Vietnam prepares state funeral for President Quang

Preparations for the state funeral of President Tran Dai Quang, who died last week following prolonged illness, were underway in Vietnam on Monday, a day after Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh was named the Acting President.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, which will also be observed in the country as days of national mourning, reports Efe news.

On Wednesday, citizens would be able to pay their last respects to Quang, whose body will be displayed at the National Funeral Hall in Hanoi, before his burial on Thursday in his native Ninh Binh province.

National flags will be flying half-past in government buildings across the country, while public entertainment programs will be suspended during the two days.

Ngoc Thinh will occupy the position until the National Assembly elects a new President during its plenary session in October or, failing that, in May 2019.

Ngoc Thinh, 59, the first woman to occupy the position, became the country's vice president in April 2016 after serving as the vice-president of the influential Vietnam Women's Union, and as the general secretary of the Communist Party in the southern Vinh Long province.

Quang, 61, died Friday after a prolonged illness, becoming the second president of Vietnam to die while in office after Ton Duc Thang.

--IANS

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