Vietnam Mourns the Loss of Communist Party Leader Nguyen Phu Trong

Next week, Vietnam will hold a state funeral for Nguyen Phu Trong, the deceased leader of its Communist Party, who passed away at 80. National mourning will occur on July 25-26 with flags at half-mast and no public entertainment. President To Lam has temporarily assumed his duties.

Vietnam will hold a state funeral next week for Nguyen Phu Trong, the leader of its ruling Communist Party who died on Friday, the government said on Saturday.

There will be two days of national mourning on July 25-26, a government statement said, with the state funeral scheduled for the second day. During the mourning period, there will be no public entertainment, and flags at offices and other public places will fly at half-mast, it said. Trong passed away at the age of 80 after holding Vietnam's most powerful position for 13 years, overseeing rapid economic growth, a prolonged anti-corruption campaign, and implementing a pragmatic foreign policy.

His duties have been temporarily assigned to President To Lam, a rising star within the party who could further consolidate his power if he retains both roles. The government statement described Trong's death as a significant loss to the party, the state, the Vietnamese people, and his family.

'After nearly 60 years of work, Trong has made many great and especially outstanding contributions to the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation,' it added. During his tenure as party head, Trong pursued a pragmatic foreign policy, including cultivating ties with the United States.

Foreign leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, have sent their condolences to the people of Vietnam and his family, according to a statement from the Communist Party of Vietnam.

(With inputs from agencies.)