According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Le Huy Ngo, a veteran leader affectionately known as the "Minister of the Farmers," died peacefully in Hanoi, leaving behind a legacy of deep commitment to Vietnam’s agricultural development and rural revitalization.

Born on August 13, 1938, in Tinh Hai Commune, Tinh Gia District, Thanh Hoa Province (now Hai Binh Ward), Ngo came from a family with strong revolutionary roots. Influenced by patriotic ideals from an early age, he joined the revolutionary movement in March 1953 as a young teenager.

From June 1954 to September 1956, he served as a member of the Youth Union Executive Committee in his hometown before pursuing studies at the Central Intermediate School of Agriculture and Forestry (1956-1959), later working in Phu Tho Province.

From January 1960 to November 1964, he was an administrative officer at Phu Tho’s Agriculture Department and was admitted to the Communist Party of Vietnam on January 10, 1962.

Between 1964 and 1967, he studied at Hanoi University of Agriculture I. He went on to hold a series of key roles, including head of planning and administration at Vinh Phuc’s Department of Agriculture (1967–1971), followed by advanced political training at Nguyen Ai Quoc Party School until 1974.

Ngo later served as a member of the Provincial Administrative Committee and head of the Agricultural Cooperative Management Board in Vinh Phu Province. By 1977, he had become a member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

From 1983 to 1986, he served as Vice Secretary of the Vinh Phu Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, later becoming the Provincial Party Secretary and alternate member of the Central Committee (6th Party Congress).

In 1988, the Politburo assigned him to lead Thanh Hoa Province as Provincial Party Secretary, where he was formally elected to the Central Committee of the Communist Party at the 7th Congress. He later served as Permanent Deputy Head of the Central Party Organization Commission (1991–1997).

From October 1997 to June 2004, Ngo held the post of Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and concurrently served as Head of the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention. He was re-elected to the Central Committee at the 8th and 9th Party Congresses and was a National Assembly deputy for two terms (IX and X).

He continued to lead the Central Flood and Storm Prevention Committee in a full-time capacity until June 2008.

Even after his retirement, Ngo remained committed to rural development. He acted as a senior advisor to the pilot program for building new rural models initiated by the Party Secretariat and the National Target Program on New Rural Development under the Government.

His dedication was widely recognized. He was awarded the 60-year Party membership badge, the Second-class Independence Order, the First- and Second-class Labor Orders, and the First- and Second-class Resistance Orders. He also received the Third-class Labor Order for his contributions to agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, and the Golden Lion Order for Vietnam-Senegal cooperation.

Additional accolades included a Prime Minister’s Certificate of Merit for rural development, a United Nations award for disaster risk reduction, the Hung Kings Commemorative Medal, and various ministry-level medals and commendations from the Central Office of the Communist Party.

The visitation for former Minister Le Huy Ngo will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on September 18, 2025, at the National Funeral Home, 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi. The funeral service will take place from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m., followed by burial at Thien Duc Memorial Park in Phu Tho Province.

Vu Diep