Polls open in Viet Nam legislative election

Polling stations opened in Viet Nam on Sunday, as voters began casting their ballots for members of the National Assembly of the one-party state. The National Assembly is the country's top legislative body, but serves mainly to ratify decisions by the ruling Communist Party. Out of 864 candidates for the 500-seat legislature, which serves mainly to ratify decisions by the ruling Communist Party, only 65 are not party members.

Top leader To Lam was reaffirmed as general secretary at the congress, but he is widely expected to become president as well -- a post that requires approval by lawmakers. This general election aims "to choose the most prestigious people to continue leading the country to more development", To Lam said on live TV after casting his ballot.