Officials and workers from the Vietnam-Russia Oil and Gas Joint Venture (Vietsovpetro) became the first people in the country to cast their votes for deputies to the 12th National Assembly.

The group of 29 Vietsovpetro employees were given special permission to vote on May 5, before boarding helicopters to work on offshore oilrigs.

A total of 1,782 officials from the joint venture took part in early elections at polling stations in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Election group 14 of Ba Ria-Vung Tau is also planning to allow votes to be cast from May 8 for around 400 workers on offshore oilrigs.

The 12th National Assembly election is scheduled to take place on May 20.