Vietnam holds national mourning for former Lao President Khamtay Siphandone

To pay tribute to former Lao President Khamtay Siphandone and stem from the special Vietnam-Laos relationship, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the National Assembly, the President, the Government and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front decided to hold a national mourning ceremony for Mr. Khamtay Siphandone on April 4-5, according to a special announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.

During this time, agencies and offices nationwide and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad must fly flags at half-mast and wear mourning bands as prescribed, and must not organize public entertainment activities.

Former Lao President Khamtay Siphandone passed away at 10:30 a.m. on April 2 at his home in the capital Vientiane. Laos held a five-day national mourning period, from April 3 to April 7, at the National Convention Center in Vientiane.

General Secretary To Lam today led a delegation of high-ranking leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State to pay their respects to Mr. Khamtay Siphandone, expressing his grief at the passing of the former Lao President and sending his deepest condolences to the Lao leaders, people and Mr. Khamtay Siphandone's family.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the President, the Government, the National Assembly, and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front previously sent condolences, expressing their deepest sorrow upon hearing of the passing of Mr. Khamtay Siphandone.

Mr. Khamtay Siphandone was born in 1924 in Huakhongphayai village, Khong district, now Champasak province, to a peasant family. In 1931, an official sent him to study in Vientiane. He passed the entrance exam to the prestigious PAVIE school (now Vientiane High School), the only high school in Laos at that time.

At the end of 1941, the official who helped him suddenly passed away, the family faced financial difficulties and he had to quit school, starting working as a postman. He then went to Saigon to take a specialized training course and returned to Laos in 1944, becoming a telegraph officer in Phongsaly province.

In the following years, he participated in the movement for independence from French rule. In 1947, Khamtay Siphandone joined the Lao Issara Front. He became a member of the Indochinese Communist Party in 1954 and joined the Lao People's Revolutionary Party a year later. During his revolutionary career, he held many important positions and was awarded the rank of General.

After the founding of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 1975, Khamtay Siphandone served as Minister of Defense and then Deputy Prime Minister. He assumed the position of Prime Minister in 1991 and served as President from 1998 to 2006. He was Chairman of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party from 1992 to 2006.

In the process of protecting, building and developing the country, former President Khamtay Siphandone cooperated closely with Vietnam to exchange and share experiences, support and help each other.