Tran Dai Quang 1956-2018: Vietnam begins two-day state mourning for late president

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In Vietnam, the state funeral for the late President Tran Dai Quang began on Wednesday. The proceedings will last for 2 days before President Quang is buried in his home province of Ninh Binh, east of the capital Hanoi. President Quang, only 61, had been in office since 2016. Despite his brief term, his death is being felt by many, as Tony Cheng reports from Hanoi.

Preparations underway in a Hanoi funeral parlor.

Printed banners mourn the passing of President Tran Dai Quang to be hung on floral wreaths, prepared in the back.

Outside the National Funeral hall, as mourners arrived, security was tight.

President Quang was a former policeman, and Minister of National Security.

The honor guard at attention, saluting one of their own.

Inside, Vietnam's most senior leaders had come to pay their respects, the General Secretary of the Communist party lighting incense in tribute.

President Quang came to power with this group of leaders in 2016 conservatives, after a period of reform.

In his short term, he achieved much, including visits with two US presidents.

But recent appearances suggested poor health, and according to his doctors, he'd been treated for a serious illness, at home and overseas, for over a year.

Nonetheless, his passing was clearly being felt keenly as hundreds queued outside to pay their respects.

TONY CHENG HANOI "We've seen a steady flow of high level government officials and foreign dignitaries, ambassadors coming in. This cortège coming in from Cambodia bringing in diplomats to pay their respects, but we've also seen a lot of ordinary Vietnamese arriving, coming on foot to say a final farewell to President Quang."

For an older generation, President Quang was a link to a glorious past.

DOAN THI LOAN, 78 "I'm from a revolutionary family, so I came here to pay my respects to him. We are the children and grandchildren of Ho Chi Minh. We need to follow his teaching."

NGUYEN VAN CHUC, 82 "Mr. Quang was one of the great students of Ho Chi Minh. He was like an Uncle, and a brother to the people."

But in modern Vietnam, everything is about looking forward.

President Quang was charged with bringing the core beliefs of the Party, to a society that is developing fast and his legacy may well be that the growth is still on track. Tony Cheng, CGTN, Hanoi, Vietnam.