On 27 January 2016, the 12th National Congress elected 20 people to serve as alternates of the 12th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) for the electoral term 2016–2021.

The Central Committee is the highest decision-making institution in the CPV and Vietnam when the Party's National Congress and the Politburo are adjourned.

They are 45 years of age or younger and undergo long-term political education to prepare them for future assignments and election as a member of the Central Committee.

[8] Other alternates held leadership posts in mass organisations, such as Lê Quốc Phong, who was elected as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union on 21 April 2016.

[14] Ngô Đông Hải, Lâm Văn Mẫn and Nguyễn Khắc Toàn had served as alternates of the 11th Central Committee in 2011–2016.