On October 4th 2013, Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap, a Vietnam War heoro, departed this life in 108 Hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam. This event became the biggest State Funeral since that of President Ho Chi Minh in 1969.  Over ten days, almost one million people from every corner of country lined up in front of the General’s house to say last farewells to one of the greatest national heroes. On October 13th the funeral took place in Hanoi and was broadcast on national television and witnessed by 90 million Vietnamese people. As his body was brought from Hanoi to Quang Binh, thousands of people gathered on both sides of the streets grieving, praying, and crying.

The death of Vo Nguyen Giap belongs to Spectacular Death, the new type of death mentality common in the late 20th and 21st century. Funerals in the 21st century are highly visible on mass media, especially when celebrities, politicians, or famous people pass away. The funeral of Vo Nguyen Giap was broadcast on national channel VTV1 and reported by hundreds of  Vietnamese and international newspapers. In 21st century we also witness the re-ritualization of death. In the video, the funeral of Vo Nguyen Giap was organized with all important ritual steps based on traditional Vietnamese culture and Buddhist ideologies.

However, there are some characteristics from other death mentalities, especially the My Death and Your Death mentality. Vo Nguyen Giap had decided that he wanted to be brought to his hometown after dying. This is the attitude of My Death, which makes clear that people think about their afterlife and how to deal with their dead body. At the same time, people grieved and cried as if they couldn't accept the deaht of Vo Nguyen Giap, which is a characteristic of the Your Death mentality. 

For many deacades after The War, Vietnamese people were brought together, we shared the same emotions, and we cried, mourned, sympathized with each other. Vo Nguyen Giap once again had the influence to create history.