Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng passed away on Friday at 1.38pm. He was 80 years old.

In an announcement issued by the Expert Council for the Health Protection of Central-level Officials, the Party chief had been under the intensive care of leading medical experts and doctors and was with his family.

He passed away due to age-related illness at Central Military Hospital 108 in Hà Nội.

A state funeral is expected to be held with details to be announced soon by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Việt Nam, the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam, the State President, the Government and the Central Committee of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front.