At a special session on November 13, delegates of the Hanoi People's Council voted to relieve Nguyen Ngoc Tuan of the chairmanship as he had reached the age limit for re-election.

All delegates present then voted unanimously to elect Phung Thi Hong Ha, Vice Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee and Standing Vice Chairwoman of the People's Council, as Chairwoman for the 2021–2026 term.

Speaking after her election, on behalf of the officials newly entrusted with positions including chairpersons and vice chairpersons of the Hanoi People's Council and Hanoi People's Committee, Ha expressed sincere appreciation for the trust that the delegates had given her and the newly elected leaders.

Ha said taking on key leadership roles as Hanoi faces major development tasks brings both great honor and heavy responsibility. She affirmed that the city stands at an important moment in its development, in line with the Party's direction and deeper international integration.

"We commit to devote ourselves wholeheartedly, placing the interests of the Party, the people, and the capital above all else," she said.

"We will work together with the Standing Committee of the People's Council, the leadership of the People's Committee, agencies at all levels, and the entire political system to implement the Party's resolutions effectively and on schedule, especially the five development viewpoints, 43 main targets, 10 priority task groups, and seven task groups directed by General Secretary To Lam at the 18th Hanoi Party Congress," Ha said.

She added that the new leadership would uphold and build on the achievements and experience of previous generations, striving to fulfill every task and earn the trust of the Party, the government, voters, and the people of Hanoi.

Phung Thi Hong Ha was born on May 1, 1971, in Ung Hoa Ward, Hanoi. She holds a bachelor's degree in economics, a master's degree in finance and banking, and a senior-level certificate in political theory.

From 1990 to 1998, she worked at the State-owned Enterprise Office and the Administrative-Financial Management Division of the Ha Tay Provincial Department of Finance.

Starting in 1994, she served as Secretary of the Youth Union of the Ha Tay Provincial Department of Finance and later as a member of the Standing Committee of the Ha Tay Civil Service Youth Union.

From 1998 to 2006, she was Deputy Head of the Administrative-Financial Management Division under the Ha Tay Provincial Department of Finance, while also serving as Secretary of the Finance Department's Youth Union and a member of the Ha Tay Provincial Youth Union Executive Committee.

From 2006 to 2007, she was head of the same division. From 2007 to 2008, she served as Deputy Director of the Ha Tay Provincial Department of Finance and held several union leadership positions.

From 2008 to 2012, she worked as Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Finance after Ha Tay merged into Hanoi.

In 2010, she became a member of the Hanoi Party Committee. In 2011, she was elected to the Hanoi People's Council. From 2012 to 2016, she served as Party Secretary of Thanh Oai District and continued her role as a council delegate.

From 2016 to 2020, she served as Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Council. In late 2020, she became a member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Council.

From March 2025 until her election, she served concurrently as Vice Secretary of the Party Committee of the Hanoi People's Council, Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Council, and Vice Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee.