Vietnam's two-day formal funeral service for Nguyen Phu Trong, 80, the head of the ruling Communist Party, who passed away a week ago, got underway on Thursday.

Hundreds of people paid their final respects to the once most powerful man in Southeast Asia amid heavy security, gathering in the streets of Hanoi surrounding a funeral home located in the city center and then traveling to his family home outside the capital.

Political leaders from the state and international dignitaries, such as Josep Borrell, the head of EU foreign policy; Esteban Lazo Hernandez, the president of the Cuban National Assembly; Han Duck Soo, the prime minister of South Korea; Hun Sen, the former prime minister of Cambodia; and Sue Lines, the president of the Australian Senate, were spotted at the funeral. To say goodbye to Trong, several foreign dignitaries are also anticipated in Hanoi during or after the funeral. These individuals include Indian security advisor Ajit Doval, Chinese top political advisor Wang Huning, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Throughout the two days, there was no permit for public entertainment, and flags at workplaces and other public locations were flown at half-mast. The communist allies of Vietnam, Cuba, and Laos have also arranged official funerals for the Vietnamese leader.

Vietnam's average yearly economic growth under Trong's tenure as party head was 5.79%, among the quickest in Asia. He launched the "blazing furnace" in 2017, which many perceived as a China-style campaign against corruption. Hundreds of high-ranking officials, including cabinet ministers, the head of parliament, and two state presidents, were looked into for possible graft, and many were forced to resign.