Hoang Anh Tuan as head of the Economic and Budget Committee, Nguyen Quoc Hai as head of the Law Committee, and Ngo Thi Hong Hao as head of the Culture and Society Committee. All these individuals were re-elected.

New Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Council Nguyen Hong Phong. Photo: Lam Son.

Nguyen Hong Phong, 47 years old, is from Phu Tho and holds a Doctor of Law degree. Phong rose through the ranks of the people's public security force, holding many important positions in domestic security. Before 2022, he was Deputy Director of the Department of Domestic Security. In 7/2022, he was assigned as Director of the Ha Tinh Provincial Police. Two years later, he was assigned as Director of the Dong Nai Provincial Police.

In 1/2025, he was appointed Director of the Department of Domestic Security, Ministry of Public Security. In 7/2025, he was promoted to major general.

On 17/9/2025, the Politburo mobilized and assigned him to join the Executive Committee and Standing Committee, and serve as Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee for the 2020-2025 term. Subsequently, at the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term, he was re-elected to this position. In early 2026, he was elected an alternate member of the 14th Central Committee of the Communist Party.

In the recent elections for National Assembly deputies and People's Councils at all levels, Phong ran in electoral unit 24, which includes Nghi Son, Thanh Dan, Hai Linh, Tinh Gia, Dao Duy Tu, Hai Binh, Truc Lam, Nghi Son wards and Cac Son, Truong Lam communes. He was elected with a vote percentage of over 97,7%.

The Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Council for the 2026-2031 term has 85 members. The two vice chairmen are Le Tien Lam and Nguyen Quang Hai.

Le Hoang