Võ Văn Kiệt

This is a Vietnamese name; the family name is Võ, but is often simplified as Vo in English-language text. According to Vietnamese custom, this person properly should be referred to by the given name Kiệt.

[1] Võ Văn Kiệt (born 23 November 1922) was a Vietnamese politician. He was Prime Minister of Vietnam from 8 August 1991 to 25 September 1997. He was one of the political leaders that led the renovation (Đổi mới) policy in Vietnam. In fact, Phan Văn Hòa was his real family name. He changed his name to Võ Văn Kiệt when he joined the Indochinese Communist Party. He also had a nickname, Sáu Dân. He was born into a peasant family in Trung Hiệp village, Vũng Liêm district, Vĩnh Long province. He was admitted to the Indochinese Communist Party in 1939. He militated in the Anti-imperialist Youth Movement and took part in the Nam Kỳ (Cochinchina) insurrection in Vũng Liêm district. In 1960, he was elected alternate member of the Communist Party Central Committee and became a full member in 1972. In 1976, he was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hồ Chí Minh City. Soon after, he was elected alternate member of the Politburo of the CPV and made Secretary of the Party Committee of Hồ Chí Minh City. In 1982, he was promoted to Vice-premiership and became Chairman of the State Planning Commission. In 1987, he was appointed First Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam and became acting Prime Minister in 1988 after the sudden death of Phạm Hùng.