~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

[Year 1997]
[Year 1998]
[Year 1999]
[Year 2000]
[Year 2001]

Vietnam elder statesman Dong gravely ill-sources

HANOI - Vietnam elder statesman Pham Van Dong, one of the country's most prominent 20th century figures, has been hospitalised and is gravely ill, sources close to the former prime minister said on Wednesday.

They said Dong, who is in his mid-90s, had recently been admitted to Military Hospital 108 in Hanoi and was suffering a variety of undisclosed ailments.
Under Vietnam's communist system, the health of current and former leaders is generally kept a state secret.

``He is gravely ill at the moment,'' said one source. Dong played a frontstage role throughout one of the most turbulent periods in Vietnam's history and in terms of stature is ranked alongside military veteran, General Vo Nguyen Giap, and was considered close to the late president, Ho Chi Minh.
He served as prime minister for more than three decades until 1987.

Reuters - October 13, 1999.