Remembering Nguyễn Phú Trọng
Remembering Nguyễn Phú Trọng
A reader's guide
Good morning. This is a special edition of the Vietnam Weekly from Ho Chi Minh City-based reporter Mike Tatarski.
As previously mentioned there’s no regular Friday newsletter since I’m traveling, but I wanted to acknowledge the significance of the late General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, whose two-day state funeral begins in Hanoi today with major traffic restrictions. Yesterday, workers busily prepared Mai Dịch Cemetery amidst heavy tropical storm rain.
Attending foreign dignitaries include South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Cuban National Assembly Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernández.
Flags are at half-mast across the country, while all public and entertainment events have been canceled until Saturday. Long-time Vietnam residents may recall similar days following Võ Nguyên Giáp’s passing in 2013.
Other communist governments are showing particular reverence for Trọng: Laos announced a two-day state funeral of its own while Cuba observed a state of mourning last weekend.
Some reactions have been less respectful: at least two people have been fined for spreading “false information” about the late leader, while a creative agency cut ties with a TikToker for “inappropriate statements.” This calls to mind the case of an English teacher who barely avoided deportation for posting a profane comment about General Giáp after his death.
Domestic media has devoted significant coverage to Trọng (with VnExpress leading the way in English), and I’ve highlighted a few articles from both Vietnamese and international outlets below. I recommend checking out his official biography here.
Farewell to a leader: Nguyen Phu Trong's last days remembered (VnExpress International)
“Every day, he would sit there to watch the Red River at dawn and dusk, discuss current events, or have pleasant conversations with the medical staff. Sometimes, he would recite poems about the landscape and life, or recount childhood stories about cycling in Dong Anh District of Hanoi, where he grew up.
‘What impressed us most about the General Secretary was his simple, sincere demeanor and his great concern for the lives of the staff in the department,’ nurse Hong said, adding that he had asked about the children of the medical staff, such as how old they were, how their studies were going, and if they faced any difficulties.”
Vietnam Communist party boss dies at 80; succession in balance (Nikkei Asia)
“Trong was born to a family of farmers in 1944, when Vietnam was a French colony but occupied by Japan during World War II. As a student, at the height of the Vietnam War, he joined a workers party that would become today's ruling party. The Russian speaker studied party-building and literature before devoting his career to communism. He held a string of roles, from editing the party magazine to serving as both parliament chairman and secretary of the parliament's party committee.
He assumed the post of general-secretary, Vietnam's top political position, in 2011, a year before Xi Jinping became his counterpart in China. Their careers continued in parallel, with both men eventually winning unprecedented third terms and launching signature graft clampdowns that were also seen as tools against rivals.”
Life and times of Vietnam Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong (VnExpress International)
“Visiting a former teacher, holding a young child during Lunar New Year’s Eve and inspecting saltwater intrusion into farmlands were among the humble everyday moments of General Secretary of Vietnam's Communist Party Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.”
Remembering Nguyen Phu Trong’s Foreign Policy Legacies (The Diplomat)
“Bamboo, a frequent presence in Vietnamese folklore, is famous for its ‘strong roots, stout trunk and flexible branches.’ Trong’s idea behind ‘bamboo diplomacy’ is based on President Ho Chi Minh’s famous dictum, ‘Firm in objectives, flexible in strategies and tactics,’ first laid out in 1946. As such, the two leaders did not let ideological differences undermine their ultimate objective, which was to defend the national interest. For Ho, it was the outreach to U.S. President Harry Truman and his comprehensive efforts to expand the young Democratic Republic of Vietnam’s diplomatic presence to gain international legitimacy as the French were returning to Indochina. Vietnam’s multilateral foreign policy also began with Ho.”
The 60-Year Legacy of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (VnExpress International)
“Over his 57 years of dedication, Trong spent over 13 of them being the Party General Secretary, nearly three years being the state president, and two terms of being the National Assembly chairman. Trong left his marks on all aspects: politics, diplomacy and culture, and has become a model of a humble lifestyle for future generations of Party members and the people.”
Statement from President Joe Biden on the Passing of General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng of Vietnam
“General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng was a champion of the deep ties between the American and Vietnamese people whose leadership helped nurture the friendship and partnership our countries enjoy today. His 2015 historic visit to the White House was a milestone in our bilateral relationship. Thanks to his vision, during my 2023 state visit to Hanoi, Vietnam and the United States became ‘comprehensive strategic partners,’ the highest level of partnership in the Vietnamese system.”
Domestic media outlets also changed their home pages to black and white following Trọng’s death.
Whatever your political views, there’s no doubt that he was a momentous leader in Vietnamese history and the last of a generation. His legacy will continue to impact the country moving forward.
Enjoy your weekend.