Local residents flood streets to pay respects to General Giap

The funeral procession had to move slowly to Vung Chua-Dao Yen where the General will rest forever because local people wanted to get near to the coffin to see him for the last time.

Early, a Viet Nam Airlines’ aircraft carrying the General’s body landed at Dong Hoi airport at 11:50 AM.

Many even climbed trees or tall buildings in an attempt to see the coffin while children were taken by their parents to flock to streets connecting the airport to Vung Chua, according to the newswire.

General Vo Nguyen Giap was ranked by foreign historians among giants such as Montgomery, Rommel and MacArthur for victories over vastly better equipped armies.

He, with no formal military training, took part in various important military campaigns such as the Border Campaign Autumn-Winter (1950), Dien Bien Phu Campaign (1954), Mau Than Uprising Campaign (1968) and Ho Chi Minh Campaign (1975).

In his funeral oration delivered this morning, Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong called him “a prestigious statesman of the Party, State and people.”

His death is a great loss to the Party, State, people, people’s army and members of his family, the Party leader affirmed on Sunday, the Party leader stressed.

Viet Nam Airlines' aircraft, named VN103, landed at Dong Hoi Airport at 11:50 AM, October 13, 2013 - Photo: VNExpress

The funeral procession is heading to Vung Chua - Photo: VNExpress

Local residents try to get near to the coffin to bid farewell to General Giap, October 13, 2013 - Photo: VNExpress

Local people gather along streets from Dong Hoi Airport to Vung Chua where General Giap will be burried to pay respects to the son of this land, October 13, 2013 - Photo: VNEpress

Vietnamese people follow the funeral procession to Vung Chua, October 13, 2013 - Photo: VNA

By Hai Minh