General Vo Nguyen Giap
(VOVworld)- On Saturday, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the National Assembly, the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and the People’s Army Central Party Commission, released a special statement announcing that General Vo Nguyen Giap passed away. General Vo Nguyen Giap, name at birth: Vo Giap (alias: Van), was born on August 25, 1911 in Loc Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, Quang Binh province; former Politburo member, former Secretary of the Party Central Committee’s Military Commission, former Standing Deputy Prime Minister, former Minister of Defense, Commander in Chief of Vietnam People’s Army, a National Assembly deputy from the 1st tenure to the 7th tenure.

Due to his old age and poor health condition, the General passed away at 18:09 on October 4th, 2013 at Military Central Hospital despite wholehearted care of the Party, State, the Party Central Committee’s Military Commission, the Ministry of Defense, and hospital doctors.

The statement highlighted 80 years of revolutionary activities by the General and his great merit to the Party and nation’s revolutionary cause. As an excellent and close disciple of President Ho Chi Minh, the first General and Commander in Chief of the People’s Army of Vietnam, General Vo Nguyen Giap won people’s respect and international friends’ acclaims as a source of pride of all the army. The General was conferred with the Gold Star Order, Ho Chi Minh Order, Medal of 70 years of Party membership and many other distinctions.

His pass-away was a major loss for the Party, State, People and Army.

To pay tribute to General Vo Nguyen Giap, The Party, National Assembly, the President, the Government, the Fatherland Front and the People’s Army Party Organization decided to hold a state funeral in honor of General Vo Nguyen Giap.

The funeral committee consists of 30 members and is headed by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Tribute service begins on October 12 at the national funeral house, 5 Tran Thanh Tong, Hanoi. Funeral service begins on October 13 and burial service will be held at the General’s home province of Quang Binh at the wish of the General and his family.

Simultaneous services will take place in Quang Binh provincial people’s committee building and Ho Chi Minh City’s Unification Palace.

During the two days of mourning on October 12 and 13, public offices and places will fly national flags at half-mast while entertainment activities shall be postponed.