He died last Monday following months of treatment at the 108 Military Hospital in Hanoi.

In a message to Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong, Chinese President Xi Jinping extended "the deepest condolences" to the party, government and people of Vietnam and Anh’s family.

"Comrade Le Duc Anh made a great contribution to the cause of national development of Vietnam and made unremitting efforts for the advancement of China-Vietnam relations," Xinhua quoted him as saying.

The Chinese leader also expressed belief that under the strong leadership of the general secretary, the party, government and people of Vietnam would transform their grief into strength and "constantly record new achievements in the cause of socialist construction."

Close friend

Singaporean President Halimah Yacob expressed her "sincere condolences," saying her country has "lost a close friend."

"While in office, President Anh played an important role in deepening the bilateral relations between Singapore and Vietnam," Channel News Asia quoted her as saying.

"His Presidency took place at a time when relations between our two countries were growing rapidly. This included the establishment of the first Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in 1996, which has now become a flagship of our bilateral ties."

The president of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, posted a message of condolence on his Twitter account.

He called Anh "a close friend" who had contributed to the close bilateral ties between Vietnam and Cuba.

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, Daniel Kritenbrink, said: "During his leadership, Vietnam began reforms that helped build significant economic growth and development for the country. We send our sympathies to Le Duc Anh’s family, his loved ones, and to the people of Vietnam."

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen was among world leaders to pay tribute to the deceased former president.

The government of Laos expressed condolences over his passing and deeply appreciated his huge contributions to Vietnam’s independence, protection and establishment process over the last 80 years.

Vietnam has declared two days of official mourning on May 3 and 4 and a state funeral.

On the two days, government offices and public places will fly the national flag at half-mast, and no public entertainment events will be held.

Anh’s body will lie in state at the National Funeral Home at 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi, where people can pay their respect from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on May 3.

A memorial service will be held from 11 a.m. and he will be buried at the Martyrs’ Cemetery in Ho Chi Minh City at 5 p.m. the same day.

Memorial services will also be held at the same time at the Independence Palace in HCMC and his hometown in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

Born in 1920 in Phu Loc District, Anh joined the revolution in 1937 and became a member of the Communist Party a year later.

Anh held many positions in the army, served as Minister of National Defense from 1987 to 1991, and in September 1992 was elected president, a position he retained until 1997.