VietNamNet Bridge - Leaders of the Party and State, diplomatic corps, international organizations and people in and outside the country paid tribute to former President Vo Chi Cong in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Quang Nam province, his homeland, on September 9-12. The former President was burried at the HCM City Cemetery this morning, September 12.
In Ho Chi Minh City, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung--on September 11, paid tribute to the former State leader right after he returned from his Laos visit.

PM Dung wrote in the funeral memorial book, “We deeply grieve for former State President Vo Chi Cong, an outstanding son of the Vietnamese nation, a loyal and unyielding communist Party member, and a talented, virtuous and exemplary leader of the Party, State and people.”

On September 10-11, hundreds of delegations of leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front, armed forces, ministries, central and local agencies, social organizations, diplomatic corps and people nationwide laid wreaths at the Thong Nhat Hall, to express their profound sorrow for the death of Vo Chi Cong, who was also former Chairman of the National Defense Council and former Deputy Prime Minister.

In Hanoi, nearly 100 delegations from central and local agencies, as well as 37 international delegations came to offer condolences over the decease of the former State leader.

In his home province of Quang Nam, by September 11, around 180 delegations from central and Central Highlands localities, agencies, socio-political organizations and people in the province paid tribute to the former Politburo member, former Party Central Committee Secretary and former advisor to the Party Central Committee.

Vo Chi Cong, who was born Vo Toan in August 7, 1912 in Quang Nam central province, was a Vietnamese communist political figure. His revolutionary activities began in 1930. He joined the Communist Party of Indochina in 1935.

He served in various cabinets posts including Minister of Fisheries (1976-1977), Minister of Agriculture (1977-1978), and Deputy Prime Minister (1976-1982) before serving as Chairman of the Council of State of Vietnam (or State President) between 1987 and 1992.

Cong was also the advisor to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Party deputy to the National Assembly 6th, 7th, and 8th tenures.

He was awarded Gold Star Medal, 70-year Party badge and many other noble medals by the Party and State in recognition of his considerable contributions to the country.

The funeral ceremonies in HCM City this morning: