A long-time assistant to the economic reformer Võ Văn Kiệt, Đam previously served as Chairman of the People's Committee (Governor) of Quảng Ninh province and as Minister of the Government Office prior to being appointed deputy prime minister, where he was in charge of the Science and Technology, Information and Communication, Tourism and Sports portfolio.

Born in Hải Dương Province, he was educated at the Vietnam National Academy of Public Administration.

Đam stepped down from his position as deputy prime minister on 5 January 2023 after the National Assembly selected a successor.

[3][4] His dismissal came after the November 2022 arrest of Nguyễn Văn Trịnh, who was then Đam's ministerial assistant, for his role in the Việt Á scandal involving overpricing and bribery of COVID-19 test kit worth $172 million.

[5][6] October 1988 – October 1990: an engineer of the Post Technical Trading and Service Company under the General Department of Post; October 1990 – February 1992: a staff of the Department for Technical Development and Foreign Relations under the Viet Nam Post and Telecommunications Group March 1992 – April 1993: a staff of the Office of the General Department of Post; April 1993 – October 1994: Deputy Director of the Department on Science-Technology and International Cooperation under the General Department of Post; October 1994 – November 1995: Deputy Director of the Department on International Relations, the Office of the Government; November 1995 – August 1996: Acting Director, then Director of the ASEAN Department, the Office of the Government; August 1996 – March 2003: Secretary, then assistant to former Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet; March 2003 – August 2005: Vice Chairman, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Bac Ninh Provincial People’s Committee; August 2005 – November 2007: Deputy Minister of Post-Telecommunication; November 2007 – May 2008: Permanent Vice Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee; 5 May 2008 – 6 August 2010: Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee; August 2010 – August 2011: Secretary of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee; August 2011 – November 2013: Minister of the Office of the Government; 13 November 2013 – 5 January 2023: Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.