Former Secretary of the 6th Plenum of the Party Central Committee Trần Quốc Hương (sitting) when he received his medal of 75-year Party membership in 2018. — VNA/VNS Photo Anh Tuấn

HÀ NỘI — Former Secretary of the 6th Plenum of the Party Central Committee (PCC) Trần Quốc Hương passed away on Thursday morning at the age of 96.

Hương, alias Mười Hương, was also the former head of the PCC’s Commission for Internal Affairs and former deputy head of the Central Organisation Committee.

According to an announcement from the national board in charge of senior cadres’ health, Hương passed away due to sickness and old age at 10.10am on Thursday at Thống Nhất Hospital in HCM City.

Details of his memorial service and funeral ceremony will be announced later.

Born in 1924 in Vụ Bản Commune in Hà Nam Province’s Bình Lục District, Hương was most well-known for his role as the chief of the intelligence network in South Việt Nam during the American War.

He directly organised activities for legendary intelligence agents such as Phạm Ngọc Thảo, Phạm Xuân Ẩn and Vũ Ngọc Nhạ.

Hương was awarded many noble orders of the Party and the State including the Gold Star Order, Hồ Chí Minh Order, First Class Independence Order and First Class Military Exploit Order. — VNS