The funeral of Colonel La Van Cau, a Hero of the People's Armed Forces, was moving, solemn yet simple, just like the man himself—an ordinary yet extraordinary Vietnamese who became a symbol of the will and courage of soldiers.
Báo Tuổi Trẻ•30/06/2026
This morning, comrades and the people bid farewell to Hero La Van Cau - Photo: NAM TRAN
At 9:00 AM on June 30th, the funeral ceremony for Hero La Van Cau began, but from early morning, the courtyard of the National Funeral Home in Hanoi was already filled with people in black and military uniforms.
People, comrades, and organizations from all over the country came to bid farewell to a heroic son of the nation who lived a life of almost a century filled with love and dedication.
General Secretary and President To Lam sent a wreath to pay respects to Hero La Van Cau - Photo: NAM TRAN
A crowd bids farewell to Hero La Van Cau at the National Funeral Home - Photo: NAM TRAN
Soldiers' greetings to Hero La Van Cau - Photo: NAM TRAN
The soldiers offer their condolences to the bereaved family - Photo: NAM TRAN Remembering La Van Cau - the humble hero
Among the crowds who came to bid farewell to Hero La Van Cau, it was truly touching to see his comrades from the resistance war against the French . 99-year-old veteran Le Binh, in a wheelchair, with the support of his children and grandchildren, traveled from Hoang Liet ward ( Hanoi ) to pay his respects to "Brother Cau".
With a choked voice, Mr. Le Binh recounted that although they were both soldiers participating in the resistance against the French, it was only upon returning to Hanoi that he had the opportunity to meet La Van Cau – a comrade he greatly admired, who had inspired the entire army with his courageous fighting spirit during the years of fighting the French, and who was one of the first seven Heroes of the People's Armed Forces of the country.
"In those years, all of us young men looked to La Van Cau as an example and fought selflessly for the independence and freedom of our country," Mr. Le Binh recalled.
99-year-old veteran Le Binh comes to bid farewell to "Brother Cau" - Photo: NAM TRAN
But the impression of Hero La Van Cau in Mr. Le Binh's mind was not only of his heroic deeds or his iconic courage. In the eyes of his comrades and the people, La Van Cau was also a highly valued person for his simplicity, humility, and gentleness.
"He was always relaxed, with a gentle smile always on his handsome face. He was also very cheerful, so whenever we soldiers saw him, we would all gather around him," Mr. Le Binh recalled his comrade with much affection.
The memorial messages in the condolence book were also filled with heartfelt sentiments for the unassuming hero.
During his lifetime, that hero once told Tuoi Tre newspaper about the reason he joined the army and fought in the resistance from the age of 16: "I am grateful to the revolution for giving me a life, for giving me a homeland."
Today, the crowds who came to bid farewell, as well as millions of Vietnamese people, want to say that the Fatherland and the people are indebted to him, peace is indebted to him, and is indebted to the outstanding sons of the nation.
Delegation from the General Political Department pays respects to Hero La Van Cau - Photo: NAM TRAN
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Bidding farewell to hero La Van Cau - Photo: NAM TRAN
The funeral ceremony for hero La Van Cau was presided over by the Vietnam Military History Museum, General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army, in coordination with various agencies, units, and the family.
Colonel Le Vu Huy, director of the Vietnam Military History Museum and head of the funeral committee, delivered a lengthy eulogy that expressed his heartfelt and moving farewell to the hero La Van Cau.
Mr. Huy recounted the memorable and admirable life of the great hero, both in his fight for the Fatherland and his humble life in everyday existence. He called hero La Van Cau a "living legend of the Vietnam People's Army".
"That star has shone brightly since the winter of 1950 and will continue to shine brightly forever, like an immortal song about the patriotism of our forefathers' generation," Mr. Huy said emotionally.
Colonel Le Vu Huy - Director of the Vietnam Military History Museum - reads the eulogy bidding farewell to hero La Van Cau - Photo: NAM TRAN
Mourning the national hero, Mr. Huy said that the passing of Colonel La Van Cau meant that the Party had lost a dedicated and loyal member who had devoted his life to fighting and sacrificing for national independence and socialism; the army had lost a dedicated officer; his family had lost an exemplary, compassionate, kind, and loving husband, father, and grandfather; and his homeland had lost a son full of love and loyalty…
Like his humble and unassuming father, Mr. La Hong Anh, the son of hero La Van Cau, delivered a brief and simple farewell speech. After expressing gratitude to the agencies, organizations, and people who came to bid farewell to his father, he whispered his final words into his father's ear: "We will always remember and be proud of you, Father."
Mr. La Hong Anh - son of hero La Van Cau - bids farewell to his father and expresses gratitude to the agencies, organizations, and people who came to pay their respects - Photo: NAM TRAN
Bidding farewell to hero La Van Cau - Photo: NAM TRAN
Family members bid farewell to hero La Van Cau - Photo: NAM TRAN
Family bids farewell to hero La Van Cau - Photo: NAM TRAN
Bidding farewell to hero La Van Cau - Photo: NAM TRAN
Colonel La Van Cau, a Hero of the People's Armed Forces, born in 1931, passed away at 11:09 AM on June 24th, at the age of 96.
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He was a Tay ethnic minority, originally from Na Thoang village, Phong Nam commune, Trung Khanh district, Cao Bang province (now Dinh Phong commune, Cao Bang province).
Despite being a single father and mother, he joined the Ho Chi Minh Army in 1948 at the age of 16, becoming one of the first soldiers of the 174th Regiment of Cao Bang - Bac Giang - Lang Son, and quickly rose to become an outstanding soldier of the Vietnam People's Army.
During the years of resistance against the French, he directly participated in 29 battles, both large and small, achieving many outstanding victories.
In particular, at the Dong Khe battle during the 1950 Autumn-Winter Border Campaign, he served as the leader of an explosives team, tasked with destroying enemy barricades and bunkers to clear a path for his comrades to advance.
While on duty, he was hit by enemy fire, shattering his right arm. In this perilous situation, La Van Cau requested his comrades to amputate the injured part of his arm, and with his remaining hand, he embraced an explosive charge and charged forward to destroy the enemy bunker, paving the way for his unit to charge and achieve victory.
His exemplary fighting spirit inspired a movement of emulation in killing the enemy and achieving meritorious deeds throughout the army, becoming a leading example in the emulation movement of using explosives to attack enemy fortifications - a new tactical form of our army from the Border Campaign of 1950.
With his exceptionally outstanding achievements, on May 19, 1952, La Van Cau was honored to be one of the first seven soldiers nationwide to be awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by President Ho Chi Minh at the First National Congress of Emulation Fighters and Exemplary Cadres.
After 1954, he continued to serve in the military. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel and retired in 1996.
After retiring, he continued to be involved in social work, and was formerly a member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.
For his immense contributions, he was awarded many prestigious honors by the Party and the State, such as the Second-Class Military Merit Order, the Third-Class Military Merit Order, and the First-Class Resistance Order.
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