Tô Lâm, the General Secretary and President of Vietnam, has been honored with the Lev N. Tolstoy International Peace Prize for the year 2026. This prestigious award acknowledges his significant efforts in promoting peace and collaboration among different nations.

The announcement was made during an online voting session held from Saint Petersburg, where Valery Gergiev, the Chairman of the Jury and a prominent Russian artist, emphasized Vietnam's status as one of the fastest-growing economies in the Asia-Pacific region. He noted that Vietnam has successfully maintained its unique cultural identity within the diverse global landscape.

Members of the Lev N. Tolstoy International Peace Prize Jury highlighted Tô Lâm's leadership in building the nation and his contributions to global justice, respect for international law, and the promotion of Vietnam's traditions of peace, humanity, and dialogue.

Other jury representatives, including Vladimir Tolstoy, the director of the Lev N. Tolstoy State Museum and a descendant of the great writer, and social activist Pierre de Gaulle from France, acknowledged Vietnam's remarkable development and integration into the world. They pointed out that Vietnam has recovered from the devastation of war and demonstrated impressive economic growth, serving as an inspiration for many nations striving for peace.

The unanimous decision to award Tô Lâm the Lev N. Tolstoy Prize reflects a commitment to recognizing mutual understanding and cooperation among peoples. This marks the third time the Lev N. Tolstoy International Peace Prize has been awarded. The inaugural prize in 2024 was given to the African Union for its significant contributions to peace efforts. In 2025, the recipients included the Presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The award is determined by an international council of esteemed political, social, and cultural activists from various countries, including Argentina, Belarus, India, China, Russia, France, South Africa, and Japan.