(VOVworld) - Vietnamese people at home and abroad and world leaders paid tribute to General Vo Nguyen Giap as the state funeral for one of the greatest generals of the world began on Saturday.

 
Localities commemorate General Giap

Many localities nationwide are holding activities in memory of General Vo Nguyen Giap.

In Ha Tinh, leaders of the party committee, people’s committee and council, the fatherland front, soldiers and local citizens pay tribute to the general at the meeting hall of the party committee. Altars in respect for the general have also been erected in a number of places for soldiers and people to come and pay their tributes.

In Bac Ninh, the provincial library organize a display area featuring more than 100 books about the life and revolutionary cause of General Vo Nguyen Giap together with hundreds of newspaper articles about him.

The veterans association of Quang Tri province set up an altar for the veterans and people to show their respect to General Giap.

The youth union of Hai Phong organized a forum on General Vo Nguyen Giap and the youth of Hai Phong to highlight the life and revolutionary cause of the general. A drive to collect 10,000 signatures and memoirs has been launched among the people and youth of the city during the two days of national funeral for General Giap.

A photo exhibition on General Giap and Thai Nguyen-Viet Bac opened in Thai Nguyen city. 120 documentary photos portray the General and his time in the Viet Bac military zone and the Dinh Hoa-Thai Nguyen safe zone during the resistance war against French colonialists from 1945 to 1954 and his visit to Thai Nguyen when peace was restored. The organizing board set up an altar at the exhibition for visitors to pay their last tributes to the General.

Hanoi Youth Union members mobilized for General Giap’s funeral

During the two days of national funeral for General Giap, the Hanoi youth union has mobilized close to 6,000 volunteers to help in funeral services. They will guide people to the memorial service at the national funeral house in Tran Thanh Tong street, distribute water and cooperate with relevant agencies to ensure order and security at the funeral service site and areas where the convoy will pass through. They will also support relevant agencies to help ensure traffic in 14 key areas.

Quang Binh ready for General Giap’s funeral

The funeral service for General Giap began at the people’s committee of Quang Binh province at 7:30 on Saturday and the memorial service will begin at 7:00 on Sunday. The burial service will be carried out in Vung Chua on Yen island in Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district. All necessary preparations have been completed. The administration of An Xa village, the home place of General Giap, has installed a big screen to screen live funeral services in Hanoi, HCM city and Quang Binh province for local citizens. Nguyen Huu Hoai is Chairman of the Quang Binh provincial people’s committee: “The road section from national highway 1A to the general’s tomb can now be accessible by cars. Although the weather is not favorable, we were determined to finish it on time prior to the burial service.”

The Ministry of National Defense has asked the command of military zone number 4 to mobilize forces and vehicles and work with local police forces to ensure security for the burial site. Big screens have been installed in a number of places in Quang Binh so that local residents can watch funeral services live. Hundreds of thousands of people in Quang Binh are expected to attend the memorial service for General Giap.

Dien Bien people’s feeling toward General Vo Nguyen Giap

People of different ethnic groups in Dien Bien have over the past week paid tribute to General Vo Nguyen Giap at his altars set up in a number of places in the province. Tao Van Khun, President of the Dien Bien Veterans Association, said: “We are very sad at the passing of General Giap We still remember his teaching in 2004, encouraging war veterans to continue contributing to our homeland.”

The Dien Bien Phu victory museum has received thousands of visitors and ethnic people who come and contemplate objects and photos related to general Vo Nguyen Giap and his life. Local residents gather at cultural houses to talk about general Giap. Lo Thi Huong of Tuan Giao district said: “We all want to go to the memorial service site to pay our last tributes to the general but we can’t because it’s too far. To live up to his merits, we will be united to contribute more to the development of Dien Bien.”

General Vo Nguyen Giap will forever live in the hearts of the people of Dien Bien and his image will remain associated with each of the historical sites in Dien Bien Phu such as hills A1, D1 and E2 and the Muong Phang field.  

Overseas Vietnamese pay tribute to General Giap

Many overseas Vietnamese have returned to Vietnam to pay tribute to General Giap upon hearing about his death. Le Quoc Vi, President of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in the Thai province of Ubonratchathani province, said: “We were very sad to hear the news about the General’s passing. We have organized a requiem to pray for his soul and talks featuring his merits.”

Pham Thi Bich Hanh from Germany said although she had not met the General in person, his image was deeply imprinted on her mind as she learned from textbook and through her parents’ stories. She said: “I was shocked to hear about his passing, which is a huge loss for the nation. He was a hero with an iron will and people around the world admired him.”

General Vo Nguyen Giap has become a symbol of victory in the minds of Vietnamese people and people around the world.

World leaders send messages of condolence over General Giap’s passing

(VOVworld) - World leaders and international friends have continued to send their messages of condolence to Vietnamese party and state leaders and the people of Vietnam over General Vo Nguyen Giap’s death. The messages were sent by the prime minister of India, the president of Mozambique, the president of the supreme people’s assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the People’s Liberation Movement Party of Angola, Italy’s party of communists, the communist party of Greece, the ministry of foreign affairs of the Republic of Korea, the Israeli ambassador, the ministry of defense of Mongolia, the prime minister of Thailand, the Chile-Vietnam Friendship Association, the ministry of foreign affairs of Italy, and the Chile-Palestine Solidarity Committee.

The messages show the respect and admiration for general Vo Nguyen Giap, one of the greatest generals of the world.

World leaders and Vietnamese representative agencies commemorate General Giap

At its first session, the National Assembly on Thursday, the Venezuelan National Assembly discussed an approved a resolution in memory of General Vo Nguyen Giap. The resolution says that the National Assembly and people of Venezuela admire and honor General Giap and convey their deepest sympathy to the General’s family, the Party, the Government, the army, and people of Vietnam.

On Saturday, Lao Prime Minister Thongxinh Thamavong led a government delegation to the funeral service for General Giap. He wrote in the book of memory, highlighting the General’s contributions to fostering the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Lao Party General Secretary and President Chummaly Saynhasone

The Prime Minister of Algeria Abdelmalek Sellal on Saturday visited the Vietnamese embassy in Algiers to attend the funeral service for General Giap.

The Vietnamese embassy in Cambodia, the Vietnamese embassy in China and the Vietnamese Consulates General in Hong Kong and Ma Cau held funeral services for General Giap.

In Washington, the Vietnamese embassy received representatives of the US government, Congress, diplomatic corps in Washington, Vietnamese agencies, and overseas Vietnamese who came to pay tribute to General Giap. Acting Secretary of State Assistant Scot Marciel on behalf of the US government said that General Giap was an important individual and leader of the Vietnamese people, who supported reconciliation and improving relations between Vietnam and the US.

General Giap's altar at the Vietnamese embassy in the US

Embassy staff pay tribute to General Giap

The Vietnamese embassy in Mexico received representatives of the government, parliament, diplomatic corps, and Vietnamese agencies in Mexico to a funeral service for General Giap.