To Lam is being sworn in as the president of Vietnam during the seventh plenary session of the 15th National Assembly of Vietnam in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Wednesday. Photo: VCG

Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam (left) and Vietnamese National Assembly Vice President Tran Thanh Man walk past each other at the seventh session of the 15th National Assembly of Vietnam in Hanoi on Monday. To was nominated as president and Tran as the new speaker of the National Assembly. Photo: VCG

To Lam attends the signing ceremony of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the EU and the Investment Protection Agreement between Vietnam and the EU in Hanoi on June 30, 2019. Photo: IC photo

To Lam (center) leads a delegation from the Ministry of Public Security to visit the An Giang Police Station in Vietnam on Oct. 28, 2020. Photo: An Giang Province Information Portal, Vietnam

U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo with Minister of Public Security To Lam in Hanoi on Oct. 30, 2020. Photo: U.S. Department of State

To Lam (second from left in front) speaks during an inspection of security preparations at the venue of the Party Congress in Vietnam on Jan. 29, 2021. Photo: vietnamnet.vn

To Lam is being fed gold leaf steak by a celebrity chef nicknamed Salt Bae at an upscale steakhouse in London in November 2021. The video quickly drew criticism from the Vietnamese public, as a large number of Vietnamese had lost their jobs at the time due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Nusr-Et Steakhouse