HCMC – Vietnam today announced a state funeral and two days of national mourning in honor of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee, who passed away on July 19 at the age of 80.

The national mourning will be held on July 25 and 26, with General Secretary Trong’s body lying in state at the National Funeral Hall at No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong, Hanoi, reported the Vietnam News Agency. The respect-paying ceremony for the Party chief will be from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 25, and from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 26. A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. on July 26, followed by the burial at Mai Dich Cemetery at 3 p.m. on the same day in Hanoi City. Simultaneous ceremonies will be held at the Reunification Hall in HCMC and at his hometown in Dong Hoi Commune, Dong Anh District, Hanoi City. During the two-day national mourning period, the national flags at governmental offices and public places will be flown at half-mast and entertainment activities will be suspended. Party General Secretary Trong, born in 1944 in Hanoi City, joined the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1967. Over his nearly six-decade career, he held several significant positions, including Secretary of the Central Military Commission, President of the NA, and President of Vietnam. He served as General Secretary of the Communist Party for three terms, from the 11th to the 13th Central Committees. He was also a member of the Central Committee and the Politburo for multiple terms. His contributions earned him numerous awards, such as the Golden Star Order and a 55-year Party Membership Badge. Internationally, he received honors like the National Gold Order from Laos and the Lenin Prize from Russia. Party General Secretary Trong’s death came after a prolonged illness, despite receiving extensive care from medical experts and his family.