Solemn funeral and burial ceremony of former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu

At exactly 12:30, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh announced the start of the memorial service, emphasizing that during more than 70 years of revolutionary activities, former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu "made many great contributions to the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation; was awarded the Gold Star Order by the Party and State, the 70-year Party membership badge, and many other noble orders and medals of Vietnam and the world"...

The coffin of former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu lies in state at the National Funeral Home, No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong, Hanoi. Photo: VGP/Doan Bac

Over the past two days, 946 delegations with over 11,000 people including leaders, representatives of agencies, units, intellectuals, religious dignitaries, individuals at home and abroad... have come to pay their respects to former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu at the National Funeral House (Hanoi), Thong Nhat Hall (HCMC) and Hall 25B (Thanh Hoa City).

27 diplomatic delegations and international organizations came to pay their respects, including two high-ranking delegations of the Party and State of Laos and Cambodia...

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc reads the eulogy for former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu. Photo: VnE/Giang Huy

Leaders and former leaders of the Party and State led by Politburo member and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the memorial service for former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu. Photo: VNE

At 1 p.m., the funeral procession of former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu was held at the National Funeral Home. To the music of the Dead, the honor guard, dressed in white and wearing masks, carried the portrait and coffin of the former General Secretary to the hearse. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan walked on either side, placing their hands on the coffin. Many leaders and family members followed behind.

Carrying the body of former General Secretary Le Khai Phieu to the burial place. Photo: VNE

The funeral procession passes by the Hanoi Opera House. Photo: VNE/Ba Do

Funeral procession entering Mai Dich cemetery. Photo: VnE/Vo Hai

At Mai Dich cemetery (Hanoi), the funeral began at 2:05 p.m., the honor guard moved the coffin of former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu into position; after the coffin was lowered into the grave, Party and State leaders and family members... walked around, dropping bunches of flowers to bid farewell to the comrade.

Party and State leaders burn incense at the funeral of former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu. Photo: VnE/Vo Hai

Comrade Le Kha Phieu was born on December 27, 1931, in Dong Khe commune, Dong Son district, Thanh Hoa province; permanent residence at 7/36/C1 Ly Nam De, Cua Dong ward, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi city. Participated in revolutionary activities in 1947; joined the Party on June 19, 1949. Member of the Party Central Committee, 7th and 8th tenures; Secretary of the Party Central Committee, 7th tenure; Member of the Politburo, 7th and 8th tenure; Member of the Standing Committee, Standing Member of the Politburo, 8th tenure; General Secretary of the Party Central Committee, 8th tenure (from December 1997 to April 2001). Delegate of the National Assembly, 9th and 10th tenure.

After a period of illness, despite the devoted treatment of the Party, the State, the collective of professors and doctors, and the wholehearted care of his family, due to old age and serious illness, he passed away at 2:05 a.m. on August 7, 2020 (June 18, Canh Ty year), at his home, at the age of 89.

The flag-lowering ceremony for the State funeral of former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu was held at Ba Dinh Square (Hanoi) at 6am on August 14. Photo: Doan Bac

The delegation of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam led by Politburo member and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu. Photo: VGP/Doan Bac

At the same time, at Thong Nhat Hall, Ho Chi Minh City and Hall 25B, Quang Trung Street, Thanh Hoa City, Thanh Hoa Province, the Funeral and Memorial Service for Comrade Le Kha Phieu were also held.

During the two days of National Mourning (August 14 and 15, 2020), all offices and public places will fly flags at half-mast and all entertainment activities will be suspended.

Funeral ceremony for former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu

The funeral of comrade Le Kha Phieu - former General Secretary of the Party Central Committee was held with state funeral ceremony.