Hanoi, Vietnam, July 13, 2009 --- Ha Manh Thu, AVC B/A member and Former Secretary General of Vietnam Volleyball Federation, passed away July 11 evening after a long illness. He died of intestine cancer at the age of 69.

FIVB President Jizhong Wei, learning the sad news, sent a letter of condolence today to his family, expressing his sorrows. The FIVB president said that "His passing is a great loss not only to your family but also to the Volleyball Family. He was a fine gentleman, well loved and admired by all who knew him. His hard working and uncomplaining spirit to the development of the Volleyball is unforgettable by all of us."

AVC President Dr. Saleh Bin Nasser said "We are greatly shocked to learn with deep sorrow of the passing away of Mr. Ha Manh Thu. His passing is a great loss not only to your family but also to the AVC family. He was our most distinguished and respected B/A Member, who had dedicated all his energies throughout his life to the development of Asian Volleyball."

The Asian volleyball family also mourned the passing of Vietnamese Ha Manh Thu, the key person behind the significant development of Vietnam's volleyball.

For the past 20 years, Ha had dedicated his whole life to the development of Vietnam's volleyball. A former Secretary-General of Volleyball Federation of Vietnam, the retired Ha gave the federation his kind support. Ha was also a member in the AVC Board of Administration Committee for many years..