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In recent days, the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has left behind boundless sorrow for the Vietnamese people and international friends. Images of the General Secretary during his lifetime have been recalled by press agencies, media, and social networks, leaving a strong impression of a simple, close, friendly leader, devoted to the country and the people.
In those “films”, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was always protected by two access officers from the Department of Protection of Party and State Leaders of the Guard Command, Ministry of Public Security.
Those loyal guards were Colonel Nguyen Quoc Hoan and Colonel Nguyen Kim Ninh.
Colonel Hoan (circled in red on the right) and Colonel Ninh (circled in red on the left) (Photo: Guard Command).
Bodyguard of the General Secretary for 27 years
At the 4th Conference of the 8th Party Central Committee (December 1997), General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong – then Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee – was elected to the Politburo.
Implementing the guard regime for Politburo members, in early 1998, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoan – then a cadre, now Deputy Head of Department – was one of two Guard officers assigned to carry out the task of protecting and approaching General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
According to the Guard Command, Colonel Nguyen Quoc Hoan is an officer with strong political will and solid professional qualifications. In addition, Colonel Hoan has a careful, meticulous, thoughtful, proactive, and creative personality in the process of performing his duties.
Colonel Hoan (left edge) protects General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong during a visit to the weapons bunker used to attack the Independence Palace in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, in 2018 (Photo: Huu Khoa).
For 27 years, Colonel Nguyen Quoc Hoan has been honored to be trusted, loved and chosen by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as an access protection officer.
As a close and loyal bodyguard, accompanying General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on business trips at home and abroad, when the General Secretary was still healthy as well as when his health was poor, Colonel Nguyen Quoc Hoan always completed his assigned tasks, and together with his teammates, ensured absolute security and safety for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
In particular, Colonel Hoan is considered a family member by the General Secretary and his wife.