Solemn memorial services for General Vo Nguyen Van Giap have been held at the Da Nang War Veterans’ Association headquarters at 68 Quang Trung and at the Cultural House of the Military Zone 5 at 3 Duy Tan Street.  The ceremonies started at 7.30am on 12 October and ended at 12.00 noon on 13 October.

The city’s leaders, including the Secretary of the municipal Party Committee, Mr Tran Tho, and the Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, Mr Van Huu Chien, yesterday paid their final homage to the revered General at the Da Nang War Veterans’ Association headquarters.  They offered incense to the deceased at his altar to express their deep sorrow at the passing of the General, who was one of Viet Nam’s greatest military leaders.  He was an excellent student of the late President Ho Chi Minh, and his name was closely linked to Viet Nam’s two resistance wars against both French and American aggression in the 20^th century.

The city’s leaders at the memorial service at the headquarters of the War Veterans' Association

Party Secretary Tho burning incense to the late General Giap

Chairman Chien

On the same day, over 17,500 cadres and members of the Association also paid their last respects to General Giap.  They all mourned the General, and said that his passing was a great loss to Viet Nam's Party, its government and its people.  They affirmed that the General would live forever in their hearts and minds.  They also vowed that they would carry on with their efforts to uphold the fine tradition of Uncle Ho’s soldiers and set a shining example for younger generations to follow.

Members of the War Veterans' Association waiting in turn to pay tribute to General Giap

Among the mourners was 83-year-old Ho Phuc Ngon, former commander of the city’s Commando Battalion No 489.  He said that although General Giap is no longer physically present on this earth, he and his comrades would continue to follow the General’s guidelines for the Party and the people.  Another war veteran of the Commando Battalion, 83-year-old Nguyen Thanh Thuy, expressed his deep emotion at the solemn memorial service.

Mrs Vo Thi Nguyet from Son Tra District’s Man Thai Ward, who was born in Quang Binh Province’s Le Thuy District, thanked the city’s leaders and the War Veterans’ Association for allowing her and her fellow countrymen to pay tribute to General Giap in the city.

Children in the emotion-choked crowd

Most notably, two boys aged 7 and 10 who are grandsons of veteran Vo Ngoc Thu from Son Tra District patiently waited their turn to bid farewell to their beloved General even though they only knew of him through stories told to them by their grandfather.

Lt Gen Le Chiem gives a reading at the memorial service

On Saturday, the officers and men of Military Zone 5 also paid their final tributes to General Giap at their Cultural House.  With deepest sympathy for the General, Lieutenant-General Le Chiem, Commander of Military Zone 5, said that his officers and men were saddened to hear about the General’s death.  He highlighted General Giap’s revolutionary life, and vowed to encourage his officers and men to uphold his political will.  He also pledged that his units are determined to defeat any hostile forces and to build a strong military force which will ensure the security of the region and defend the nation.

Officers and men of the local Border Guard offering incense

People waiting to pay homage to General Giap at the Military Zone 5 Cultural House

Merging into the crowd to pay respects to General Giap at the Cultural House was 85-year-old Nguyen Chuan, a former doctor at the Military Hospital 108 in Ha Noi.  He said that although he had only seen General Giap from a distance, these glimpses were unforgettable memories in his life.  He said that the General set such a great example of morality and dedication to the Party, the nation, and the people that all the world respects him.   

Former doctor Nguyen Chuan tearful at the memories of General Giap