SINGAPORE : Singapore's leaders have expressed their condolences over the death of Vietnam's former prime minister, Vo Van Kiet.

The ex-premier was admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital on June 3 with "unspecified ailments", and passed away on Wednesday morning. He was 85.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in his letter to his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung, said Mr Kiet was an "old friend of Singapore", who did much to promote close bilateral ties.

Mr Kiet is widely credited for transforming Vietnam's economy during his tenure from 1991-1997.

In separate letters to Mr Kiet's widow, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong highlighted Mr Kiet's key role in bringing Vietnam into the ASEAN grouping, while Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said the former premier was a visionary leader who took the country through a period of great transition. - CNA /ls