On the morning of May 24, among the crowd of people coming to pay their respects at Thong Nhat Hall (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) was a man in military uniform, who was both a fellow countryman and childhood classmate of the latePresident Tran Duc Luong.
That is Ms. Vu Thi Minh Thai, 83 years old, in Tan Phu district, Ho Chi Minh City. Ms. Thai said that about 70 years ago, she and Mr. Tran Duc Luong studied at the same secondary school, now Nguyen Nghiem Secondary School (Duc Pho town, Quang Ngai ).
"When I heard the news of former President Tran Duc Luong's death, I was very sad, shocked and mourned as if it were my own relative," Ms. Thai shared.
Recalling her childhood memories, Mrs. Thai said that when she was in secondary school, Mr. Tran Duc Luong was 4 years older than her, 2 grades above her. One day, after school, the boys went up the mountain to pick wild fruits. Mrs. Thai went along, being both a girl and the youngest in the school, so the boys gave her gifts.
"Mr. Tran Duc Luong picked the ripest bunch for me, because I was the youngest in school," Mrs. Thai recalled.
Ms. Vu Thi Minh Thai, 83 years old, shares childhood memories of the late President Tran Duc Luong.
PHOTO: NGUYEN ANH
Former President Tran Duc Luong in memory of his classmates: “Study hard and love your friends”
When peace was restored, Mr. Tran Duc Luong gathered in the North to study, then held many important positions in the country.
"I am very happy that my eldest brother became President. He had bold thoughts, together with the Politburo and the Party Central Committee, he sought to bring the country out of poverty with important national policies, bringing the country forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's great powers," Ms. Thai shared about the time nearly 30 years ago, when Mr. Tran Duc Luong was elected President.
According to the 83-year-old woman, Mr. Tran Duc Luong is a simple, thrifty, and impartial person. As a child, he loved his younger siblings, cherished his friends, studied very hard, and when he held a high position in the country, he lived a simple and modest life.
Delegations pay their respects to the late President Tran Duc Luong at Thong Nhat Hall (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City)
PHOTO: NHAT THINH
Another special memory for Mrs. Thai is that the Glorious Soldier Medal and Liberation Soldier Medal that she was honored to receive later were both signed by President Tran Duc Luong.
Wish to follow the bright example, build a prosperous country
On May 24, hundreds of delegations and many people came to pay their respects to the late President Tran Duc Luong at Thong Nhat Hall.
Writing in the condolence book, Politburo member and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen expressed his deep condolences to the late President Tran Duc Luong, the leader who received the Gold Star Order and the 65-year Party membership badge.
Mr. Nguyen Van Nen sent his deepest condolences to the family of the late President Tran Duc Luong.
“We respectfully bow to bid you farewell. We vow to follow the shining example of previous generations, continue the cause in a worthy manner, and devote all our efforts to building Ho Chi Minh City to become prosperous, civilized, modern, and humane, for the whole country, and together with the whole country, build and protect a prosperous Fatherland,” Secretary Nguyen Van Nen wrote in the condolence book.
Delegation of leaders of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and former leaders of the Party and State visited
PHOTO: NHAT THINH
Secretary Nguyen Van Nen writes in the condolence book
PHOTO: NHAT THINH
In the morning, delegations of armed forces such as Military Region 7, Ho Chi Minh City Command, Ho Chi Minh City Police, diplomatic agencies... also came to pay their respects and observe a minute of silence, remembering the great contributions of the late President Tran Duc Luong.
Writing in the condolence book, Major General Tran Vinh Ngoc, Party Secretary and Political Commissar of Military Region 7, expressed his deep condolences to the late President Tran Duc Luong, former Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council - an exemplary leader who devoted his whole life to the country and the people.
Major General Tran Vinh Ngoc, Party Secretary and Political Commissar of Military Region 7, offered incense at the funeral of late President Tran Duc Luong.
PHOTO: NHAT THINH
Delegation of Ho Chi Minh City Police led by Lieutenant General Le Hong Nam, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Police visited.
PHOTO: NHAT THINH
The delegation of the City Youth Union - Youth Union - Vietnam Student Association - Ho Chi Minh City Young Pioneers Council led by Mr. Ngo Minh Hai, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union, represented the young generation to pay their respects.
PHOTO: NHAT THINH
"The passing of former President Tran Duc Luong is a great loss to the Party, the State, the people and his family. In this moment of grief and emotion, the officers and soldiers of the armed forces of Military Region 7 would like to express their gratitude for the great contributions of comrade Tran Duc Luong and pledge to be absolutely loyal to the Party, the State and the people. We are determined to excellently complete all assigned tasks, contributing to the successful implementation of the cause of building and defending the Fatherland; bringing our nation confidently into a new era - an era of striving to develop, become rich, strong and prosperous," the Political Commissar of Military Region 7 wrote in the condolence book.
People do not bring wreaths, fruits, incense and candles to pay their respects.
According to the recommendation of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, people and delegations of agencies, units, enterprises, schools, hospitals, armed forces units... coming to pay their respects to the late President Tran Duc Luong must have a designated leader, dressed in formal, dark, and serious attire according to the national funeral protocol.
Individuals must bring a citizen identification card with an electronic chip or a mobile phone with VNeID installed and activated at level 2 to scan the QR code upon entry.
People do not bring bags, wreaths, fruits, incense, candles, only bring funeral ribbons (black, white letters), with the name of the unit to attach to the rotating wreath prepared by the organizing committee.
Thanhnien.vn
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ky-uc-ve-co-chu-tich-nuoc-tran-duc-luong-thoi-hoc-cap-2-o-duc-pho-185250524113603696.htm
![[Photo] Party and State leaders visit former President Tran Duc Luong](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/5/24/960db9b19102400e8df68d5a6caadcf6)
![[Photo] Ho Chi Minh City holds funeral for former President Tran Duc Luong](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/5/24/9c1858ebd3d04170b6cef2e6bcb2019e)
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