Live: Funeral and burial ceremony of former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai

The memorial service for former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai was solemnly held at 7:30 a.m. today (March 22) at Thong Nhat Hall, Ho Chi Minh City.

The memorial service for former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai will be solemnly held at 7:30 a.m. today (March 22) at Thong Nhat Hall, Ho Chi Minh City. The burial ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. the same day at his hometown in Tan Thong Hoi commune, Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City.

At the same time, at the International Convention Center, 11 Le Hong Phong, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, the memorial service for former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai also took place.

Over the past two days (March 20-21), the State Funeral Ceremony for former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai was solemnly held at the Thong Nhat Hall, Ho Chi Minh City and the International Convention Center, 11 Le Hong Phong, Ba Dinh, Hanoi. Thousands of people in Ho Chi Minh City and other localities across the country came to pay their last respects and bid farewell to former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.

Also at the funeral, Party and State leaders signed the condolence book to bid farewell to former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, and at the same time assessed former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai as an outstanding leader of the Party, State and people, who devoted his whole life and made many great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong writes in the condolence book to bid farewell to former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on March 20.

In the condolence book, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong wrote: Deeply mourning comrade Phan Van Khai - Brother Sau Khai, former member of the Politburo, former Prime Minister, National Assembly delegate of the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th terms - an outstanding leader of the Party, State and our people, who devoted his whole life and made many great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the Nation. He was awarded the Gold Star Order, the 55-year Party membership badge and many other noble orders and medals by the Party and the State. His passing is a great loss to our Party, State and people, leaving us all with deep sorrow.

The Presidium of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam led by President Tran Dai Quang visited former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on March 20.

Writing a farewell message to former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai in the condolence book, President Tran Dai Quang also emphasized that former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai was a talented and virtuous leader, an excellent son of the heroic homeland of Cu Chi, the land of steel, who struggled and sacrificed his whole life, making many great contributions to the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation.

“Learning and following your example, we pledge to devote all our efforts and intelligence to the cause of building, protecting and developing the country, for the goal of a rich people, strong country, democracy, fairness and civilization,” the President wrote.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc wrote in the condolence book, highly appreciating the great contributions of former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai to the country's innovation and integration process: "I deeply mourn comrade Phan Van Khai - dear brother Sau Khai. He was an outstanding leader of our Party and State, and the head of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from 1997-2006 - an important period in the country's innovation and integration process. He was always dedicated, honest, impartial, and devoted to the cause of national construction and development, to the development of the business community, always concerned about the people's lives and focused on leading innovation and deep international integration."

Yesterday (March 21), at the private residence of former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai in Cu Chi, preparations were also urgently underway before the time to welcome him to his eternal rest in his hometown.

The place where former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai rests next to his late wife - Mrs. Nguyen Thi Sau (who passed away in 2012) on a high mound, in the middle of the family garden.

Photo from early this morning at Thong Nhat Hall, Ho Chi Minh City. Family of former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai before the memorial service starting at 7:30

The hearse has been moved to the front of the Reunification Hall, Ho Chi Minh City.

Outside the Reunification Hall, lines of people lined up to prepare for the funeral service.