HANOI, July 25 (Xinhua) -- A respect-paying ceremony for late General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong began Thursday in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi.

A ceremony to lower the flag at half-mast was held at 6:00 a.m. local time (2300 GMT on Wednesday) here at Ba Dinh Square.

The entire country observed a period of national mourning on Thursday and Friday. All government agencies and public places fly national flags at half-mast, and residents also display national flags to pay tribute. These flags are all tied with black ribbons.

The respect-paying ceremony started at 7:00 a.m. (0000 GMT) at the National Funeral Hall in Hanoi, where Nguyen Phu Trong's coffin, covered with the Vietnamese national flag, is placed. Vietnamese President To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien attended the ceremony.

People queued on streets surrounding the hall to pay their last respects to the late party chief.

Respect-paying ceremonies are also held in Ho Chi Minh City and at Nguyen Phu Trong's native land in Dong Hoi commune, Dong Anh district, Hanoi City, and will last until Friday, followed by a memorial service and a burial ceremony.

Nguyen Phu Trong died on July 19 after a period of illness at the age of 80, according to Vietnam's board of health protection and care for central officials. Enditem

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