He pledged to seriously and fully perform the duties and powers of the president as defined by the constitution, actively fulfill the country's internal, external, defense and security tasks.
Moreover, together with the entire party, people, military and organization in the political system, he will promote the highest spirit of "self-reliance, self-confidence, self-strength, self-resilience, and national pride".
Lam, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), was appointed deputy minister of public security in August 2010 and he became minister of public security in April 2016. He is also the deputy head of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-corruption led by Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the CPV Central Committee.
Lam's election came after the resignation of former president Vo Van Thuong in March, who was only in office for one year. The government said Thuong violated party regulations and has negatively affected public perception as well as the reputation of the party and the state.