Party General Secretary Nguyen  Phu Trong passed away on July 19 at 1.38pm, at the age of 80, according an announcement  issued by the Expert Council for the Health Protection of Central-level Officials.

He passed away due to age-related illness at the Military Hospital 108 in Hanoi, the announcement said.

The Party chief had been under the intensive care of leading medical experts and doctors and was with his family, according to the announcement .

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