The passing of Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong has prompted an outpouring of grief from across the world. Mourners from distant places like Belarus and Kon Tum traveled to Hanoi, waiting hours to pay their final respects at the National Funeral Hall.
At 5:30pm on July 25, as people were allowed to pay their respects to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, those who had traveled from afar to Hanoi felt a sense of relief.
Mrs. Truong Thi Kim Oanh from the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum.
Truong Thi Kim Oanh, a retired officer from Kon Tum province, flew to Hanoi to honor the General Secretary. She shared, "When I heard the news of the General Secretary's illness, I was anxious and hoped he would recover quickly. But when the news of his passing was broadcast, I was devastated. General Secretary Trong has always been a shining example for us to follow. So, when I heard about the funeral, I booked a flight to pay my respects."
Similarly, Vu Thi Hoa made a long journey from Belarus to Hanoi to mourn the General Secretary. Hoa, who has lived in Belarus for 37 years and owns a house on Minh Khai Street in Hanoi, started her journey at 4am, enduring a 13-hour wait on Nguyen Cao Street before being allowed to enter the funeral hall at 5:30 PM with some relatives.
"Having lived in Belarus for 37 years, I follow the news from home daily. I deeply admire the General Secretary's character, his simplicity, and his close connection with the people. He was especially strong in the fight against corruption and cared greatly for overseas Vietnamese. Fortunately, with convenient flights, I was able to book a ticket and fly back to pay my respects, which brings me great comfort and satisfaction," Hoa expressed.
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Tien from the central province of Quang Nam.
Among the mourners was 91-year-old Nguyen Thi Tien from the central province of Quang Nam. Visiting family in Bac Giang province, she was brought to Hanoi by her children to pay her respects to the General Secretary.
"I only watch two programs on TV: news and football. Since hearing about the General Secretary's passing, I have kept the TV on all day and night to follow the news. I have always admired three people in my life: President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap, and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong," Tien shared.
Ha Vu Kim and his father.
Ha Vu Kim, a 17-year-old from Cau Giay District, Hanoi, was deeply moved by stories her mother told about the General Secretary's integrity and straightforwardness. Kim decided to accompany her Spanish father to pay their respects. "I was impressed by the story my mother told about the General Secretary's son's wedding, held in the small yard of their home on Thien Quang Street, only inviting close family members."
Nguyen Thi Thu Ngan from Dong Da District, Hanoi, expressed her respect by bringing her two children, wearing shirts with the General Secretary's image. She had been queuing since 3pm to enter the funeral hall.
Ms. Ngan and her two children wait to pay their respects to the General Secretary.
As a businesswoman, Ngan was particularly impressed when she once interacted with a relative of the General Secretary. "In 2018, I sold a car to a young man on installment. When delivering the car, I learned he was a close relative of the General Secretary. He shared that the General Secretary always advised them to be self-reliant," she said.
Hearing about the General Secretary's passing, Ngan arranged her work and brought her two children to the National Funeral Hall in Hanoi so they could understand more about his character. "They may not fully understand now, but the emotional scene of people waiting to pay their respects will leave a lasting impression and help them grow into better people."
Vietnamnet.vn
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