Vietnam has elected Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan as chairwoman of the National Assembly, making her the first woman to lead the Communist-dominated legislature, the assembly said on its website.

Ngan, 61, won 95.5 percent of the votes, it said Thursday.

State media reported that Ngan took the oath of office, vowing to "be completely faithful to the country, people and the Constitution."

Ngan rose from director of the finance department in her home province of Ben Tre in the southern Mekong Delta to vice chairwoman of the assembly five years ago.

Her appointment was widely expected when she was re-elected to the powerful Politburo at the Communist Party Congress in January.