A state funeral to commemorate General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong was held at the National Funeral House in Hanoi on July 25-26, and mourning ceremonies in his honor were held in his hometown Dong Hoi Commune, Dong Anh District, Hano, and at Thong Nhat (Reunification) Hall in Ho Chi Minh City.
| The state funeral of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Photo: VNA |
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The Vietnam Television (VTV) reported that nearly 6,000 delegations with more than 252,000 people attended the funeral at all memorial sites.
Of these, more than 430 delegations with nearly 137,000 people paid their respects to the General Secretary at the National Funeral House, while nearly 1,600 delegations with 56,000 people rendered homage to the leader in his hometown in Dong Anh District. In Ho Chi Minh City, more than 3,500 delegations with more than 58,500 people attended the memorial service at Thong Nhat Hall.
Visitors to the funeral included representatives of the Party, State, ministries, departments, localities, units, armed forces, diplomatic corps, international organizations and friends.
More than 100 international delegations also arrived in Vietnam to pay their respects to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
As hundreds of thousands of people came to pay their respects, the memorial sites were open until midnight on July 25, instead of 10 p.m. as planned.
| The funeral procession passes the Hanoi Opera House. Photo: Ngoc Tu/The Hanoi Times |
His mourners came from all walks of life and different places.
Dang Thi Phuc, 92, the late General Secretary's primary school teacher, came to pay her respects and recalled her memories of him as a young student.
Veteran Nguyen Van Vy, 91, led a group of 119 ex-soldiers who came to pay tribute to the Party chief. They fought in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, the Air Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1972, and the Ho Chi Minh Operation in 1975.
Vy said Mr. Trong was one of the greatest peacetime leaders in Vietnam. He said he was so moved by the 80-year-old Party leader's work ethic, never giving up work even during medical treatment.
"I hope all officials and civil servants will take Mr. Trong as a great role model," he said.
State President To Lam, in his eulogy for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, called his passing a great loss to the nation. Mr. Trong was a talented leader, an eminent theoretician and a beloved son of Dong Hoi, he said.
According to the President, in his nearly 60-year revolutionary career, Mr. Trong has advanced ideological and theoretical foundations by creatively applying Marxism-Leninism and the thought of Ho Chi Minh. His efforts strengthened confidence in socialism and enhanced Vietnam's global partnerships, contributing to peace and stability, he said.
| People hold a portrait of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as they wait to bid him farewell. Photo: Trong Tung/The Hanoi Times |
He also promoted an advanced Vietnamese culture and improved national defense, security and diplomacy, making Vietnam a respected actor on the international stage, he added.
His qualities of dedication, simplicity and sincerity have earned widespread respect, the President said, adding that Mr. Trong's career will inspire future efforts to build a peaceful, prosperous and happy Vietnam.
In the book of condolences, the President of the Australian Senate, Sue Lines, wrote that Australia deeply appreciated the warmth and sincerity that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong brought to the relationship between the two countries.
She recalled an important milestone during the tenure of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong: the elevation of the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, an achievement made possible by his support and leadership.
His dedication to Vietnam and its people has garnered appreciation from the international community, and his legacy and commitment to Vietnam’s peace will endure, Sue said.
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister's Special Envoy and former Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide said he will always remember Party leader Trong's significant contributions to the fostering of friendship between Vietnam and Japan.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, Han Duck Soo, conveyed his deepest condolences and sympathy to the Party leader's family and the Vietnamese people, and praised Mr. Trong for dedicating his entire life to the development of Vietnam.
