The Hanoi delegation, led by Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai, today paid their respects to the deceased General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong.

Hanoi delegation at the funeral of late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Photo: Hai Linh/The Hanoi Times

The delegation is made up of former Hanoi Party leaders Pham Quang Nghi and Dinh Tien Dung, Hanoi Deputy Party Chief Nguyen Thi Tuyen, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh, and Chairman of the Hanoi People's Council Nguyen Ngoc Tuan.

They offered incense and condolences to the family of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. They observed a minute's silence in memory of the Party leader.

In the condolence book, Hanoi Party Chief Bui Thi Minh Hoai wrote: "In nearly 60 years of service, General Secretary Trong has developed a theoretical system for building a strong Party and political system, which has had an impact on the economy, society, national security, defence, culture and diplomacy."

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai expresses her condolences to the family of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Photo: Hai Linh/The Hanoi Times

As a deft leader, he has steered the country through challenges, maintaining political stability, peace, independence and prosperity, she added.

"Your life was an example of character, integrity, fairness and impartiality. As the highest leader of the Party, the General Secretary is very simple, close to all walks of life, respected and trusted by the people, and appreciated by international friends," Hoai said.

She said that the Party Committee, the Government, the people and the armed forces of Hanoi vow to turn their grief into action and unite to follow the revolutionary path and ideals of the Party, President Ho Chi Minh and other revolutionary predecessors to build a rich, strong, democratic and prosperous Vietnam and develop Hanoi into a city of culture, civilization and modernity, as the late General Secretary wished.

A delegation from Hanoi also came to pay tribute to the late General Secretary in his hometown in Dong Anh district's Dong Hoi commune.

Led by Nguyen Van Phong, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, the officials paid tribute to the late General Secretary and offered their condolences to his family.

Crowds pay tribute to late General Secretary

Thousands of Vietnamese from Hanoi and across the country gathered at the funeral today (July 25) to express their affection and respect for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

People attended the funeral in the hometown of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Dong Hoi Commune, Dong Anh District, Hanoi. Photo: Khanh Huy/The Hanoi Times

Many of them learned about the funeral from the media and came to the memorial early. They were all deeply saddened by the nation's great loss.

Tran Kim Thao from My Dinh Ward, Nam Tu Liem District said: "I felt like I had lost one of my family members when I heard the news of his death. We will always cherish his career and legacy, which will help raise Vietnam's status in the world."

Holding a photo of her and the late General Secretary, Le Thi Can of Ba Dinh District recalled that Mr. Trong was then Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee and she was working at the State Treasury in Hanoi when the photo was taken.

"I know that birth, aging, illness, and death make up the circle of life. But his passing was quite shocking to me," she said. "He devoted his whole life to the cause of the Party, the nation and the people. I come here to express my boundless sorrow and respect for him."

Le Thi Can from Ba Dinh District holds a photo of herself with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Photo: Nguyen Bao/The Hanoi Times

From the central coastal province of Quang Tri, Nguyen Thi Them works and lives in the capital. She and her friends arrived at the funeral early in the morning.

"Like many others, I want to be here today to honor Mr. Trong, one of the most outstanding, devoted and ethical leaders. I hope the weather will be nice for us to say goodbye to the late General Secretary," Them told The Hanoi Times.

In preparation for the funeral, traffic police, special forces, and volunteers were deployed  to direct traffic and help people register for the ceremony. According to the Hanoi Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, more than 4,000 young people had registered to attend the funeral.

Many young people attend the funeral to pay tribute to the late General Secretary. Photo: Nguyen Bao/The Hanoi Times