During four years of receiving medical care and treatment at 108 Military Central Hospital in Hanoi, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong left doctors and nurses there with multiple memories and valuable lessons, the medical workers shared on Monday.

The Party chief passed away at 1:38 pm on July 19, 2024 at the hospital.

Medical workers of the Central Committee on Health Care for Senior Governmental Officials and 108 Military Central Hospital as a whole have been mournful since then.

They said they learned many salutary lessons from the Party leader’s hospitality, regards, and sharing, as well as his dedication.

Major General Prof. Dr. Le Huu Song, director of 108 Military Central Hospital, said the hospital was honored to have been tasked with taking care of the health of high-ranking officials and the people, especially Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Song informed that the Central Committee on Health Care for Senior Governmental Officials and 108 Military Central Hospital invited domestic and foreign medical experts to hold consultations to develop the best possible treatment regimen for the Party leader.

When they asked for the Party leader’s approval of treatment plans, he always responded with the heartwarming phrase, “Yes, sir!”

This helped them become more confident. All fatigue disappeared, only their desire to take the best care of the Party general secretary remained.

“He was never dissatisfied with medical workers but always patiently underwent treatment and absolutely followed doctors’ orders instead,” Song added. 

During his treatment, the Party leader always tried to improve his health despite fatigue.

He was sometimes tired and did not want to eat but still tried to eat before continung his work.

His efforts motivated staff at 108 Military Central Hospital to try harder in their jobs.

Song expressed his respect and admiration for such a special patient as General Secretary Trong, saying that the Party chief was approachable and simple.

During his last days, even when his health was poor, he continued working tirelessly.

Doctors were amazed at his work intensity.

His dedication made the medical workers feel humble. The Party general secretary inspired them to strive harder, said the hospital director.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Phuong Dong, who had been directly taking care of Party General Secretary Trong for many years, noted that the late leader maintained his regular working schedule in his final days despite his deteriorating health.

Between 9:00 am and 9:30 am every day, he listened to his assistants and secretaries reporting issues.

After 10:30 am and in the afternoon, the Party leader received Party and state officials.

Whenever he felt good, he read and studied documents.

“He worked until his last breath. On July 13, he still worked but we had to put him on a ventilator in the afternoon," Dong said in a voice choked with emotion.

"At the last moment, when we knew that we could not save him, it felt like we were about to say goodbye to a father, a family member. Many people burst into tears.

"We are grieving, feeling empty and mournful. We deeply mourn a great man like him and regret that we could not do more for him."

A simple and approachable patient

For the medical workers at 108 Military Central Hospital, Party General Secretary Trong was a “special patient” as he always cooperated with doctors in his treatment and felt secure and satisfied with the ability, brainpower, and dedication of the hospital’s medical staff.

Major Nguyen Thi Hong, who looked after General Secretary Trong over the past four years, said the Party leader was a simple, plain, and gentle person who left a lasting impression on the doctors and nurses.

“For us, the general secretary is an example of plainness, simplicity, and sincerity. He cared about the lives of medical workers," Hong recalled.

“Whenever he met us, he always asked about our children’s studies, their ages, and if we faced any difficulties."

When he admired the Red River near the hospital and walked along the corridors, he always talked with others happily, she narrated.

“He was close-knit with us like family, a father, an uncle, and always sympathized with the hardships of doctors and nurses," Hong said.

“We learned gentility and dedication to work from him."

Looking at the room where General Secretary Trong stayed during his last days, Hong said in a voice choked with emotion, “Even after the general secretary had left this room, our eyes were still on the room when we returned the next day.”

She added that the daily tasks during the time of caring for him remained vivid in their minds, noting that the general secretary left them with a lot of affection.

Special memories

Hong recalled that after hard working hours, Party General Secretary Trong sometimes humorously shared simple and rustic stories.

Outside the treatment room, a wooden table and chairs were arranged in the corridor for him. He would sit there to watch the Red River at dawn and dusk.

Hong said she admired the Party chief’s extraordinary working spirit, adding that he almost had no time to rest.

Besides his time for drinking tea and exercising in the morning, he spent his days reading newspapers, working, and receiving guests.

When he felt tired, he would ask to take a rest, Hong recounted.

She said it was her honor and luck to sit next to Party General Secretary Trong during his meals.

“We encouraged him to eat more because when he ate more, he got healthier,” she admitted.

His favorite dish was yogurt, Hong said.

The nurse added that the Party chief was also fond of sprouted peanut candies. There was a jar of sprouted peanut candies on his table, and he often shared them with the medical workers.

The Party leader also loved singing the song 'Bai ca Bac Son' (Song of Bac Son) and often sang it with medical workers at the hospital.

The lyrics of the song remain in the minds of each of the medical workers who directly took care of General Secretary Trong.

When medical workers helped him with physical therapy in the corridor, he sometimes recited poems about landscapes and life and shared the hardships of the hospital employees.

The exemplary, simple, and approachable leader is a lesson for the medical workers, inspiring them to continue striving, dedicating themselves, and fulfilling their mission of taking care of public health.

Vietnam holds a two-day state funeral on July 25 and 26, 2024 for General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong.

He lies in state at the National Funeral Hall at No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street in Hanoi.

The respect-paying ceremony for Party General Secretary Trong is held at the National Funeral Hall from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm on July 25 and from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm on July 26.

It is followed by a memorial service at 1:00 pm on July 26.

A burial service for the Party chief takes place from 3:00 pm on the same day at Mai Dich Cemetery in Hanoi.

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