Ton Duc Thang

Ton Duc Thang, 1888-1980, Vietnamese politician. He was an early supporter of Ho Chi Minh and was imprisoned (1929-45) by the French colonial regime. After Vietnamese independence, he rose quickly in the North Vietnamese Communist party. He was vice president (1960-69) and became president of North Vietnam, a largely ceremonial position, upon Ho's death in 1969. After 1976, Ton was president of the newly reunited Socialist Republic of Vietnam.