HANOI – Thousands of mourners lined the streets of Hanoi on July 26 to pay their final respects to Nguyen Phu Trong, the Communist Party general secretary and the most powerful leader Vietnam has seen in decades. The 80-year-old leader, who passed away in a Hanoi hospital last week, had led the party since 2011 and was renowned for his anti-corruption drive that targeted the party, police, armed forces, and businesses.
At 1 p.m. local time, Mr. Trong’s wooden coffin was carried out from the national funeral house by guards of honor and top leaders, including President To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Draped in Vietnam’s red and yellow national flag, the coffin was placed on a gun carriage and driven through the capital’s tree-lined streets, where crowds of mourners, dressed in black, gathered to bid farewell.
The convoy made its way to Mai Dich cemetery, the final resting place for many of Vietnam’s senior leaders. Along the route, residents waved and chanted, “Long live Uncle Nguyen Phu Trong!” Among the mourners were children and war veterans, standing in the 37°C heat holding portraits of the late leader.
At the burial site, Mr. Trong’s family stood solemnly as his coffin, adorned with the Chinese symbol of longevity, was lowered into the ground by ten soldiers in crisp white uniforms. The burial followed a two-day funeral attended by Vietnam’s top leaders, foreign officials, school children, and Buddhist monks.
“Trong was an especially outstanding leader… a loyal communist party member with huge credibility,” said President Lam at the funeral. “His name, career, talent, and ethics will forever be with the party, the nation, and the people.”
A four-hour slot for the public to pay their respects on July 25 had to be extended due to the overwhelming number of people in line. “I spent more than four hours queueing last night,” said Tran Hoang Nguyet Mai. “Luckily, I got into the funeral house to say farewell to a leader that I really respect.”
More than 250,000 people had paid their respects to Mr. Trong at ceremonies in Hanoi, southern Ho Chi Minh City, and his village on the outskirts of the capital by July 26 afternoon. Flags across the country flew at half mast, and entertainment and sporting events were suspended during the two-day mourning period.
Mr. Trong’s health had been poor in recent years, leading to widespread speculation about his ability to remain in power until the 2026 party congress. Despite his health issues, he maintained a remarkable longevity in office, a tenure that rights groups say saw increasing authoritarianism.
US President Joe Biden praised Mr. Trong as “a champion of deep ties” between Vietnam and the United States, while Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed him as a “true friend of Russia.”