Tôn Đức Thắng was the second president of Vietnam under the leadership of General Secretary Lê Duẩn. The position of president is ceremonial and Tôn was never a major policymaker or even a member of the Politburo, Vietnam's ruling council. He served as president, initially of North Vietnam from September 2, 1969, and later of a united Vietnam, until his death in 1980.
Hồ Chí Minh (seated, r) with Tôn Đức Thắng (seated, l) and other senior members of the Viet Minh, liberated zone, northern Vietnam, 1948.