An ATR 72 aircraft carrying the coffin of General Vo Nguyen Giap took off from Noi Bai International Airport at 10:30 am on October 13, heading to his homeland in the central province of Quang Binh for his burial service.

An accompanying A321 aircraft left the airport at the same time, bearing leaders of the Party, State and Government to attend the final service.

Thousands of Vietnamese mourners lined the streets of Hanoi to bid farewell to the General as a gun carriage slowly carried the flag-draped coffin of General Giap from the national morgue through the streets of Hanoi to Noi Bai airport.

The aircraft is scheduled to land in Dong Hoi airport in Quang Binh at 1 pm on the same day. The burial service will be held at 4 pm at his final resting place in Vung Chua – Yen island area in Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district.

Earlier, a solemn memorial service for the General – a former Politburo member, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Standing Deputy Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Commander-in-Chief of the Vietnam People’s Army and National Assembly deputy - was held at the national morgue at 5 Le Thanh Tong Street in Hanoi. The service was attended by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

In a moving eulogy, General Secretary Trong, head of the national funeral committee, described General Vo Nguyen Giap as an inspirational leader of the Vietnamese Party, State and people, an excellent student of President Ho Chi Minh, a steadfast revolutionary fighter and the first General of the Vietnam Peoples’ Army.

The Party leader stated that the General’s death was a great loss to the Party, State, people and his family, leaving behind a huge void to his comrades, fellow countrymen and international friends.

Reviewing his revolutionary life, Trong said that over 80 years General Giap had worked tirelessly to contribute to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation.

He added that the General’s name will forever be entwined with Vietnam ’s glorious triumph in the two resistance wars against oppressive French and US forces, as well as the subsequent national construction and defence.

In all of his roles, General Giap influenced many major issues in the country, especially in the fields of science and technology, education and training, defence and security and the building of external relations.

The Party leader said that for the international revolutionary movement, the General’s dedication remains a great encouragement to countries throughout the world still struggling for peace, national independence and social progress against oppression, exploitation and injustice.-VNA