Border guards in the central province of Quang Binh are going to hand over the management of legendary General Vo Nguyen Giap's tomb to his family and local authorities.

Hundreds of people line up to light incense at Gen Giap’s tomb. — Photo zing.vn

Border guards have managed the tomb site for five years. According to the local People’s Committee, the decision was made by the Ministry of Defence, which did not give any reasons for the move.

Related agencies in the province are to work with the General’s family to finalise a new management plan. The committee said visits to the tomb would still be allowed.

Quảng Bình was the home of General Vo Nguyen Giap. The General is buried on Vung Chua-Yen Island. 

Since the day it opened to the public in 2014, it has welcomed millions of people wishing to pay their respects to the late hero.

General Võ Nguyên Giáp (1911-2013) was the commander-in-chief of the Viet Nam People’s Army in two wars against the French and the Americans. The general was famous for leading the victorious Dien Bien Phu campaign in 1954, which contributed to the country’s liberation from French colonialism.

To the Vietnamese people, General Giáp was not only a wartime hero but also an icon who dedicated his life to the development of the country. Millions of people lined up streets across the country in mourning after his death in 2013 and millions more have visited his final resting place in Quang Bình. — VNS