By 8 PM on July 25, a long line stretched for kilometers from the intersection of Nguyen Cao and Le Quy Don, as people waited patiently to enter the funeral hall. 

Many had rushed over from work without having dinner to fulfill their wish of saying goodbye to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Nguyen Thi Thu Ha expressed her deep sorrow after paying her respects: "I feel such pain, like losing a family member. When will our country have another leader like him?"

Standing quietly in a corner, Phan Thi Tam, a young woman, shared her feelings: "I feel heartbroken and very emotional being here to bid farewell to General Secretary Trong. Tomorrow, I will try to arrange my work to escort him on his final journey."

By 9:30 PM, the streets near the funeral hall, including Han Thuyen, Hang Chuoi, Lo Duc, and Nguyen Cong Tru, were packed with mourners.

In front of the funeral house at 10 PM.

Inside the funeral hall, many wept uncontrollably as they saw the General Secretary's casket.

Meanwhile, in his hometown of Lai Da Village, Dong Hoi Commune, Dong Anh District, people continued to pour in to pay their respects on the night of July 25. 

Inside the cultural house where the memorial was held, people lined up solemnly, each taking their turn to offer condolences.

Many came from other provinces and inner-city Hanoi, wanting to visit the birthplace of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Despite the cool weather, the service team provided hand fans to assist visitors.

Hoang Thi Ly brought her 2-month-old child to bid farewell to the General Secretary. "I hope this will be a cherished memory for my child to know about a revered leader of our country," she said.

Among the mourners was well-known actor Chien Thang, who also came to Lai Da Village to pay his respects.

At the cultural house in Lai Da Village that night, people moved quietly and spoke softly, maintaining a solemn atmosphere, unlike the usual hustle and bustle of a crowded place.

By 9 PM, the flow of people to the cultural house in Lai Da Village continued as they came to bid their final farewells to the General Secretary.

To accommodate the public, the visitation at the National Funeral Hall was extended until midnight on July 25, instead of the originally planned 10 PM.

On July 26, the visitation will resume from 7 AM to 12:30 PM, followed by the memorial service at 1 PM. The burial will take place at 3 PM at Mai Dich Cemetery in Hanoi.

Khanh Linh - Hung Nguyen - Thach Thao - Trong Tung