In a poignant display of national mourning, Vietnamese social media users have turned their profile pictures black in tribute to the late leader Nguyen Phu Trong. The former Communist Party general secretary, who passed away at the age of 80 on Friday, left a lasting mark on the country’s political landscape. His death was announced by Vietnam’s state media, which reported that he had succumbed to “old age and serious illness” at a military hospital in Hanoi.
The online outpouring of grief is a testament to Trong’s stature and influence. Facebook, X, and Threads were flooded with photos and eulogies from Vietnamese citizens, many of whom changed their profile pictures to black. “A great heart has stopped,” wrote Hoang Quoc Ky on his Facebook page, accompanying his post with a picture of Vietnam’s national flag flying at half-mast. “He was a bright and perfect communist, a sharp politician… who devoted his whole life for socialism and the happiness of the people,” Ky added.
Another blogger, DzungArt Nguyen, shared his thoughts on Facebook, writing, “(We) acknowledge his passion… may he rest in peace.” His sentiment was echoed by countless others, as Vietnamese citizens across the digital realm united in their grief. Even official social media accounts belonging to Vietnamese state media agencies, as well as numerous companies and NGOs, adopted black profile pictures as a sign of respect.
Trong’s passing comes at a significant juncture in Vietnam’s political history. Just a day before his death was announced, the Communist Party had declared that he would be handing over the reins of power to the country’s president and former public security minister, To Lam. At the time, the party stated that Trong would be focusing on treatment for an undisclosed medical condition, confirming long-standing speculation about the aging leader’s health.
Despite the lack of details surrounding Trong’s illness, the party has promised to release a “special statement on the organisation of the funeral at the national level.” Once these arrangements are made public, an official period of mourning will begin, during which flags will fly at half-mast and all cultural and artistic activities will be suspended. Entertainment and sporting event organizers have already taken steps to halt their operations in observance of this somber occasion.
The passing of Nguyen Phu Trong marks a significant moment in Vietnam’s history. He is the first party general secretary to die in office since Le Duan, a close associate of Ho Chi Minh, passed away in 1986. He is also the first leader to hold three consecutive mandates at the head of the party, a testament to his enduring influence during a period of economic liberalization that began in 1986.
