Vietnam: What is the definition of memorial service? What are the regulations on the high-level memorial service? Who is eligible to be held a high-level memorial service?
What is the definition of memorial service in Vietnam?
A memorial service is a religious or cultural activity, usually held to remember and pay tribute to the deceased.
The memorial service is held to:
- Describe the biography of the deceased while alive.
- Express the grief and sorrow of alive persons.
- Pray for the soul of the deceased
Who is eligible to be held a high-level memorial service in Vietnam?
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 34 of Decree 105/2012/ND-CP as follows:
Titles eligible to be held high-level funerals
1. Cadres and civil servants who hold or resign from positions managed by the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee (except for titles entitled to state funerals and state funerals); Cadres who participated in revolutionary activities prior to January 1, 1945 (revolutionary veterans) or cadres who operated in the South during the anti-American period (1954-1975) were awarded the first-class “Independence Order” or higher; typical social, cultural and scientific activists (awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize - individual award) and awarded the first-class “Independence Order” or higher; typical social, cultural and scientific activists (awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize - individual award) who are Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, Heroes of Labor who are working or retired upon death are entitled to hold high-level funerals.
2. In case the deceased holds one of the titles specified in Clause 1 of this Article but is disciplined by demotion or dismissal, the funeral ceremony shall be held in the form of a funeral ceremony for cadres, civil servants or public employees.
In accordance with the above provisions, the titles eligible to be held a high-level memorial service in Vietnam include:
- Cadres and civil servants who hold or resign from positions managed by the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee (except for titles entitled to state funerals and state funerals)
- Cadres who participated in revolutionary activities prior to January 1, 1945 (revolutionary veterans) or cadres who operated in the South during the anti-American period (1954-1975) were awarded the first-class “Independence Order” or higher;
- Typical social, cultural, and scientific activists (awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize - individual award) and awarded the first-class “Independence Order” or higher
- Typical social, cultural, and scientific activists (awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize - individual award) who are Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, Heroes of Labor who are working or retired upon death are entitled to hold high-level funerals
What are the regulations on the high-level memorial service in Vietnam?
(1) Participants in the high-level memorial service:
Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 43 of Decree 105/2012/ND-CP, participants in the high-level memorial service in Vietnam include:
Funeral Organizing Committee, representatives of agencies and organizations where the deceased worked before death; locality of hometown or place of residence of the deceased and their family and relatives
(2) Location of delegations attending the memorial service
Pursuant to Clause 2, Article 43 of Decree 105/2012/ND-CP stipulating the location of delegations attending the memorial service in Vietnam as follows:
Location of delegations attending the memorial service (in the direction of looking up at the ceremony):
- The family stands on the left side of the funeral hall;
- Leaders of agencies and localities stand on the right side of the funeral hall;
- Other delegations stand as arranged by the Funeral Organising Committee.
(3) Memorial Service Program:
Pursuant to Clause 3, Article 43 of Decree 105/2012/ND-CP stipulating the Memorial Service Program as follows:
- Representatives of the Funeral Organizing Committee declare the memorial service;
- The head of the Funeral Organizing Committee reads the eulogy, declares a minute of silence, and ends the memorial service;
- During the memorial service, the Military Band plays "Hồn Sĩ Tử".
What are the vehicles used for high-level funerals in Vietnam?
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 15 of Circular 86/2016/TT-BQP as follows:
Vehicles used for funerals
1. Vehicles used for funeral ceremonies include: 01 (one) command vehicle; 01 (one) Military flag vehicle, photo, medal price; 01 (one) honor unit vehicle (if the honor unit has 03 forces, 03 vehicles will be used); 01 (one) flower truck; 01 (one) coffin trailer or coffin truck; from 03 (three) to 04 (four) funeral vehicles; 02 (two) Funeral Organising Committee vehicles.
Use of coffin trailers for military titles and ranks specified in Clauses 1, 2 and 3, Article 9 of this Circular for sacrifice or death to organize funeral, cremation and burial in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; use coffin trucks for remaining military titles and ranks specified in Article 9 of this Circular who die or die. Special cases, to be considered and decided by the Minister of Defense.
In case the funeral ceremony presided over by the Ministry of Defense has 02 (two) information vehicles, 01 (one) ambulance, 01 (one) spare vehicle; at the same time, arrange guide vehicles or coordinate with local police to arrange police vehicles to guide the way.
2. Military flag vehicles, honorary unit vehicles, coffin or spirit vehicles, flower vehicles (called ceremonial vehicles) are stipulated as follows:
a) Funeral ceremonies shall be held at the funeral home of the Military Hospital in the city of Hanoi, and the ceremonial vehicle shall be conducted by the Military Ceremonial Corps; at agencies and units in the city of Hanoi, to be carried out by the unit in charge of organizing the funeral ceremony in agreement with the Military Ceremonial Corps;
b) Funeral ceremonies held at military hospital funeral homes in Ho Chi Minh City, ceremonial vehicles conducted by the 7th Military Region; at agencies and units in Ho Chi Minh City, implemented by the unit in charge of organizing the funeral ceremony in coordination and agreement with the 7th Military Zone;
c/ Outside the areas specified at Points a and b of this Clause, the unit in charge of organizing the funeral ceremony shall coordinate with the local military district.
3. Vehicles serving the Funeral Organizing Committee, vehicles serving families, and vehicles carrying mourners, shall be carried out by the unit in charge of organizing the funeral ceremony.
Article 16. Other contents
1. Military music for visitation, memorial service and funeral ceremony shall comply with the provisions of Articles 42, 43 and 45 of Decree No. 105/2012/ND-CP.
2. The place where the funeral ceremony is held; burial place; decorating the monument; wreaths, visitations, memorial services; Funeral services; Grave Lowering Ceremony; construction of grave shells and expenses shall comply with the provisions of Articles 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46 of Decree No. 105/2012/ND-CP and the provisions of this Circular. Special cases, are to be considered and decided by the Minister of Defense.
3. The funeral ceremony of a deceased general-level officer shall be organized according to military rites at home in Hanoi city decided by the Head of the General Staff to mobilize forces and vehicles; in other areas decided by the heads of units under the Central Military Commission to mobilize forces and vehicles.
Accordingly, vehicles used for high-level funerals in Vietnam shall comply with the above provisions.
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