The State funeral began at 7am on October 6 at the National Funeral Hall, No.5 Tran Thanh Tong, Ha Noi, for former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee Do Muoi, who passed away on October 1.

Former Party General Secretary Do Muoi is laid in state at the National Funeral Hall in Ha Noi.

The funeral is held by the Party Central Committee, State President, National Assembly, Government and Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee.

General Secretary Do Muoi is laid in state at the National Funeral Hall.

Crowds of people gathered at the National Funeral Hall since early morning, queuing up to pay tribute to the Party leader.

A delegation of the Party Central Committee led by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong paid respect to the former Party chief and offered condolences to his family.

Writing in the funeral guest book,  Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong expressed his deep grief over the death of the outstanding and prestigious leader of the Party, State and people. He praised Do Muoi as a steadfast communist party member who devoted his entire life to the ideal of national independence, socialism and people’s happiness. He acknowledged the great merits and contributions made by the former Party chief to the cause of national liberation and reunification, Doi Moi and national construction and defence.

Delegations led by Acting President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man paid last respects to the former Party General Secretary

Among those coming to offer condolences there were former Party General Secretaries Le Kha Phieu and Nong Duc Manh; former Presidents Tran Duc Luong, Nguyen Minh Triet and Truong Tan Sang; former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung; former National Assembly Chairmen Nguyen Van An and Nguyen Sinh Hung; among others.

A respect-paying ceremony is also being held at Thong Nhat Hall in Ho Chi Minh City. A delegation of the city’s Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee and Viet Nam Fatherland Front, led by Politburo member and Secretary of HCM City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan paid tribute to the former Party chief.

Former General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee Do Muoi was born on February 2, 1917, in Dong My commune, Thanh Tri district, Ha noi. He passed away in Hanoi on October 1 at the age of 101 due to serious illness. He served as General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee from June 1991 to December 1997, and was presented with an insignia of 80-year Party membership.

Viet Nam declares two days of national mourning for him on October 6 and 7.

(Source: VNA/ DA NANG Today)