On 2/9/2025, the government issued a decree amending and supplementing several articles regarding the organization of funerals for officials and public employees.

The government stipulates four forms of funerals for officials and public employees: state funerals; state-level funerals; high-ranking funerals; and funerals for ordinary officials and public employees.

The new decree adds a provision that if a deceased person held the position of General Secretary, President, Prime Minister, or National Assembly Chairperson, and was dismissed, suspended from work, or retired early or as per regulations due to violations, their funeral will be held according to high-ranking funeral rites. This is a new point compared to the old regulations, where the four aforementioned high-ranking leaders, upon death, would receive a state funeral regardless of any violations.

Flags at half-mast in Ba Dinh square, morning of 25/7. Photo: Giang Huy

Flags at half-mast in Ba Dinh square, morning of 25/7. Photo: Giang Huy

Officials currently holding or having left the positions of members of the Politburo, Party Central Committee Secretary; Vice President; Deputy Prime Minister; Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly; President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee; Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court; Chief Procurator of the Supreme People's Procuracy; General of the armed forces; Admiral of the armed forces who were revolutionary activists before the August 1945 uprising, will receive state-level funerals upon death.

If the deceased held one of the above positions and was dismissed, suspended from work, retired early, or retired as per regulations due to violations or shortcomings, the funeral will follow high-ranking rites. For those dismissed or stripped of their titles, the funeral will follow the rites for ordinary officials and public employees.

The decree also adds provisions for officials currently in office or retired under the management of the Politburo and the Secretariat (except for cases eligible for state funerals and state-level funerals); revolutionary activists before 1/1/1945 (veteran revolutionaries) awarded the first-class Independence Order; officials active in the south throughout the anti-American period (1954-1975) awarded the first-class Independence Order; social, cultural, and scientific activists awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize and the first-class Independence Order; social, cultural, and scientific activists awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize and are Heroes of the People's Armed Forces or Labor Heroes currently working or retired. Upon death, they will receive high-ranking funerals.

If the aforementioned individuals were dismissed or stripped of their titles, the funeral will follow the rites for ordinary officials and public employees. For deceased members of the Central Committee who were dismissed, suspended from work, retired early, or retired as per regulations due to violations, the funeral will be organized according to the rites for ordinary officials and public employees.

The government requires that at funerals of officials and public employees, there should be no scattering of any currency issued by the State Bank or foreign currency; no burning of votive paper offerings; and limited scattering of votive paper offerings. The use of rotating wreaths is encouraged.

According to current regulations, the duration of a state funeral is two days. During this time, agencies and offices nationwide and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad will fly flags at half-mast with mourning ribbons and refrain from holding public entertainment activities.

Vu Tuan