(VOVworld) - At 7AM, the memorial service for General Vo Nguyen Giap, former member of the Party Politburo, former Secretary of the Central Military Party Committee, former Deputy Prime Minister, former Minister of National Defense, and former Commander in chief of the Vietnam People’s Army, opened at the National Funeral House at number 5 Tran Nhan Tong street in Hanoi. Leaders and former leaders of the party, state, national assembly, government, and army, foreign leaders, leaders of ministries, central agencies, leaders of Hanoi and other provinces and the family members of General Vo Nguyen Giap attended the memorial service.

In his funeral oration, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said that the passing of General Vo Nguyen Giap was a huge loss to the party, state, army, people and family of general Giap.

Party leader Trong said during his 80 years of revolutionary life, General Vo Nguyen Giap made great contribution and sacrifices to the revolutionary cause of the communist party and people of Vietnam. Mr. Trong said that General Giap’s life was associated with the development of Vietnam’s revolution and major glorious historical milestones. In his 30 years as army Commander-in-chief and Secretary of the Central Military Party Committee, General Vo Nguyen Giap was a bright example of the revolutionary spirit, creative art of war, military tactic and the staunchness to fight the enemy. The name of General Vo Nguyen Giap is linked with the victory of the two wars of resistance against French colonialists and US imperialists and the cause of national construction and defense. Party leader Trong said that this victory was the fruit of the national unity bloc under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh with the fighting spirit of the Vietnamese army and people led by a number of talented and experienced militarists, of which General Vo Nguyen Giap was among the most prominent. Together with the Party Central Committee and President Ho Chi Minh, General Giap helped to establish a uniquely Vietnamese military doctrine, which is people’s warfare in the Ho Chi Minh era. The doctrine inherited, combined and applied the arts of war of Vietnam and the world, leading Vietnam from one victory to another in its cause of national liberation and defense. The party leader said: “The Party, State and people of Vietnam are appreciative of the contribution of General Vo Nguyen Giap. Generations of Vietnamese soldiers consider General Giap their older brother, The General’s personality and contributions are deeply imprinted in the hearts of the people. He is the people’s general and his name will live forever in Vietnam’s history. General Giap’s contributions were of great importance to the global struggle for peace, national independence, social progress, justice and freedom in Asian, African and Latin American colonies. General Giap was honored by peace lovers around the world.”

Party and state leaders observe a minute of silence in memory of General Giap

Mr. Trong and other senior leaders of the party, state, government, army, foreign leaders, leaders of ministries, central agencies, Hanoi and other provinces and family members of General Giap observed a minute of silence in memory of General Vo Nguyen Giap.  

 After the memorial service, the coffin was transported to the airport. The convoy carrying General Giap’s coffin traveled through 12 streets in Hanoi. Tens of thousands of people lined along streets from the National Funeral House to Noi Bai International Airport to bid farewell to General Giap.

A plane, coded VN 103, took off from Noi Bai Airport at 10:26 to carry General Giap’s coffin to Dong Hoi airport in Quang Binh province. The convoy then carried the coffin to the General’s burial site in Vung Chua, Tho Son hamlet, Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district.

At the same time with the memorial service at the National Funeral House in Hanoi, memorial services were organized in the General’s home province of Quang Binh and Ho Chi Minh city. Approximately 2,000 people attended the memorial service in Ho Chi Minh city.

General Vo Nguyen Giap passed away on October 4, 2013 at the age of 103. Around 20,000 people including foreign leaders and 200 international delegations paid tribute to General Giap at Saturday’s funeral service in Hanoi and over 90,000 people attended the services in Quang Binh and Ho Chi Minh city.

The burial ceremony for General Giap began at 4 PM at Vung Chua, Tho Son hamlet, Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district in Quang Binh province.

President Truong Tan Sang, member- of the party politburo Le Hong Anh, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu, Minister of National Defense Phung Quang Thanh, and family members of General Giap were presence at the ceremony.


 Leaders of the party, state, army and his family members were the first to pay farewell to the General. The burial ceremony closed with tens of thousands of people crying with all their hearts and minds toward General Giap, one of the greatest generals of Vietnam and the world.