List of leaders of South Vietnam

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Office of the President of the Republic of Vietnam in Independence Palace, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) Reunification Palace - Office of the President of RVN.jpg
Office of the President of the Republic of Vietnam in Independence Palace, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)

This is a list of leaders of South Vietnam, since the establishment of the Autonomous Republic of Cochinchina in 1946, and the division of Vietnam in 1954 until the fall of the Republic of Vietnam in 1975, and the reunification of Vietnam in 1976.

Contents

Legends

Colour key
(for political parties)
  Cochinchinese Democratic Party
  Military (VNA / RVNMF)
   National Liberation Front (Việt Cộng)

Heads of state

State of Vietnam (1949–1955)

Chief of State

Under the State of Vietnam, the position of head of state is known as Chief of the State of Vietnam and was held by Bảo Đại and Ngo Dinh Diem

No.PortraitName
(Born-Died)
Term of officeParty
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Baodai1.jpg Bảo Đại
(1912–1997)
13 June 194926 October 19556 years, 135 days Independent
2 President NGO-DINH-DIEM of the Republic of Viet-Nam.jpg Ngô Đình Diệm
(1901–1963)
26 October 195526 October 19550 day's Personalist Labor Revolutionary Party

First Republic of Vietnam (1955–1963)

President

President of South Vietnam
Seal of the President of the Republic of Vietnam (1963-1975) (Gold).svg
Seal of the President
(1963–75)
Presidential Standard of South Vietnam (1963-1975).svg
Presidential Standard
(1963-1975)
Residence Independence Palace, Saigon
Appointer Direct election
PrecursorChief of the State of Vietnam
Formation26 October 1956
First holder Ngô Đình Diệm
Final holder Dương Văn Minh
Abolished30 April 1975
SuccessionChairman of the Consultative Council of the Provisional Revolutionary Government
No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeTime in officeAffiliation
1 President NGO-DINH-DIEM of the Republic of Viet-Nam.jpg Ngô Đình Diệm
(1901–1963)
26 October 19552 November 1963 ( assassinated )8 years, 7 days Personalist Labor Revolutionary Party

Vice president

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeTime in officeAffiliation
1 Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tho, Secretary of State for Economics.jpg Nguyễn Ngọc Thơ
(1908–1976)
18 December 19562 November 19636 years, 319 daysIndependent

Military junta (1963–1967)

Heads of state

During the military junta period, the heads of state of South Vietnam did not always hold real power, the heads of military were de facto leaders of the nation. Sometimes the heads of state and heads of military were held by the same person, for example: Duong Van Minh from 2 November 1963 to 30 January 1964 or Nguyen Khanh from 16 August 1964 to 27 August 1964.

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeAffiliationTitle
1 Portrait of Duong Van Minh, Vietnam Fights and Builds No.1, July 1964.jpg Dương Văn Minh
(1916–2001)
2 November 196330 January 1964 Military Chief of State and
Chairman of Military Revolutionary Council (until 30 January 1964)
30 January 196416 August 1964Chief of State
2 Nguyen Khanh 1964.jpg Nguyễn Khánh
(1927–2013)
16 August 196427 August 1964MilitaryChief of State and
Chairman of Military Revolutionary Council
*
Flag of the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces.svg Provisional Leadership Committee
(Minh, Khánh and Khiêm)
27 August 19648 September 1964MilitaryProvisional Leadership Committee
1 Portrait of Duong Van Minh, Vietnam Fights and Builds No.1, July 1964.jpg Dương Văn Minh
(1916–2001)
8 September 196426 October 1964MilitaryChief of State and
Chairman of Provisional Leadership Committee
3 Portrait of Phan Khac Suu, Chief of State.jpg Phan Khắc Sửu
(1893–1970)
26 October 196420 December 1964 Vietnamese Democratic Socialist Party Chief of State and
Chairman of High National Council (until 20 December 1964)
20 December 196412 June 1965Chief of State
4 Official Portrait of Nguyen Van Thieu, President of the Republic of Vietnam (cropped).jpg Nguyễn Văn Thiệu
(1923–2001)
19 June 196531 October 1967MilitaryChief of State and
Chairman of National Leadership Committee

Heads of military

Under the military junta, heads of military held de facto power in governing the nation. Sometimes head of state and head of military were held by the same person.

NameMilitary organizationTermMilitary titleHead of state at that time
Dương Văn Minh Revolutionary Military Council2 November 1963 – 30 January 1964Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Councilhimself
Nguyễn Khánh Revolutionary Military Council30 January 1964 – 27 August 1964Chairman of the Revolutionary Military CouncilDuong Van Minh (30 January 1964 – 16 August 1964)
himself (16 August 1964 – 27 August 1964)
Dương Văn Minh
Nguyễn Khánh
Trần Thiện Khiêm
Provisional Leadership Committee (collective leadership)27 August 1964 – 24 October 1964Provisional Leadership Committeeitself (27 August 1964 – 8 September 1964)
Duong Van Minh (8/9/1964 – 24 October 1964)
Short period of civilian government of the Chief of State Phan Khac Suu (24 October 1964 – 20 December 1964)
Nguyễn Khánh Military Council18 December 1964 – 25 February 1965Chairman of the Military Council Phan Khac Suu
Nguyễn Văn Thiệu Military Council25 February 1965 – 14 June 1965Chairman of the Military CouncilPhan Khac Suu
Nguyễn Văn ThiệuNational Leadership Committee14 June 1965 – 21 October 1967Chairman of the National Leadership Committeehimself

Second Republic of Vietnam (1967–1975)

Presidents

NumberPortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeTime in officeAffiliation
2 Official Portrait of Nguyen Van Thieu, President of the Republic of Vietnam (cropped).jpg Nguyễn Văn Thiệu
(1923–2001)
31 October 196721 April 19757 years, 172 days National Social Democratic Front
3 Yue Nan Qian Zong Li Chen Wen Xiang .jpg Trần Văn Hương
(1902–1982)
21 April 197528 April 19757 daysNational Social Democratic Front
4 Portrait of Duong Van Minh, Vietnam Fights and Builds No.1, July 1964.jpg Dương Văn Minh
(1916–2001)
28 April 197530 April 19752 daysMilitary

Vice presidents

NumberPortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeTime in officeAffiliation
2 USIA 66-1476.jpg Nguyễn Cao Kỳ
(1930–2011)
31 October 196729 October 19713 years, 363 daysNational Social Democratic Front
3 Yue Nan Qian Zong Li Chen Wen Xiang .jpg Trần Văn Hương
(1902–1982)
31 October 197121 April 19753 years, 172 daysNational Social Democratic Front
4 Portrait of Lawyer Nguyen Van Huyen.jpg Nguyễn Văn Huyền
(1913–1995)
28 April 197530 April 19752 daysIndependent

Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam (1969–1976)

Chairman of the Consultative Council

NumberPortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeTime in officeAffiliation
1 Nguyen Huu Tho.jpg Nguyễn Hữu Thọ
(1910–1996)
8 June 19692 July 19767 years, 24 days National Liberation Front

Heads of government

Prime Minister of South Vietnam
Coat of arms of the Republic of Vietnam (1963-1975).svg
Coat of Arms of the Republic of Vietnam
(1963–75)
Flag of South Vietnam.svg
Flag of the Republic of Vietnam
(1948–75)
Government of South Vietnam
StatusAbolished
Residence Gia Long Palace (1946–55)
Appointer Emperor (1949–55)
President (1963–75)
Precursor Prime Minister of the Empire of Vietnam
Formation1 June 1946
4 November 1963
First holder Nguyễn Văn Thinh
Final holder Vũ Văn Mẫu
Abolished26 October 1955
30 April 1975
SuccessionChairman of the Provisional Revolutionary Government
No.PortraitName
(Born-Died)
Term of officeParty
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
Presidents of the Autonomous Republic of Cochinchina
(1946–1948)
1 Dr. Nguyen Van Thinh.png Nguyễn Văn Thinh
(1888–1946)
1 June 194610 November 1946162 daysCochinchinese Democratic Party
2 Portrait de Le Van Hoach en 1948.jpg Lê Văn Hoạch
(1896–1978)
7 December 19468 October 1947305 daysIndependent
3 Nguyen Van Xuan, Luu Duc Trung, Nghiem Van Tri, Tran Van Ly Phan Van Giao Ngo Dinh Diem (cropped).jpg Nguyễn Văn Xuân
(1892–1989)
8 October 194727 May 1948232 daysMilitary
4

Tran Van Huu.jpg

Trần Văn Hữu
(1896-1984)
27 May 19484 June 19491 year, 8 daysIndependent
Chief of the government of the Provisional Central Government
(1948–1949)
3 Nguyen Van Xuan, Luu Duc Trung, Nghiem Van Tri, Tran Van Ly Phan Van Giao Ngo Dinh Diem (cropped).jpg Nguyễn Văn Xuân
(1892–1989)
27 May 194814 June 19491 year, 18 daysMilitary
Prime Ministers of the State of Vietnam
(1949–1955)
1 Baodai1.jpg Bảo Đại
(1912–1997)
14 June 194920 January 1950220 daysIndependent
2 Nguyen Phan Long in 1950.jpg Nguyễn Phan Long
(1888–1960)
20 January 19507 May 1950107 days Constitutional Party
3 Tran Van Huu.jpg Trần Văn Hữu
(1896–1984)
7 May 19503 June 19522 years, 27 daysIndependent
4 Mr. Nguyen Van Tam.jpg Nguyễn Văn Tâm
(1893–1990)
25 June 195217 December 19531 year, 175 days Nationalist Party
5 Prince Buu Loc.jpg Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Lộc
(1914–1990)
17 December 195316 June 1954181 daysIndependent
6 President NGO-DINH-DIEM of the Republic of Viet-Nam.jpg Ngô Đình Diệm
(1901–1963)
16 June 195426 October 19551 year, 132 daysPersonalist Labor Revolutionary Party
Prime Ministers of the Republic of Vietnam
(1955–1975)
Abolished
(26 October 1955 – 4 November 1963)
1 Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tho, Secretary of State for Economics.jpg Nguyễn Ngọc Thơ
(1908–1976)
4 November 196330 January 196487 daysIndependent
2 Nguyen Khanh 1964.jpg Nguyễn Khánh
(1927–2013)
8 February 196429 August 1964203 daysMilitary
Nguyen Xuan Oanh, Viet-Nam Bulletin Viet-Nam info series.jpg Nguyễn Xuân Oánh
(1921–2003)
(Acting)
29 August 19643 September 19645 daysIndependent
(2) Nguyen Khanh 1964.jpg Nguyễn Khánh
(1927–2013)
3 September 196426 October 196462 daysMilitary
Portrait of Phan Khac Suu, Chief of State.jpg Phan Khắc Sửu
(1893–1970)
(Acting)
26 October 19643 November 19648 daysIndependent
3 Yue Nan Qian Zong Li Chen Wen Xiang .jpg Trần Văn Hương
(1902–1982)
4 November 196427 January 196584 daysIndependent
Nguyen Xuan Oanh, Viet-Nam Bulletin Viet-Nam info series.jpg Nguyễn Xuân Oánh
(1921–2003)
(Acting)
28 January 196515 February 196518 daysIndependent
4 Phan Huy Quat.jpg Phan Huy Quát
(1908–1979)
16 February 196512 June 1965116 days Nationalist Party
5 USIA 66-1476.jpg Nguyễn Cao Kỳ
(1930–2011)
19 June 196528 October 19672 years, 131 daysMilitary
6 Nguyen Van Loc (1968).jpg Nguyễn Văn Lộc
(1922–1992)
31 October 196718 May 1968200 daysIndependent
7 Yue Nan Qian Zong Li Chen Wen Xiang .jpg Trần Văn Hương
(1902–1982)
25 May 196822 August 19691 year, 89 daysIndependent
8 Yue Nan Zhu Hua Da Shi Chen Shan Qian  (cropped).jpg Trần Thiện Khiêm
(1925–2021)
23 August 19694 April 19755 years, 224 daysNational Social Democratic Front
9 Nguyen Ba Can (1968).jpg Nguyễn Bá Cẩn
(1930–2009)
4 April 197528 April 197524 daysNational Social Democratic Front
10 19600113Wu Wen Mu .jpg Vũ Văn Mẫu
(1914–1998)
28 April 197530 April 19752 days Forces for National Reconciliation
Chairman of government Provisional Revolutionary Government
of the Republic of South Vietnam
(1969–1976)
1 HuynhTanPhat.jpg Huỳnh Tấn Phát
(1913–1989)
6 June 19692 July 19767 years, 26 days National Liberation Front

Symbols

Standards

Document seals

Podium seals

See also