Memorial and burial service solemnly held for Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong

A view of the memorial ceremony for Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the National Funeral Hall in Hanoi

The service was organized simultaneously at the National Funeral Hall in Hanoi, the Thong Nhat Hall in Ho Chi Minh City, and the late leader’s hometown in Dong Hoi commune of Hanoi’s Dong Anh district by the CPV Central Committee, the National Assembly, the State President, the Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, and his family. 

Attending the memorial service at the National Funeral Hall were State President To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Luong Cuong, member of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee and President of the VFF Central Committee Do Van Chien, and other Party and State officials.

Also present at the ceremony were incumbent and former leaders of the Party, the State and the VFF, veteran revolutionaries, intellectuals, representatives from agencies, organizations, associations, religious organizations, people from all walks of life and international friends.

State President To Lam reads the eulogy.

Reading the eulogy, Politburo member and State President To Lam, head of the Funeral Board, said the General Secretary’s passing is a huge and irreparable loss to the Party, nation, and people. The country has lost a talented leader; the world communist and progressive movements have lost a sharp theorist; international friends have lost a sincere friend and a close comrade; and his family, clan, and the hometown of Dong Hoi have lost an eminent son.

The State leader noted that with his strategic vision on the current world situation, unceasing efforts to contribute to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment in the region and the world, he opened up a new chapter in the relations between Vietnam and international partners, boosted the country’s friendship with other countries, intensified Vietnam’s contribution with various commitments and practical acts, and closely combined the strength of the nation and that of the era, strongly bringing the country forward.

At the memorial service

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the Party Central Committee worked out plans, made decisions, and led the successful implementation of the strategic guidelines on Party building and rectification; resolutely and persistently fought individualism, degradation of ideology, morality, and lifestyle, and corruption and other negative phenomena in the Party. This is an arduous fight against “internal enemy” to make the Party healthier and stronger, and affirm the pioneering role, mettle, and intellect, so that the Party is truly of morality and civilization.

The late leader made great devotion and especially important contribution to building and developing an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity, making it truly a spiritual foundation of the society, an intrinsic strength, and important momentum for national development.

With a profound and sharp political viewpoint, he elevated the strategic mindset, creating a new development for the national defense, security, and external affairs of Vietnam. He also brought into play the pioneering role of the comprehensive diplomacy, forming and leading the efficient implementation of the new-era art of diplomacy deeply imbued with the characteristics of the “Vietnamese bamboo.” Under his leadership, Vietnam has become a trustworthy partner and an active and responsible member in the international stage, and unceasingly carried out intensive, extensive and comprehensive integration into the international politics, the world economy, and the humankind’s civilization, the eulogy reads.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong relentlessly devoted himself to the revolutionary cause of our Party and nation with a steel-like spirit and will, did not backtrack in the face of obstacles and difficulties; dedicated all of his sense of responsibility and revolutionary enthusiasm, worked till his last breath, and made wholehearted and all-out dedications to the Party, the country, and the people, demonstrating a great figure living his life to the fullest for the country, the Party, and the people.

President Lam added that Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong is truly an outstanding and brilliant example of the pure revolutionary mettle and ethics, “public-spiritedness and selflessness,” a simple, upright, and sincere lifestyle, a democratic, dedicated, scientific, close to reality, and drastic working style which contains consistency between words and actions, along with the respect for and love of people, and the extreme closeness to the people. He was truly the nucleus that mobilized the solidarity, unity, and wisdom of the entire Party, people, and military, received the respect, trust, and pride from cadres, Party members and the people, and was also appreciated and highly valued by international friends. 

The State leader affirmed that the General Secretary passed away but his name and career, contributions and dedications, and talent and righteousness will remain bright forever in the glorious history of the Party and the nation, in the gratitude of cadres, Party members and people, and in the sentiment of international friends. His legacy will last forever in the history of Vietnam and be inherited and further brought into play in the cause of renewal, thereby successfully realizing the goal of building a peaceful, independent, united, democratic, prosperous, powerful, civilized, and happy Vietnam that he wished and strived for throughout his whole life.

Leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front; representatives of ministries, departments, sectors, organizations, comrades, compatriots, and international friends observed a minute of silence to commemorate General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

On behalf of the bereaved family, Nguyen Trong Truong, the son of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said that his mother and entire family wish to express the most profound and sincere appreciation and gratitude to the affection, encouragement, sincere sympathies, and wholehearted assistance from the Party, the State, central agencies and units, localities, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, along with the affection from people nationwide, overseas compatriots, and international friends.

Nguyen Trong Truong, son of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, expresses the most profound and sincere appreciation and gratitude.

The coffin of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was solemnly covered with the national flag. The hearse carrying the coffin of the Party leader left the National Funeral Hall at No.5 Tran Thanh Tong Street to his resting place at Mai Dich Cemetery in Hanoi. Crowds of people lined both sides of the route where the funeral procession passed to send off comrade Nguyen Phu Trong - the exemplary leader who devoted his whole life to the country and the people, to his resting place.

On June 26 afternoon, taking place in parallel with the memorial services at the National Funeral Hall, at Thong Nhat Hall in Ho Chi Minh City, large numbers of representatives from central and local agencies, and people of all walks of life in Ho Chi Minh City attended the memorial service for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

In the late Party leader’s hometown at Lai Da village, Dong Hoi commune of Hanoi’s Dong Anh district, local leaders, Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong’s relatives and crowd of people gathered to pay last homage to the Party chief.

The burial service for Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong took place at 3p.m. the same day at the Mai Dich Cemetery in Hanoi.

In the solemn background music of the song “Hon Tu si” (Souls of the Fallen), leaders and former leaders of the Party and State carry the coffin of General Secretary Nguyen PhuTrong to the hearse.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's coffin is solemnly covered with the national flag.

Troops and people bidding last farewell to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong

The funeral procession carrying the coffin of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong slowly moves through the streets.

The funeral procession enters Mai Dich Cemetery.

The armed forces and local people in Lai Da pay tribute to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front; representatives of ministries, departments, sectors, organizations, comrades, compatriots, and international friends bidding their last farewell to comrade Nguyen Phu Trong

Translated by Chung Anh