Regulations on Vietnam's National Funeral

1. Titles for holding State Funerals

Officials holding or leaving one of the following positions when they pass away will be given a State Funeral:

- General Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Party;

- President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

- Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

- Chairman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The Politburo decided to hold a State Funeral for other high-ranking officials who have made great contributions and merits to the revolutionary cause of the Party, State and people, and have great prestige domestically and internationally.

2. Notice of National Funeral

The following agencies jointly issued the announcement on the State Funeral: Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam; National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

3. State Funeral Committee and Funeral Organizing Committee

The Politburo decided to establish a State Funeral Committee, consisting of 25 to 30 members representing the Politburo, the Central Executive Committee, the National Assembly,

The President, the Government, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, central organizations, agencies where the deceased worked or was working, and representatives of the leaders of the province or centrally-run city where the deceased was born or was born.

The State Funeral Committee is responsible for directing the organization of the State Funeral according to the provisions of this Decree;

The Head of the State Funeral Committee is the General Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam or the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The Politburo decided to establish a Funeral Organizing Committee, consisting of 15 to 20 members representing ministries, departments, and branches at the central level, the hometown or birthplace of the deceased, and representatives of the deceased's family.

The Funeral Organizing Committee is responsible for assisting the State Funeral Committee in managing the agencies that are members of the Funeral Organizing Committee and the agencies participating in organizing the State Funeral according to the provisions of this Decree; the Head of the Funeral Organizing Committee is a Deputy Prime Minister.

4. Documents on the State Funeral

The Central Organizing Committee presides over and coordinates with the Central Propaganda Department, the Central Party Office and the deceased's competent authority to draft: Announcement on the State Funeral; list of the State Funeral Committee, Funeral Organizing Committee, biography of the deceased; Notice of the Visitation Ceremony, Memorial Service, Burial Ceremony; Eulogy and Words of Thanks with comments from the deceased's family and approved by the State Funeral Committee.

5. Report and post news on the media about the National Funeral

a) Delivering sad news

Until there is an official announcement from the Funeral Organizing Committee, the media is only allowed to briefly report on the death. After the Funeral Organizing Committee is established and the funeral is officially announced, the media is allowed to report sad news and publish articles introducing the deceased.

b) Posting on media

Nhan Dan Newspaper and central and local press agencies report on the State Funeral, including: Announcement, list of the State Funeral Committee, Funeral Organizing Committee; biography, photos of the deceased; nationwide mourning rituals; announcement of the Visitation Ceremony, Memorial Service, Burial Ceremony, and thanks from the State Funeral Committee;

The Central Documentary and Scientific Film Studio filmed documentary films of the Funeral Ceremony, Memorial Service and Burial Ceremony. The Voice of Vietnam Radio, Vietnam Television and Vietnam News Agency reported and broadcast live the Funeral Ceremony, Memorial Service and Burial Ceremony.

6. Time and rituals of mourning

The duration of the National Funeral is 02 days. During this time, agencies and offices nationwide and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad will fly flags at half-mast, with mourning bands (1/10 the width of the flag, the length of the flag and only fly the flag to 2/3 the height of the flagpole, using black cloth to tie the flag so it does not fly), and no public entertainment activities will be organized.

Decree 105/2012/ND-CP of the Government also specifically stipulates regulations on organizing funerals and rituals in the State Funeral.