General Giap's funeral salutes Vietnam hero Crowds chanted General Giap's name as his flag-draped coffin passed by He died aged 102 and was revered only second to his mentor Ho Chi Minh Communist party chiefs sidelined him after the war with America Hundreds of thousands of mourners flooded the streets of Vietnam's capital today to bid a final farewell to legendary war hero General Vo Nguyen Giap. He is credited with leading his country to victory over the French and then the Americans. 'Long live General Vo Nguyen Giap,' people chanted, many in tears, as his flag-draped coffin passed by on a truck-drawn artillery carriage. Farewell: Vietnamese president Truong Tan Sang, left, Communist party chiefs and soldiers carry the coffin of General Vo Nguyen Giap to an artillery cart at the National Funeral House in Hanoi People's champion: General Giap was sidelined by Communist party chiefs and later criticised regime Crowds of people, both young and old, lined the route, in places 10 deep, as the procession travelled along a 25-mile route from the national funeral house in Hanoi to the airport. In mourning: A woman holds a portrait of General. Vo Nguyen Giap as she waits for his coffin to pass Giap, who died on October 4th aged 102, was revered in Vietnam only second to his mentor, former President Ho Chi Minh. Alongside the public outpouring of emotion, the government orchestrated an elaborate two-day state send-off for the general, seeking to use the moment to foster national unity at a time of discontent and economic problems. His coffin had been lying in state at the National Funeral Hall in Hanoi, draped in the national flag before soldiers in white uniforms removed the flag and carried the red coffin from the hall while other soldiers, bearing a photograph of the general went ahead of them. The coffin was then placed on a gun carriage, the flag replaced, and a glass canopy lifted on top of it. Gen Giap's family, wearing black, stood nearby as the procession began. After the war, Giap was sidelined by the Communist Party, and toward the end of his life emerged as something of a critic, shielded from consequence because of his popularity. State-controlled media has eulogised him since his death, but neglected to mention that chapter of his life. Hero: Soldiers carry a portrait of General Vo Nguyen Giap during the funeral procession in Hanoi Send-off: Soldiers place the coffin of General Vo Nguyen Giap on an artillery cart at the National Funeral House Gun carriage salute: Soldiers place the glass cover on the general's coffin Ritual: Soldiers prepare incenses before the general's funeral procession. He was credited with masterminding the deafeat of the French and the U.S. 'You, comrade, have made a great and excellent contribution to the revolutionary cause of our party and nation,' Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong said at the funeral house. Your personality and your great contribution were strongly imprinted in the heart of the people. Following the state ceremony, Giap's body was flown to his home province of Quang Binh in central Vietnam, with hundreds of thousands of people lining the 43-mile route from the airport to his burial site. Many held portraits, saying they wanted to bid the general farewell. Praying: Mourners clasp their hands in prayer as the car taking the general to the airport goes past them Crowds: Men, women and children lined the procession route, some 10 deep, taking pictures and waving at the coffin Final journey: Vietnamese soldiers transport the artillery cart carrying the coffin to the airport in Hanoi Saluting a legend: Vietnamese military officials salute the convoy carrying the coffin as it passes by the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Respect: Veteran military personel line up to say farewell to their comrade near the National Funeral House My hero: A girl holds a picture of General Giap during the procession as a soldier salutes the man who became a legend to his people Vietnam war veteran and local resident Phan Thanh Cong said local people were proud that the general had chosen this location for his final resting place. 'It is our greatest happiness to be close to him,' he said. The ceremony was attended by President Truong Tan Sang and other top officials and broadcast live on state television. Giap was buried in Quang Binh instead of the Mai Dich cemetery in Hanoi, where most high-ranking Vietnamese officials are traditionally buried, in accordance with his and his family's wishes. He is best remembered for leading Vietnamese forces to victory over the French at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. People hold up portraits of Vietnamese late Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap as hundreds of thousands of people line to his burial site in Mui Rong, Quang Binh province Final resting place: The coffin of the General Nguyen Giap is placed for burial as hundreds of thousands of people line the site Flower power: Mourners hold flowers and pictures of the general as they gather at his burial site In line: Scores of soldiers walk to the burial site in the general's home province His Chinese advisers told him to strike elite French forces fast and hard, but Giap changed plans at the last minute and ordered his jungle troops, clad in sandals made of old car tires, to besiege the French army. The French were defeated after 56 days, and the unlikely victory led not only to Vietnam's independence, but hastened the collapse of colonialism across Indochina and beyond. No words can describe how much love and respect people reserve for Gen. Giap," 71-year-old Nguyen Thi Vi, from the central province of Ha Tinh, said as she waited in the crowd in Hanoi 'I feel like I lost one of my relatives,' she said. Gen. Giap will live forever in the heart of Vietnamese people and we may not witness another great man like him. We should set up temples to honor him and where people can go and pay their respect.