State funeral of Vietnamese Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong begins in Hanoi
VOV.VN - Vietnamese authorities are holding the State funeral of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong at the National Funeral House in Hanoi where his body is lying in state.
The funeral began on July 25 and is scheduled to last for two days for Vietnamese and foreign leaders as well as people to come and pay their respects to the Party leader.
Many countries have sent senior leaders to Hanoi to attend the funeral. Among them are Chairman of the National Assembly of the People’s Power of Cuba, Esteban Lazo Hernandez; Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Wang Huning; Republic of Korea Prime Minister Han Duck-soo; State Secretary Antony Blinken of the United States; and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and former Prime Minister of New Zealand Don McKinnon are scheduled to arrive in Hanoi for the Vietnamese Party leader’s funeral.
After the memorial service to be held on July 26, the Party leader’s his coffin will pass major streets and historical landmarks in Hanoi for one last time.
The convoy of vehicles carrying the coffin will then head towards the Mai Dich national cemetery where many senior Vietnamese leader rest in peace for the committal service.
Alongside the State funeral in Hanoi, the funeral is also taking place in several localities, including Dong Anh district of Hanoi where the Party leader was born, and in Ho Chi Minh City which is the country’s largest financial-economic hub.
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong passed away in Hanoi on July 19 at the age of 80 due to his old age and serious illness.
