Report on the funeral of former President Le Duc Anh

• • • • After the funeral, the coffin of former President Le Duc Anh will leave the National Funeral Home and pass through the official residence where he used to live (5A Hoang Dieu), the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, then Noi Bai Airport to Ho Chi Minh City. In Ho Chi Minh City, the coffin will pass through Military Region 7, where he used to be the Commander and Political Commissar of the Military Region, and pass through his private residence at 240 Pasteur before arriving at the cemetery.
        

      • • The funeral will take place from 5pm today at Ho Chi Minh City cemetery.

          The motorcade carrying the coffin of General Le Duc Anh passes through Ba Dinh Square. Photo:Giang Huy

          The motorcade carrying the coffin of former President, General Le Duc Anh, passes by the Presidential Palace. Photo:Household

        • 11:10

          At the end of the funeral ceremony, Party and State leaders and the honor guard escorted the coffin of former President Le Duc Anh to the hearse to the sound of music.Soul of the deadsolemnly. Then, the funeral procession slowly left the National Funeral Home. On both sides of the road, many people stood to salute and bid farewell to the General to his final resting place.

          The coffin and portrait of General Le Duc Anh are carried out onto the hearse. Photo:Giang Huy

          The honor guard carries the coffin covered with the national flag into the hearse. Photo:Giang Huy

          The convoy carrying the coffin of General Le Duc Anh leaves the National Funeral House. Photo:Giang Huy

        • 11:08

          Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc read the eulogy, emphasizing that former President Le Duc Anh was "an outstanding leader with great prestige for our Party, State, Army and people".

          Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc read the eulogy. Photo:VGP

          "General Le Duc Anh is a battle general, an excellent commander, with strategic vision, skillful tactics and flexibility in handling complex situations; he is one of two officers of the Vietnam People's Army to be promoted from Colonel to Lieutenant General. The General's military career is associated with many battlefields in the South and the North and carries out noble international missions," said the Prime Minister.

          According to the Prime Minister, in the battle to protect the southwestern border, General Le Duc Anh was one of the generals who directly commanded the battlefield and won many important victories, protecting the sacred border of the Fatherland and helping the Cambodian people escape genocide. The General was also the one who directly inspected, directed and made important contributions to implementing the policy of building a solid defense posture, determined to protect the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

          After the country was at peace and unified, the General was assigned many important responsibilities by the Party and State, such as: Deputy Minister of National Defense and Commander of the Vietnamese Volunteer Army in Cambodia, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, Minister of National Defense, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Party Committee; President from September 1992 to December 1997; Advisor to the Central Executive Committee...

          Party and State leaders at the funeral. Photo:Giang Huy

          The eulogy stated that, in any position, "General Le Duc Anh always worried, researched, and was passionate about the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation. Together with the collective leadership of the Party and the State, he made many important decisions to rebuild the country, initiate the renovation process, break the embargo, and expand the country's foreign relations; together with the Central Military Party Committee and the Ministry of National Defense, he focused on building the people's armed forces, building the "people's war" posture and the all-people national defense, and strengthening the country's defense and security potential."

          "We will forever remember General Le Duc Anh - our beloved brother Sau Nam, a close and devoted comrade, a talented general, an excellent leader, a virtuous, simple and approachable personality. In this moment of grief and emotion, we would like to respectfully send to the entire family of General Le Duc Anh our deepest condolences for the irreparable pain and loss," said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

          Mr. Le Manh Ha - son of General Le Duc Anh expressed his gratitude at the funeral. Photo:Giang Huy

          In his response, Mr. Le Manh Ha - General Le Duc Anh's son thanked the Party and State leaders, comrades, friends and relatives who have always been by the General's side. He also thanked the doctors who have taken care of his father's health for many years.

          "My father lived a resilient life of a soldier and a simple life like many other people. Overcoming resistance wars and three serious illnesses, he lived to be 100 years old. Love, determination, luck and extraordinary vitality helped him live a long life and be truly useful to life. However, the law of life took him away forever," said Mr. Ha.

          The son of the former President emotionally shared: "The legacy that you left for your children and grandchildren is truly enormous and precious. It is the kind heart of a brave man, loving to forgive, kind to forgive. We are honored and proud to receive that precious gift. Thank you, Dad. We say goodbye to you, Dad, you are back with Mom, with friends in times of war and peace. Goodbye, Dad!"

          After a minute of silence, the family and all delegates attending the funeral walked around the coffin of General Le Duc Anh. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Standing member of the Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong and many other leaders laid their hands on the coffin for a long time to bid farewell to the former President.

        10:45

        Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh said that this morning, more than 1,000 delegations from agencies, organizations, localities, units, intellectuals, religious dignitaries, and domestic and international organizations came to pay their respects to the late General Le Duc Anh at Funeral House No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong; Thong Nhat Hall (HCMC) and his hometown in Thua Thien Hue. Many countries also sent condolences to the Party and State of Vietnam.

        On behalf of the funeral organizing committee, Mr. Binh announced the start of the memorial service for General Le Duc Anh. After that, all delegates and their families stood solemnly to the sound of "Tien Quan Ca" music.

      • 10:30

        A high-ranking Lao delegation led by Politburo member and Chairman of the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction Saysomphone Phomvihane visited General Le Duc Anh.

        Lao high-level delegation. Photo:Giang Huy

      • 9:57

        At the National Funeral Home, the ceremonial team began preparing the hearse and hearse to take the late President Le Duc Anh to the airport.

        After the funeral, the coffin of the late President Le Duc Anh will leave the National Funeral Home and pass through the official residence where he used to live (5A Hoang Dieu), the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, then Noi Bai Airport to Ho Chi Minh City. In Ho Chi Minh City, the coffin will pass through Military Region 7, where he used to be the Commander and Political Commissar of the Military Region, and pass through his private residence at 240 Pasteur before arriving at the Ho Chi Minh City cemetery.

        The ceremonial team prepares the funeral procession. Photo:Giang Huy

        Soldiers in the honor guard. Photo:Giang Huy

        The honor guard prepares for the funeral ceremony. Photo:Giang Huy

    • 9:30

      Foreign consular delegations in Ho Chi Minh City visit General Le Duc Anh
      

      US Consul General Mary Tarnowka.

  • 9:15

  • • Prime Minister, National Assembly Chairman, Vice President sign the condolence book
      

      In the condolence book, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his deep condolences to General Le Duc Anh, "an outstanding leader with great contributions to the cause of national liberation and reunification, carrying out international missions to help the Cambodian people escape the disaster of genocide, as well as in the cause of renovation, integration, construction and protection of the Vietnamese Fatherland."

      "I respectfully bow before the spirit of General Le Duc Anh and dear brother Sau Nam! I would like to send my deepest condolences to the entire family for this extremely great loss and pain!", the Prime Minister shared.

      Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed the condolence book.

      The condolence book of National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan reads, "The General was an outstanding politician, military man, talented and exemplary leader, full of compassion and a simple life."

      Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh wrote, "We always deeply remember and appreciate the talented General and the benevolent President and vow to continue to do good work, contributing to building Vietnam to become increasingly prosperous and develop sustainably on the path of innovation and integration."

      Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh led the delegation of the President to pay their respects. Photo:Household

    9:11

  • Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen visits former President Le Duc Anh. On the afternoon of May 2, Mr. Hun Sen met with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Here, the Cambodian government leader expressed his deepest condolences and deepest grief over the passing of former President, General Le Duc Anh. Mr. Hun Sen emphasized that General Le Duc Anh was a close friend who contributed to the liberation of Cambodia from the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime in 1979.

    Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the funeral. Photo:Household

    Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen writes in the condolence book. Photo:Giang Huy

  • 9:00

    Captain Pham Xuan Huong (77 years old, Hanoi), a former soldier who drove a numberless train, arrived early to wait to pay his respects to General Le Duc Anh.. The veteran still remembers that at the end of 1964, he had the honor of working as a mechanic on the train carrying Chief Le Duc Anh from the North to the South. "We received orders to go to K15 wharf, Hai Phong to welcome the delegation of high-ranking leaders to Ca Mau. Later, I learned that General Le Duc Anh was on that train. The trip was difficult but very proud," Mr. Huong said.

    Mr. Pham Xuan Huong (5th from left) and veterans of the unnumbered train came to pay their respects to General Le Duc Anh. Photo:Viet Tuan

  
  

• • 8:54

    At General Le Duc Anh's hometown in Ban Mon village, Loc An commune, Phu Loc district, Ms. Le Thi Xoan - sister of former President Le Duc Anh, along with family, relatives and local authorities held the funeral.
    

    Ms. Xoan shared that her brother spent his whole life on the battlefields and was busy with work in Hanoi, but he really liked the food in his hometown. Whenever she went to Hanoi, she would make pork soaked in fish sauce and give it to her brother. "Every time he returned to his hometown, my brother not only enjoyed time with his family and relatives, but also spent time visiting his neighbors. Everyone loved him very much and today many people came to burn incense in his memory," Ms. Xoan said.

    Ms. Le Thi Xoan (sitting) and her family held the funeral of General Le Duc Anh in her hometown. Photo:Vo Thanh.

  • 8:10

    The Cambodian Government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Samdech Tea Banh visited.

    Cambodian Government Delegation. Photo:Household

  • 7:50

    The Japanese Government delegation led by Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya visited former President Le Duc Anh.

    Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya led the Japanese Government delegation at the funeral. Photo:Household

  • 7:45

    At General Le Duc Anh's hometown in Thua Thien HueThe province set up an altar at the People's Committee headquarters for agencies, organizations and individuals to visit; and hung the flag at half-mast on the Hue Imperial Citadel Flag Tower.

    From early morning, police and military control were present at intersections with Le Loi Street to regulate traffic.

    The delegation of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee and Fatherland Front of Thua Thien Hue province came to pay their respects first.

    The delegation of leaders of Thua Thien Hue province visited General Le Duc Anh. Photo:Vo Thanh

    
    

    Mr. Phan Ngoc Tho, Chairman of Thua Thien Hue Provincial People's Committee, wrote in the condolence book. Photo:Ngoc Thanh

  7:40
  

• General Ngo Xuan Lich - Minister of National Defense led the delegation of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense to pay their respects to former President Le Duc Anh. All members of the delegation stood at attention and raised their hands to salute General Le Duc Anh to the music.Soul of the dead.

  Delegation of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense at the funeral. Photo:Household

• 7:07 a.m., the Central Party Executive Committee delegation led by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited General Le Duc Anh.The delegation includes National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; former General Secretary Nong Duc Manh; former Presidents Truong Tan Sang, Nguyen Minh Triet, Tran Duc Luong; former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung; former National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An...

  After Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc burned incense before the coffin, the delegation observed a minute of silence to the music of the song "Soul of the Martyrs" and walked slowly around the coffin to bid farewell to General Le Duc Anh. Many people clasped their hands in front of their chests and bowed their heads as they approached the coffin of the late President. Minister of Public Security To Lam raised his hand in solemn salute, facing the portrait.

  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stopped to hold hands and share the pain of loss with many members of General Le Duc Anh's family before sitting at the table to write in the condolence book.

  Following the Central Party Executive Committee delegation were the National Assembly delegation, the Government delegation... National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, wearing a black ao dai, led the National Assembly delegation to pay their respects.

  National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan at the funeral. Photo:Giang Huy

• 7:00

  At Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh City

• At the Ho Chi Minh City Reunification Hall and the Thua Thien - Hue People's Committee Hall, a memorial service for General Le Duc Anh was also held.

• Delegations begin to pay their respects at the funeral of General and former President Le Duc Anh. Photo:Thanh Nguyen

• Exactly 7 o'clock,Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh delivered an opening speech at the funeral, emphasizing the contributions of former President Le Duc Anh through various responsibilities.

  Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh delivered the opening speech at the funeral. Photo: Gia Chinh

  According to him, to ensure the burial time in Ho Chi Minh City and the family's wishes, the memorial service will be held at 10:45 a.m. on May 3 instead of 11 a.m. as previously announced. The burial will be at 5 p.m. the same day at the Ho Chi Minh City cemetery.

6:50

At 6:45, the honor guard took position to prepare for the funeral of General Le Duc Anh.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and many leaders and former leaders of the Party and State were present to pay their respects.

The coffin of General Le Duc Anh is placed in the center of the funeral home's main hall. In front of the coffin is an altar and a national flag with a black ribbon, followed by a portrait of the General in military uniform.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and other leaders and former leaders of the Party and State prepare to pay their respects. Photo:Giang Huy

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh delivered the opening speech at the funeral. Photo: Gia Chinh

The funeral took place in one day.

Former President, General Le Duc Anh passed away at 8:10 p.m. on April 22 at his house No. 5A, Hoang Dieu, Hanoi. His funeral was held with the rites of a State funeral. The list of the funeral committee includes 39 people, headed by General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong.

The funeral service for General Le Duc Anh will start from 7am to 11am, the memorial service will start from 11am on May 3, at the National Funeral Home No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong, Hanoi; the burial service will start from 5pm on the same day at the Ho Chi Minh City Cemetery. At the same time, the funeral service for General Le Duc Anh will be held at the Ho Chi Minh City Reunification Hall and the Thua Thien Hue Provincial People's Committee Hall.

Former President, General Le Duc Anh. Photo:CTV

After the funeral, the coffin of the late President Le Duc Anh will leave the National Funeral Home and pass through the official residence where he used to live (5A Hoang Dieu), the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, then Noi Bai Airport to Ho Chi Minh City. In Ho Chi Minh City, the coffin will pass through Military Region 7, where he used to be the Commander and Political Commissar of the Military Region, and pass through his private residence at 240 Pasteur before arriving at the Ho Chi Minh City cemetery.

Mr. Le Manh Ha - son of General Le Duc Anh said that the family's wish is to have a simple State funeral, with the funeral duration reduced by one day. Thus, the State funeral will last two days, but the funeral will only take place in one day. The family also hopes that other activities in society will take place normally, without being disrupted.

6:30

Flags at half-mast in Ba Dinh Square

At 6am on May 3, the flag was raised at half-mast at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, beginning two days of national mourning in memory of the late President, General Le Duc Anh. The ceremony was conducted by the honor guard of Regiment 275, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Command. The national flag was tied with a black cloth to keep it from flying and hung at a height of 2/3 of the flagpole's height.

In preparation for the National Funeral, from early morning, police were present on many streets around the National Funeral House to direct traffic; security in this area was tightened. This morning, Hanoi had light rain and was a bit cold.

Flag-lowering ceremony at Ba Dinh Square on the morning of May 3. Photo:Household

During the two days of national mourning (May 3 and 4), all offices and public places will fly flags at half-mast and all entertainment activities will be suspended. Vietnam Television and Voice of Vietnam will broadcast live the funeral, memorial service and burial of General Le Duc Anh in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Born in 1920, in Loc An commune (Phu Loc, Thua Thien Hue), General Le Duc Anh is one of the few people whose career is associated with many revolutionary periods.

He joined the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1938 and held many important positions in the resistance wars against French colonialism, American imperialism, and the war to protect the southwestern border and the northern border.

From 1981 to 1986, he served as Deputy Minister of Defense and Commander of the Vietnamese volunteer army in Cambodia; was elected to the Politburo by the 5th Party Central Committee (in 1982); was promoted to the rank of General in 1984; and held the position of Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army since 1986.

In February 1987, he became Minister of Defense. In 1992, he was elected President by the National Assembly. From 1997, he was an advisor to the Party Central Committee until his retirement in 2001.

Former President Le Duc Anh was awarded the Gold Star Order, Ho Chi Minh Order, First Class Military Exploit Order, Second Class Military Exploit Order, First Class Victory Order and many medals from the Soviet Union (former), Cuba, Cambodia, Laos. He was a National Assembly delegate for the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th terms; a member of the Party Central Committee from the 4th to 8th terms; a member of the Politburo for the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th terms.