People never worship anyone wrongly.

After the farewell ceremony for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at his final resting place, the saying "The people never go wrong when they worship someone!" was deeply etched in my heart, as was the case with many others.

VIDEO: People sob as the convoy carrying the coffin of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong passes by.

The national mourning period for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has passed, but the entire nation remains deeply saddened and grieving as it bids farewell to a comrade, an outstanding leader, a loyal and exemplary friend, a grandfather, a father, and a teacher of great character…

By noon on July 26th, thousands of people were still queuing at the National Funeral Home, No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street ( Hanoi ), to pay their respects to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Photo: Nguyen Hue

From 5 a.m., marking the beginning of the national mourning period, at the National Funeral Home, No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street (Hanoi), crowds of people arrived early to bid farewell to the beloved General Secretary.

There were elderly veterans who were brought to the funeral home by their children and grandchildren; there were wounded soldiers with medals pinned to their chests, walking on crutches alone to pay their respects, wiping away tears with their remaining arms. Many elderly men and women in wheelchairs hugged the portrait of the General Secretary as if it were the picture of their dearest loved one.

The police and soldiers guarding the area had probably never seen such a large and orderly gathering of people. Everyone was silent in the somber atmosphere, the only sounds being the muffled sobs that could not be contained.

In the General Secretary's hometown of Dong Anh, every road and landscape has been meticulously prepared for neighbors and people in the district to come and light incense sticks to bid farewell to an outstanding son of the homeland.

Throughout the country, friends and overseas Vietnamese are following the news and bidding farewell to the General Secretary…

The days of national mourning were days when "life poured out tears and the sky poured down rain" (Tố Hữu's poem). And even during periods of intense heat, the local people shared the burden with the organizers and visitors paying their respects to the General Secretary by offering water and turning on electric fans to help people cope with the heat. Many young people in their blue volunteer uniforms came to help each person with the heartfelt gratitude of the younger generation towards those who came before them.

Many people carried portraits of the Party's highest-ranking leader to bid farewell along the streets of Hanoi. Photo: Dinh Hieu

A veteran expressed his feelings: “We are very happy and moved to see that not only the older generation has such deep feelings and emotions about the passing of the General Secretary, but even the younger generation has shown so much touching gratitude. Just look at the teary eyes of the children. You can see that the younger generation is also very concerned about the country's issues.”

Reporters work with red, teary eyes.

Reporters were among those who arrived very early to prepare to cover the State Funeral. They worked diligently, busily, and urgently, and… their eyes were also red with tears…

During his lifetime, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong spent nearly 30 years working in journalism and political theory. He often considered himself a journalist. This is evidenced by his later emphasis on the propaganda power of the press, his consistent attention to directing the development of the press, and his prioritization of interviews with the media. He deserved to be considered a disciple of President Ho Chi Minh, always viewing the press as a force on the cultural and ideological front.

These past few days, journalists and media outlets have seemed to be paying close attention to the State Funeral, covering it with the same emotion as if they were bidding farewell to a great colleague…

Many touching moments were captured by reporters and citizens on the day of the General Secretary's farewell. An elderly woman strained to read a newspaper article on the wall. A child with wide eyes knelt with clasped hands in reverence alongside his parents. Bicycles belonging to poor people also displayed flags at half-mast… Many people who could not attend the funeral still paid their respects to the General Secretary according to their means…

During the national mourning period, wherever I went, I saw alongside the lowered flags countless messages of farewell and sorrow from people who had never had the chance to meet General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The passing of this exemplary communist was the common topic of discussion in all meetings, gatherings, and private and public discussions… of all social classes, ages, professions, and localities…

Those interested in current events, politics, and the building of Party organizations... praised everything from the fight against corruption, to the relentless and decisive "burning furnace" campaign of the General Secretary, to the character and theoretical acumen of a national leader who rose from a journalistic background, worked in theoretical studies, and worked in Party building from the grassroots to the central level.

Other citizens expressed their affection and admiration for the moral character, the clean, honest, and simple lifestyle of the General Secretary, as well as his exemplary family...

Mrs. Ngo Thi Man, wife of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, as depicted in a drawing by journalist Huynh Dung Nhan.

The wife humbly stepped back, and the child simply called him "Dad."

Almost immediately after his death, through the media, people learned a little about his private family life. They learned that he was still driving the 1998 Toyota Crown left behind by his predecessor. They knew that wherever he went, he was quiet and didn't want protection, a large entourage, or a grand reception. They respected him even more for upholding the tradition of respecting his teachers and elders; people even noticed that while hospitalized, he still wanted to eat simple peanut candy, just like in his younger days…

Artists and writers expressed their sorrow at his passing through musical works, paintings, and literary pieces.

Some artists spent days and nights creating portraits of the General Secretary, and many amateur musicians composed moving songs about him that were well-received by the people.

Over the past few decades, our country has held several national funerals. And during the national funeral for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, all the rituals and ceremonies were organized scientifically, solemnly, and very conveniently for the people to pay their respects and bid him farewell.

After the memorial service, people were very interested in sharing many images of the General Secretary's wife. She tried to suppress her grief, silently thanking those who came to pay their respects. She only wept when lighting incense, when touching her husband's coffin draped with the national flag, and when scattering flowers as a final farewell… Throughout the funeral, she quietly and humbly stood behind those performing the rituals, as if afraid of inconveniencing anyone…

After the funeral, people were deeply moved and touched by the words of gratitude from Mr. Nguyen Trong Truong – the son of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong – who affectionately called his father "Dad," and addressed everyone as "grandchildren" and "our children," without mentioning his father's position at all. Clearly, the character, humility, and appropriate conduct of the father had deeply permeated the lives of his family and his son, even during the most painful farewell.

During the past two days of national mourning, every story and piece of information about the General Secretary has been of great interest to the people, raising questions about the fate of the country, the fight against corruption, Party building, and even the upcoming personnel structure…

That public interest also reflects the significant contributions made by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to important matters, and the unfinished work he is currently undertaking…

After the farewell ceremony for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at his final resting place, the saying "The people never go wrong when they worship someone!" was deeply etched in my heart, as was the case with many others.

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