Overview of the memorial service for former President Tran Duc Luong

General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, and other delegates walked around the coffin one last time to bid farewell to former President Tran Duc Luong - Photo: VNA

At exactly 7:00 AM this morning, May 25th, the memorial service for former President Tran Duc Luong took place at the National Funeral Home, No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi .

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh , head of the National Funeral Organizing Committee, presided over the memorial service.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, in remembrance of former President Tran Duc Luong, over 830 delegations with more than 10,500 people, representing agencies, organizations, localities, units, the People's Armed Forces, intellectuals, religious dignitaries, domestic and international organizations and individuals, have visited the National Funeral Home (5 Tran Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi), the Reunification Hall (Ho Chi Minh City) and his hometown to pay their respects.

Among them, many diplomatic delegations, international organizations, leaders of various countries, and international friends sent condolences to the Party, the State, the people, and the family of the former President.

"Today, in profound sorrow, we gather here to bid farewell to Comrade Tran Duc Luong, former President of Vietnam, as he is laid to rest. On behalf of the Funeral Organizing Committee, I hereby declare the memorial service for Comrade Tran Duc Luong officially open," said Mr. Nguyen Hoa Binh.

Immediately afterwards, the national anthem was played with great solemnity.

Next, the Deputy Prime Minister invited President Luong Cuong, Head of the Funeral Committee, to deliver the eulogy.

Beginning his eulogy, President Luong Cuong stated: Comrade Tran Duc Luong, former member of the Politburo, former President of Vietnam - a leader who made immense contributions to the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation - has passed away.

Politburo member and President Luong Cuong, Head of the Funeral Committee, delivers the eulogy - Photo: VNA

The passing of Comrade Tran Duc Luong is a great loss to our Party, our State, our people, and his family. Today, in boundless sorrow, the Central Committee of the Party, the National Assembly, the President, the Government, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, together with compatriots and soldiers nationwide, our compatriots abroad, international friends, and his family, solemnly hold a memorial service and bid farewell to Comrade Tran Duc Luong - a highly respected leader, a shining example of studying and following the thoughts, ethics, and style of Ho Chi Minh, and a steadfast communist party member - to his final resting place.

7:14 AM: Following the eulogy by President Luong Cuong, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh stated that, to express condolences for former President Tran Duc Luong, he invited leaders, former leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front, compatriots, comrades, and family to observe a minute of silence.

After a moment of solemn silence, Mr. Nguyen Hoa Binh invited a representative of the family of former President Tran Duc Luong to speak.

General Secretary To Lam, along with current and former leaders of the Party and State, observed a moment of silence in remembrance of former President Tran Duc Luong - Photo: VNA

In his words of gratitude, Mr. Tran Tuan Anh, son of former President Tran Duc Luong, expressed his thanks to the Party, the State, the people, and international friends for organizing the solemn state funeral and for attending and bidding farewell to his father as he was laid to rest.

"On behalf of my mother, my sisters, my wife, and all the children and grandchildren in the family, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you who came to attend the memorial service and bid farewell to my father - Comrade Tran Duc Luong - on his final journey," Mr. Tuan Anh said.

Mr. Tran Tuan Anh stated that throughout his life, his father – former President Tran Duc Luong – lived, worked, and dedicated himself tirelessly to the noble revolutionary ideals, to national independence and socialism, and to the happiness of the people.

Regardless of his position, from a geological officer to the President of the Republic, former President Tran Duc Luong always upheld a sense of responsibility, dedicated himself wholeheartedly to his work, remained close to the people, and lived a simple life.

"In his work and life, my father taught us lessons about patriotism, dedication to work, how to live honestly, simply, humbly, and with responsibility towards the country and its people. His teachings and example will always be a guide for our generations in both work and life. For my mother and my family, my father was an exemplary husband, faithful throughout his life, always a solid support for the whole family…" said Mr. Tran Tuan Anh.

He emphasized that although his father has passed away, in the hearts of every family member, his image and spiritual legacy will always live on with the family and with them. They vow to follow in their father's footsteps, always living and dedicating themselves to contributing their small part to the cause of building and protecting the nation, a cause to which their father devoted his entire life.

Mr. Tuan Anh also asked to speak on behalf of his mother and family.

"Dad, you lived a life full of devotion to the Party, the people, the country, your homeland, and your family. Your legacy is not only your achievements in the revolutionary cause, but also your love, wisdom, dedication, compassion, and humility."

"We promise to live up to your teachings. We—your children and grandchildren—will take care of Mom in her old age and will always cherish and love each other as you always wished. We hope you rest in eternal peace, always watching over and blessing Mom, all of us, our family, and the homeland you always loved," Mr. Tran Tuan Anh said emotionally.

Memorial service for former President Tran Duc Luong - Photo: VNA

7:22 AM: Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh announced the conclusion of the memorial service for former President Tran Duc Luong and invited representatives of the family, Party and State leaders, and former Party and State leaders to walk around the coffin to bid farewell to former President Tran Duc Luong as he is laid to rest.

To the sound of solemn music, family members walked around the coffin, bidding farewell to the former President for the last time.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Vinh, wife of former President Tran Duc Luong, led the family in walking around the coffin to bid him farewell for the last time. She broke down in tears.

Family members walk around the coffin one last time, bidding farewell to former President Tran Duc Luong - Photo: VNA

Afterwards, Party and State leaders and delegates successively walked around the coffin to bid farewell to the former President.

General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, former General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, former President Truong Tan Sang, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Standing Member of the Party Central Committee Tran Cam Tu… all walked around slowly to bid him farewell for the last time.

7:26 AM: The funeral procession begins, carrying the coffin of former President Tran Duc Luong to Noi Bai Airport for his return to his hometown of Quang Ngai.

Officers of the Vietnam People's Army and the ceremonial team prepare the procedures for conducting the funeral procession.

The honor guard soldiers carried the portrait, the frame displaying the prestigious medals and decorations of the former President, and the national flag draped over the coffin out of the funeral home.

Behind them, the honor guard soldiers, divided into two rows, carried the coffin out to the courtyard of the funeral home – where the hearse was placed.

To the sound of the "Song of the Fallen Soldiers," the coffin of the former President was transferred to the hearse placed outside the National Funeral Home.

General Secretary To Lam and President Luong Cuong walked on either side, carrying the coffin from the funeral home to the hearse. Behind them were family members and delegates bidding farewell to the former President.

The coffin of former President Tran Duc Luong was placed on a hearse by honor guards, and the national flag was draped over it.

7:40 AM: The funeral procession begins moving from the National Funeral Home hall to the gate.

General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, and other leaders and former leaders of the Party and State, family members, and international friends followed closely behind the motorcade, expressing their condolences for former President Tran Duc Luong.

The funeral procession, carrying the coffin of former President Tran Duc Luong, passed through the streets of Hanoi to Noi Bai Airport before being flown to Quang Ngai.

The funeral ceremony for former President Tran Duc Luong will take place at 3 PM this afternoon at the cemetery in his hometown, Pho Khanh commune, Duc Pho town, Quang Ngai province.

At the same time, memorial services for former President Tran Duc Luong were also held at the Thong Nhat Hall in Ho Chi Minh City and at the T50 Hall of the Quang Ngai Provincial Military Command, 142 Le Trung Dinh Street, Quang Ngai City.

General Secretary To Lam and President Luong Cuong escort the coffin of former President Tran Duc Luong to the funeral carriage - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

A portrait of former President Tran Duc Luong is carried out of the hearse by honor guards - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The coffin of former President Tran Duc Luong before being moved from the National Funeral Home - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The honor guard placed a glass case over the hearse for safety before it left the National Funeral Home for Noi Bai Airport - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The wife of former President Tran Duc Luong burst into tears while standing before the funeral procession - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

General Secretary To Lam and President Luong Cuong, along with the family of former President Tran Duc Luong, follow behind the funeral procession - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

A hearse carrying a coffin moves through the streets of Hanoi - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The vehicle carrying the portrait of former President Tran Duc Luong leaves the National Funeral Home - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The hearse carrying former President Tran Duc Luong leaves the National Funeral Home for Noi Bai Airport. The funeral ceremony for former President Tran Duc Luong will be held this afternoon at his hometown cemetery in Pho Khanh commune, Duc Pho town, Quang Ngai province. - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Lao Vice President Pany Yathotou walks around the coffin one last time, bidding farewell to former President Tran Duc Luong - Photo: VNA

Men Sam An, Vice Chairman of the Cambodian People's Party, Chairman of the National Council of the Cambodian Fatherland Front for Solidarity and Development, and Chairman of the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association, walks around the coffin for the last time, bidding farewell to former President Tran Duc Luong - Photo: VNA.

Family members of former President Tran Duc Luong at the memorial service - Photo: VNA

The honor guard stands solemnly, preparing for the memorial service for former President Tran Duc Luong - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

At the Reunification Hall (Ho Chi Minh City) , from 7 am, many delegations including former leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee - People's Council - People's Committee - Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and other provinces and cities, agencies, units and people of Ho Chi Minh City were present to attend the memorial service and bid farewell to former President Tran Duc Luong to his final resting place.

Former leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, and the delegation from the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the memorial service - Photo: HUU HANH

Attending the memorial service at the Reunification Hall were former leaders of the Party and State: former President Nguyen Minh Triet, former Standing Member of the Party Central Committee Le Hong Anh, former Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Huynh Dam, former Vice President Truong My Hoa, and former Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh.

Also in attendance were current and former leaders: Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen; Head of the Central Policy and Strategy Committee Tran Luu Quang; Standing Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thanh Nghi; Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc, along with other current and former leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces and cities.

In his speech of gratitude, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc - head of the Organizing Committee for the memorial service and funeral of former President Tran Duc Luong in Ho Chi Minh City - said that on May 24th and the morning of May 25th, the funeral of former President Tran Duc Luong received the boundless attention and condolences of leaders, former leaders, and the people.

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc - head of the Organizing Committee for the memorial service and funeral ceremony for former President Tran Duc Luong in Ho Chi Minh City - delivered a speech of gratitude - Photo: HUU HANH

At the Reunification Hall, 428 delegations with 3,604 visitors were recorded paying their respects and offering condolences to the bereaved family.

On behalf of the funeral organizing committee, Mr. Được expressed his gratitude to the leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, and leaders and former leaders of Ho Chi Minh City, provinces and cities, representatives of central ministries, departments, and organizations, the People's Armed Forces, diplomatic agencies, international organizations, comrades, colleagues, relatives near and far, and news agencies, radio and television stations who sent letters and telegrams of condolences and wreaths to pay their respects, report on the event, and attend the memorial service at the Reunification Hall.

"During the funeral arrangements, if there were any oversights, the funeral organizing committee hopes for your understanding," Mr. Duoc stated.

Flags are flown at half-mast at the Reunification Hall, Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: HUU HANH

Many delegations attended the memorial service for former President Tran Duc Luong at the Reunification Hall, Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: HUU HANH

Following the memorial service, at 3 PM on the same day, the burial ceremony for former President Tran Duc Luong took place at his hometown cemetery in Pho Khanh commune, Duc Pho town, Quang Ngai province.

Earlier, on May 24th, at the National Funeral Home - No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi, the Central Committee of the Communist Party, the National Assembly, the President, the Government, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and the family solemnly held a memorial service for former President Tran Duc Luong according to the national funeral protocol.

At the same time, solemn memorial services for former President Tran Duc Luong were held at the Thong Nhat Hall in Ho Chi Minh City and at the T50 Hall of the Quang Ngai Provincial Military Command.

According to the Organizing Committee, as of 5 PM on May 24th, 655 delegations (approximately 9,300 people) had come to pay their respects, send wreaths, and offer condolences to the family of former President Tran Duc Luong at the State Funeral.

In Quang Ngai, from 7 a.m. onwards, streams of people arrived at the T50 Hall of the Quang Ngai Provincial Military Command to attend the memorial service and bid farewell to former President Tran Duc Luong as he was laid to rest.

Memorial service at T50 Hall, Quang Ngai Provincial Military Command - Photo: TRAN MAI

In a solemn and emotional atmosphere, numerous delegations, including former leaders of the Party and State, leaders of the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People's Council, Provincial People's Committee, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Quang Ngai province and other provinces, along with citizens, gathered at the T50 Hall of the Quang Ngai Provincial Military Command to attend the memorial service and bid farewell to former President Tran Duc Luong.

With eyes filled with sorrow, they gazed at the portrait of the distinguished son of the homeland of Nui An - Song Tra. The mourners silently watched the live broadcast of the funeral ceremony for former President Tran Duc Luong on screens.

At the Duc Pho Town Cultural and Sports Center and the Pho Khanh Commune People's Committee Hall, officials and citizens came to pay their respects, bid farewell, and express their sorrow over the passing of former President Tran Duc Luong.

The hearse to transport the former President's coffin from Chu Lai airport to his hometown of Pho Khanh, Duc Pho town, along with the funeral arrangements, has also been prepared.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Ngai province, the remains of former President Tran Duc Luong are expected to arrive at Chu Lai airport at 11:00 AM on the same day.

Later, the remains of former President Tran Duc Luong will be taken to his hometown cemetery in Pho Khanh commune, Duc Pho town, for burial at approximately 3 PM on the same day.

Citizens and soldiers watched the memorial service in Hanoi via screen - Photo: LE TRUNG

Leaders of the Party and State of Quang Ngai province from various periods attend the memorial service for former President Tran Duc Luong in Quang Ngai - Photo: LE TRUNG

Former President Tran Duc Luong passed away after a period of illness at 10:51 PM on May 20th at his home; he was 88 years old.

Former Politburo member and former President Tran Duc Luong was born in 1937 in Pho Khanh commune, Duc Pho district (now Duc Pho town), Quang Ngai province.

He joined the revolution in February 1955 and became a Party member in December 1959.

Former President Tran Duc Luong was a member of the Central Committee of the Party for five terms (V (alternate), VI, VII, VIII, IX); a member of the Politburo for the VIII and IX terms; and a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo for the VIII term. He was a member of the National Assembly for the VII, VIII, X, and XI terms.

He previously served as Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Deputy Prime Minister, and later as President and Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council for the 10th and 11th terms.

During more than 50 years of revolutionary activity, former President Tran Duc Luong made many great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation.

He was awarded the Gold Star Order, the 65-Year Party Membership Badge, and many other prestigious orders, medals, awards, and titles by the Party and the State.

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