# Vietnam Travel News

Vietnam national funeral stops some tourism & entertainment activities

According to the official announcement, the Vietnam national funeral for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will be held with a national mourning ceremony on July 25th and 26th. During these two days, government offices and public places will fly flags at half-mast, and no public entertainment activities will be held.

The Vietnam National Funeral

On the morning of July 25, 2024, the Vietnam national funeral for Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, will be held with a national mourning ceremony.

The memorial service for Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong will begin at 7:00 AM on July 25 and will take place simultaneously at:

The National Funeral Hall at 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi;
The Reunification Hall of the Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City
Nguyen Phu Trong’s hometown of Dong Hoi Commune, Dong Anh District, Hanoi.

At exactly 5:50 AM, a guard of honor consisting of 37 soldiers marched into Ba Dinh Square. To the tune of the marching song “Advancing Under the Military Flag,” the soldiers moved towards the flagpole area to prepare for the solemn ceremonies. Following this, three soldiers carried a tray with the national flag and a black ribbon, stepping onto the platform to prepare for the flag-raising ceremony.

According to the regulations, the national mourning flag is adorned with a black ribbon that measures 1/10 of the flag’s width and length. The flag is only raised to two-thirds of the pole, with the black ribbon tied to prevent the flag from flying freely.

Who is General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong?

Nguyen Phu Trong, born on April 14, 1944, in Hanoi, has held numerous key positions within the Communist Party of Vietnam, including General Secretary since 2011. His career spans from working at the Communist Review to serving as the Chairman of the National Assembly and President of Vietnam. He has received many prestigious awards for his significant contributions to the country’s revolutionary cause.

According to the Central Health Protection Council, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong passed away at 1:38 PM on July 19, 2024, at the 108 Central Military Hospital. Despite dedicated efforts by the Party, the State, and medical professionals, and the care of his family, he succumbed to his illness due to advanced age and severe health complications. He was 80 years old.

Vietnam tourism & entertainment on July 25-26

During the two-day national mourning for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the government has requested that all organizations and individuals suspend or postpone all entertainment activities, including art performances, sports events, and other recreational activities.

According to Article 10 of Decree 105/2012/NĐ-CP by the Vietnamese government, public entertainment tourism activities such as organized tours and visits to amusement parks are not allowed during national mourning.

However, individual activities like self-planned exploration, relaxation, and sightseeing are not required to stop. These activities can continue but are encouraged to be postponed to show respect and remembrance.

After this period, the entertainment activities are operated as usual. You can check some things to do across Vietnam here: