ấ n ▁Sang ▁was ▁elected ▁state ▁president ▁of ▁the ▁Social ist ▁Republic ▁of ▁Vietnam ▁by ▁the ▁National ▁Assembly ▁of ▁Vietnam ▁and ▁nominated ▁by ▁his ▁prede cess or ▁N gu y ễ n ▁Min h ▁Tri ế t ▁who ▁retired ▁from ▁office . ▁ ▁Tr ư ơ ng ▁T ấ n ▁Sang ▁was ▁also ▁ranked ▁second ▁after ▁General ▁Secretary ▁of ▁the ▁Commun ist ▁Party ▁of ▁Vietnam ▁N gu y ễ n ▁Ph ú ▁Tr ọ ng ▁on ▁the ▁party ' s ▁Central ▁Secret ariat , ▁a ▁body ▁which ▁direct s ▁policy ▁making . ▁Sang ▁has ▁been ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Central ▁Polit b uro , ▁the ▁executive ▁committee ▁of ▁the ▁Commun ist ▁Party , ▁since ▁ 1 9 9 6 . ▁He ▁was ▁Commun ist ▁Party ▁secretary ▁for ▁Ho ▁Chi ▁Min h ▁City ▁from ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 0 . ▁He ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁the ▁national ▁party ' s ▁number ▁two ▁slot ▁in ▁October ▁ 2 0 0 9 . ▁There ▁were ▁reports ▁of ▁rival ry ▁between ▁Tr ư ơ ng ▁T ấ n ▁Sang ▁and ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁N gu y ễ n ▁T ấ n ▁D ũ ng , ▁and ▁each ▁was ▁back ed ▁by ▁a ▁fa ction ▁within ▁the ▁party . ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁ 1 1 th ▁National ▁Congress ▁of ▁the ▁Commun ist ▁Party ▁of ▁Vietnam ▁in ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁Tr ư ơ ng ▁T ấ n ▁Sang ▁was ▁nominated ▁President ▁of ▁the ▁Social ist ▁Republic ▁of ▁Vietnam ▁and ▁confirmed ▁on