State funeral held for former State President Tran Duc Luong

The funeral was held by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), the National Assembly, the State President, the Government, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), and the family of the former leader.

From early morning, delegations representing the Party, the State, the VFF, the army, and officers and soldiers of the people's armed forces, Party members, and citizens gathered at the National Funeral Hall to pay their final respects.

The coffin, draped in the national flag and adorned with a black mourning ribbon, was laid at the center of the hall. Above it, a banner read: "Infinite sorrow for comrade Tran Duc Luong, former Politburo member, former President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam," accompanied by his portrait. Leading the mourning processions, a delegation of the CPV Central Committee, headed by General Secretary To Lam, paid tribute and extended condolences to the family of the deceased.

Politburo member and State President Luong Cuong led the Presidential delegation, while Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh headed the Government delegation to pay tribute to the late former President and expressing sympathy to the bereaved family.

The Party Central Committee delegation, led by Party General Secretary To Lam (front row, 2nd from L), pay tribute at the state funeral of former State President Tran Duc Luong in Hanoi. Joining the delegation are President Luong Cuong (3rd from L), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R), National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh (L), former Presidents Nguyen Minh Triet and Truong Tan Sang, former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and former National Assembly chairs Nguyen Sinh Hung and Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. Photo by VnExpress

Politburo member, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man led the NA's delegation while Politburo member, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Do Van Chien led the VFF Central Committee's delegation.

Politburo member, State President Luong Cuong also led the Central Steering Committee for Judicial Reform delegation in his capacity as the committee's chairman.

High-ranking delegations from the Central Military Commission - the Ministry of National Defense led by Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense General Phan Van Giang; and the Central Public Security Party Committee - the Ministry of Public Security headed by member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Central Public Security Party Committee, Deputy Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Tran Quoc To, paid tribute to comrade Tran Duc Luong.

Former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh; former State Presidents Nguyen Minh Triet and Truong Tan Sang; former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung; and former National Assembly Chairpersons Nguyen Sinh Hung and Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, along with numerous incumbent and former Party and State leaders also came to pay the last respects to former President Tran Duc Luong and extend condolences to his family.

They walked solemnly around the coffin in a final farewell to the former President, honoring a devoted comrade whose exceptional contributions significantly advanced the revolutionary cause of both Party and nation.

At the same time, a respect-paying ceremony was solemnly held at the Thong Nhat Hall in Ho Chi Minh City and T50 Hall of the Military Command of Quang Ngai Province, the former leader’s hometown.

The memorial service for comrade Tran Duc Luong will be solemnly held at 7:00 a.m. on May 25 at the National Funeral Hall. The burial ceremony will take place at 3:00 pm on the same day at his hometown cemetery in Pho Khanh Commune, Duc Pho Township, Quang Ngai.

Tran Duc Luong, former member of the Politburo, former President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, former Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council, was born on May 5, 1937, in Pho Khanh Commune, Duc Pho District (now Duc Pho Township), Quang Ngai.

After a period of illness, despite the wholehearted treatment and care by the Party, State, leading medical experts and his family, he passed away at 10:51 p.m. on May 20 due to old age and severe illness at the age of 88 at his residence in Hanoi.

Throughout his over 50 years of revolutionary activities, he has made great and exceptionally outstanding contributions to the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation. He was conferred by the Party and State with the Gold Star Order, the 65-year Party membership badge and many other noble orders, medals, awards and titles.