State funeral of former PM Phan Van Khai on March 20-21

A ceremony to pay tribute to the late PM will take place from 8:00 am on March 20 to the end of March 21 at Thong Nhat Hall in Ho Chi Minh City where his remains are preserved. 

It will be followed by a memorial service at the hall at 7:30 am on March 22. The burial ceremony is scheduled at 11:00 am the same day in his hometown – Tan Thong Hoi commune, Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City.

The tribute-paying and memorial ceremonies will take place at the International Convention Centre, Le Hong Phong street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi at the same time with those in HCM City.

The Vietnam Television (VTV) and the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) will broadcast these ceremonies live.

On March 20 and 21, all State offices and public facilities will fly the national flag at half-mast and all entertainment activities will be stopped.

Former Politburo member and former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai passed away at 1:30 on March 17 at Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City, aged 85.

Phan Van Khai was born on December 25, 1933 in Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City.

As one of the high-ranking Party and State leaders in the first phase of the country's Renewal and nation-building cause, PM Khai was active and determined to build the institution under the spirit of renewal to utilize the capacities of all economic sectors, especially the private one, together with opening door to the world and integrating internationally. 

During his nearly two working terms, fundamental laws in the first phase of the Renewal and door-opening process were built.

The Government chaired by PM Khai left its working-term marks by the issuance of the Business Law, the annulment of hundreds of licences, the involvement in many tough talks to negotiate Vietnam's admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and more.

The Party and State have presented PM Khai the Golden Star Order and the 55-year Party Membership Badge (2014), in recognition of his dedications to the country's revolutionary cause.