The vice president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, known as the deputy chairman of the Council of State from 1981 to 1992, is the deputy head of state of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The vice president is appointed on the recommendation of the president to the National Assembly. The president can also recommend the vice president's dismissal and resignation from office. Upon the president's recommendation, the vice president has to be approved by the National Assembly. The main duty of a vice president is to help the president in discharging his duties—in certain cases, the vice president can be empowered by the president to replace him in the discharge of some of his duties. If the president cannot discharge his duties, the vice president becomes acting president. In case of vacancy, the vice president will remain acting president until the National Assembly elects a new president.

Huỳnh Tấn Phát was a Vietnamese architect, politician and revolutionary. He was the Prime Minister and de facto leader of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. After unification, Phát became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction before serving as Vice President of Vietnam until his death. He is the designer of the flag of the Viet Cong.