Vietnam holds state funeral for Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong

Vietnam began the two-day state funeral for Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on Thursday.

The late leader is lying in state at the National Funeral Home at 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi.

The mourning ceremony for Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong begins at the Tran Thanh Tong National Funeral Home in Hanoi. Photo by VNA

Vietnamese leaders, including President To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly chairman Tran Thanh Man, and former leaders paid their respects at the funeral home in the morning.

They took turns walking around his coffin, touching it to say the final farewell. They filled the condolence book with praises for his devotion to the Party, the State and the people.

Officials from many countries joined the commemoration while officials and people in Ho Chi Minh City gathered to mourn at the Reunification Palace.

Thousands of people also flocked to the late leader's hometown in Hanoi’s Dong Anh District to pay tribute.

Ngo Thi Man, wife of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, is comforted by their son Nguyen Trong Truong as she cries next to his coffin at the funeral. Photo by VNA

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong passed away in Hanoi on July 19 at the age of 80, after a period of serious illness.

A memorial ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. on Friday, and he will be buried at Mai Dich Cemetery at 3 p.m. the same day.

During the two days of state mourning, offices and public places will fly the national flag at half-mast, and all public entertainment events will be suspended.