On December 30, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi held a conference to guide agencies, organizations and units on nominating candidates for the 16th National Assembly for the 2026–2031 term.

The conference was chaired by Bui Huyen Mai, member of the Hanoi Party Committee Standing Committee, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi, member of the Election Steering Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi Election Committee.

The conference aimed to ensure that assigned units fully understand the process and implement it in accordance with the law, on schedule and in an objective and democratic manner.

At the conference, Pham Ngoc Quynh, Head of the Department for Democracy, Supervision and Social Criticism under the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi, presented detailed guidance on the nomination process.

From December 17, 2025 to January 25, 2026, assigned units must nominate candidates from their agencies or organizations through three mandatory steps, in strict compliance with legal procedures.

Step 1: Personnel planning. The leadership of each agency or unit holds a meeting to propose candidate personnel who meet the standards under the Law on Elections of Deputies to the National Assembly and People's Councils.

Step 2: Collecting opinions from workplace voters. Units organize meetings to gather comments, evaluations and confidence levels from voters within the agency or organization regarding proposed candidates. This step reflects grassroots voices and ensures transparency and democracy.

Step 3: Nomination at an expanded leadership meeting. Based on voter feedback, units convene an expanded leadership meeting to discuss and decide on candidate nominations. The results must be recorded in official minutes using the prescribed format.

Nguyen Xuan Luong, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Home Affairs and representative of the Hanoi Election Committee, provided detailed guidance on candidate application dossiers.

He stressed compliance with Article 35 of the Law on Elections of Deputies to the National Assembly and People's Councils, as well as the forms and documentation specified in Resolution 40 of the National Election Council dated September 29, 2025.

Under the timeline, by 5:00 p.m. on February 1, 2026, all nominated and self-nominated candidates in Hanoi must submit two complete application sets to the Hanoi Election Committee for inclusion in the consultation process.

Before this deadline, minutes from workplace voter meetings and expanded leadership meetings must also be sent to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi's Standing Committee for consolidation and preparation for subsequent consultation rounds.

In her concluding remarks, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi Bui Huyen Mai said that, on December 29, 2025, the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi received an official document from the Standing Committee of the Hanoi People’s Council regarding adjustments to the structure, composition, and allocation of nominees for the 16th National Assembly.

Based on this document, the city organized the conference to ensure compliance with legal timelines and requirements.

She emphasized that agencies and units need sufficient time to review the guidance.

Mai asked the Department for Democracy, Supervision and Social Criticism to send all presentation slides and written documents to facilitate the nomination process.

Following the conference, representatives were asked to advise their agencies and units to promptly organize nomination meetings in an objective, democratic and timely manner.

The process must comply with the structure and number outlined in the notice issued by the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi.

Mai also requested that units promptly submit meeting minutes to the Standing Committee after completing nomination procedures.

Candidates must then submit two application sets to the Hanoi Election Committee to complete procedures for the next consultation steps.

She noted that agencies and localities may encounter questions during implementation.

To address this, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi has established a public hotline operated by the head of the Department for Democracy, Supervision and Social Criticism.

"If any issues arise, they will be addressed promptly. The hotline will operate 24/7 until the nomination process for the 16th National Assembly is completed," Mai said.