National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn writes in the funeral book. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Since the early morning of July 25, large numbers of leaders and people from all walks of life have paid their last respects to Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng at the National Funeral Hall in Hà Nội, the Thống Nhất Hall in HCM City, and in his hometown in Đông Hội Commune of Hà Nội’s Đông Anh District, showing their great grief over the passing of the Party leader.

With infinite condolences, President Tô Lâm wrote in the funeral remembrance book: "Extremely sorry for Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng – the beloved son of the Vietnamese nation, the exceptional and outstanding leader, a steadfast Party member, a shining example of constantly studying and following President Hồ Chí Minh's ideology, ethics and style. He gained great prestige in the Party, State and people and was a great friend of the world's people, and devoted his whole life to the country, the Party and the people. He has made many great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the nation and to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

We respectfully bow before your heroic spirit. We vow to study, follow your example, serve the Fatherland and the people with all our heart and soul and try to achieve the goal of building a peaceful, independent, unified, democratic, prosperous, and happy Việt Nam that you cherished and strived for all your life. The name, career, personality and great contributions of Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng are deeply imprinted in the hearts of the people, forever preserved in the history of the heroic Vietnamese people."

Paying his respects to General Secretary Trọng, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính wrote in the funeral book: "In front of the heroic spirit of comrade Nguyễn Phú Trọng, we respectfully honour and are deeply grateful for his great contributions. He devoted his entire life to the revolutionary cause of the people and the nation, to the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland in the new era. We vow to follow your example and unite with high determination and great efforts, overcome all difficulties and challenges, and strive with all our minds to protect and build the Vietnamese Fatherland. The socialist society will be strong and prosperous, and the Vietnamese people will be increasingly happy. Respectfully say goodbye to Comrade General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng."

With emotion, National Assembly (NA) Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn wrote: "Extremely sorry for Comrade General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng – an excellent leader with great prestige in the Party, State, and among the people. He was a steadfast and exemplary communist who dedicated his life to the Party, the country, and the people. He spent his time, effort, and intelligence on innovation and improving the NA’s operational efficiency. He provided important orientations to best meet the country's political requirements and tasks, and the people’s expectations and trust nationwide. Comrade Trọng's death is a huge loss to our Party, State, and people, leaving behind endless grief for him, his compatriots, his family, and international friends.

We respectfully vow to continue following the revolutionary path chosen by the Party, Uncle Hồ, previous generations, and comrade Trọng. In the enormous sadness and loss, I would like to send my deepest condolences to his family. Farewell, dear comrade General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng.”

On behalf of the Central Steering Committee on Preventing and Combating Corruption, Lương Cường, deputy head of the committee, wrote in the condolence book: "Extremely sorry for comrade General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng – Head of the Central Steering Committee on Preventing and Combating Corruption. He was a prestigious, exceptionally excellent leader, and a shining and exemplary example of revolutionary ethics.

His thoughts, ethics, manners, and lifestyle will always be a guideline for the entire Party, army, and people to study and follow to persistently prevent and repel corruption, building our Party and State increasingly clean and strong."

In the condolence book, Đỗ Văn Chiến, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and President of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, wrote that mourning Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, the VFF Central Committee delegation respectfully offered incense in solemn farewell to the beloved General Secretary – a steadfast Communist soldier, an outstanding disciple of late President Hồ Chí Minh, a talented and exceptional leader, a sharp thinker, and a great cultural figure.

"Although he passed away, his name, his career, his compassionate heart, his dedication, and his love for the people will forever endure," he wrote.

The VFF pledges to unite, together with the entire Party, people, and army, to strive to build a prosperous and happy country as the General Secretary always desired during his lifetime, Chiến wrote.

In the funeral guest book, General Phan Văn Giang, member of the Politburo, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, and Minister of National Defence, wrote that the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of Defence deeply mourn Comrade Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Việt Nam, and Secretary of the Central Military Commission – an exceptionally outstanding leader, a steadfast communist, and an intellect who devoted his entire life to the nation.

He was an exemplary role model, with significant contributions to the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation. He always paid attention to the development of the armed forces in general and the Việt Nam People's Army in particular. He led and directed the successful implementation of the Fatherland safeguarding strategy in a new situation, along with the Party's policies and the State’s legal frameworks in the military and defence sectors, thereby contributing to firmly protecting the Fatherland early and from afar through peaceful means.

The officers and soldiers of the Việt Nam People's Army and the militia and self-defence forces across the country forever cherish the significant contributions of the General Secretary, Secretary of the Central Military Commission; and pledge absolute loyalty to the Party and the people, and, together with the entire Party and people, achieve victory in the Fatherland building and safeguarding cause to be worthy of the trust, love, and expectations of the late leader, the Party, the State, and the people, Giang added.

Writing in the condolence book, member of the CPV Central Committee, Secretary of the Central Public Security Party Committee, and Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieut. Gen. Lương Tam Quang expressed the outpouring of grief of the Central Public Security Party Committee, the Ministry of Public Security and all officers, soldiers, and employees of the public security force over the passing of the General Secretary – an excellent leader who devoted his whole life and sacrificed for the Party’s ideal targets and the people’s happiness, and made great contributions to the Party's and people’s revolutionary cause.

The Party chief, he penned, is a shining example of great personality and a witted mind, and a symbol of sincerity, closeness, and simplicity, who has been respected by not only the Vietnamese people but also international friends, adding that the images of the genuine and steadfast communist with wholehearted service to the nation and people will forever remain in the minds of the people and the public security force.

Quang added that the public security force promises to devote its efforts and brainpower to the cause of national construction and development, develop itself into a strong, elite, and modern force, and follow the late Party chief’s teaching that “honour is the most sacred and noble thing”. — VNS