President Nguyen Minh Triet will lead the body which oversees all defence and internal security matters in Vietnam, following a closed-door vote of approval in the party-dominated legislature, an assembly spokesman said.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, who was also confirmed in his new post in this week's government reshuffle, will serve as Triet's deputy on the council, said the spokesman who asked not to be named.

Other new council members include two incoming deputy premiers, Truong Vinh Trong and Pham Gia Khiem, who is also foreign affairs minister, and new Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh.

The two top posts on the council were previously occupied by former president Tran Duc Luong and former prime minister Phan Van Khai, who both stepped down last Saturday.