Nguyen Phu Trong, the general secretary of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party, has died at the age of 80 after battling months of ill health. The official announcement was made by the Nhan Dan newspaper, stating that Trong passed away on July 19, 2024, at the 108 Central Military Hospital in Hanoi due to old age and serious illness.
Trong, who had been at the forefront of Vietnamese politics since 2011 when he was elected party chief, played a significant role in consolidating the Communist Party's power within Vietnam's single-party political system. He was known for his staunch stance against corruption, considering it a grave threat to the party's legitimacy.
