HCM CITY — Tens of thousands of people from all walks of life as well as current and former Party, State and Government leaders attended the memorial service of former Prime Minister Phan Văn Khải on March 22 morning at HCM City’s Thống Nhất (Reunification) Hall and International Conference Centre in Hà Nội.

Beginning at 6am, thousands of people, students, armed forces and members of other organisations gathered in HCM City and Hà Nội to attend the memorial service.

In HCM City, a large number of people were waiting along city streets where the vehicle with the former PM passed on its way to its last resting place in his hometown.

Traffic police and local police were mobilised at Pasteur, Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa and Nguyễn Văn Trỗi streets to ensure smooth traffic and security and order for the funereal.

On the roads leading to the former PM’s house in Củ Chi District 50km from the city, people set up altars with the former PM’s photograph to say a final goodbye.

At 7:30am, the memorial service began.

Standing on the two sides of the coffin were Secretary of the HCM City’s Party Committee Nguyễn Thiện Nhân and Minister of Public Security Tô Lâm. At the end of the coffin was the Head of the Government Office Mai Tiến Dũng.

Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, President Trần Đại Quang, PM Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân and Chairman of the Central Committee of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Trần Thanh Mẫn attended the memorial service in HCM City.

General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, head of the funeral committee, said: “Comrade Phan Văn Khải, former member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Việt Nam, former Prime Minister, and former member of the National Assembly of VIII, IX, X, XI, and an outstanding leader of the Party, the State and our people, devoted all his life to making great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the people.”

“The loss of the comrade is a great loss to our Party, State and people. Farewell to the beloved Sáu Khải! Please accept our deepest condolences,” Trọng said.

The burial ceremony took place at 11am on the same day in his hometown, Tân Thông Hội Commune, in Củ Chi District in HCM City.

During the two-day national funeral (March 20-21), there were 2,046 delegations with a total of 108,000 people, including 231 international diplomatic missions and organisations, paid tribute to the former PM at Thống Nhất Hall in the city, International Conference Centre in Hà Nội, and in his hometown.

Former Politburo member and former Prime Minister Phan Văn Khải passed away at 1:30am on Saturday in Củ Chi District where he was born on December 25, 1933. He was 85. 

As one of the highest-ranking Party and State leaders in the first phase of the country’s Đổi mới (renewal) and nation-building cause, Khải was active in building institutions under the spirit of đổi mới and using the capacities of all economic sectors, especially the private sector, and opening the door to the world and integrating the country internationally. 

During his nearly two working terms, fundamental laws in the first phase of the đổi mới and door-opening process were enacted. 

The Government chaired by PM Khải left its mark with the issuance of the Business Law, annulment of hundreds of licences, involvement in many tough talks to negotiate Việt Nam’s admission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and more. 

The Party and State presented PM Khải the Gold Star Order and the 55-year Party Membership Badge (2014) in recognition of his dedication to the country’s revolutionary cause. — VNS