COVID-19 Memorial: Mobilizing Social Intelligence for an Eternal Symbol

The memorial project for COVID-19 victims is expected to be located at plot No. 1 Ly Thai To, Vuon Lai ward, Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: PHUONG NHI

In Vietnam there are many monuments but perhaps this is one of the most difficult types of questions and contains the greatest expectations of all the people of Ho Chi Minh City.

Building a green park and putting it into use early is not difficult, but creating a symbol (temporarily called that) of the COVID-19 pandemic is not easy.

These days, architects, sculptors, painters, designers, culturalists, sociologists, historians... have been discussing enthusiastically and are still wondering about many questions.

First question, is this a memorial to COVID-19 victims or a monument to mark a historical event with the heroic deeds of the people of Ho Chi Minh City?

Everyone sees that the nearly two years of the COVID pandemic have been the most terrible time in this city since 1975.

It captures not only the ultimate loss and grief, but also the resilient fighting spirit against the epidemic and the immense compassion of the people.

If it were just a memorial to remind the 23,000 victims who passed away, a stele recording the severe mental damage to the people and the material loss to the city, it would not be enough;

It must acknowledge the noble and selfless sacrifices of doctors, nurses, military forces, police, militia, government, and organizations. And more than that, the extremely affectionate sharing of the city's people from grains of rice, eggs, pills, oxygen tanks to handshakes and tears.

Should it be a monumental complex or a large relief with a focal point being an eternal symbol like a flame or an infinity waterfall?

It must reflect the spirit and tradition of the people of this city from the past to the present, never forgetting pain and loss but remaining resilient, heroic and loyal in all situations.

Medical staff working at the Emergency Department of Thu Duc City COVID Intensive Care Hospital - Photo: DUYEN PHAN

Second question, is it just a memorial or a memorial space.

These two concepts are different, a memorial is simply a physical mass depicting a theme (here understood as the loss of the victim), while a larger memorial space not only has a monument, stele but also a memorial house displaying artifacts, images, sounds of that historical moment and may also have a traditional altar and a resting place for thousands of orphans and people from all over the country to visit.

Third question, is this a public park or a theme park? That is, is the memorial located within the park or is it separate in a separate area within the park?

In the common sense, a public park is a place for recreation and relaxation. There are free activities such as walking, dancing, sports , children's play areas, food courts and sometimes fairs. People dress freely without any rules.

In such a space, is it appropriate to have a memorial to the deceased and an incense burner? Usually, in public parks there are cheerful decorative statues, but if there are monuments, they tend to be of cultural celebrities or national heroes.

Invite people nationwide to contribute ideas for the COVID-19 Victims Memorial Project in Ho Chi Minh City

Whether we like it or not, Ly Thai To Park No. 1 needs a name and it will be a multi-purpose park, not simply an amusement park. It will be a lifelong project of Ho Chi Minh City, so the memorial part should be delayed a bit, not necessarily before Tet 2026, it can be inaugurated on November 19, 2026 (November 19 is the day to commemorate the victims). From now until then, a full year, enough time to complete the idea and realize it in reality.

Around the world, memorial spaces are often designed with their own unique language and landscape, such as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a site in the center of Hiroshima City, Japan, built to commemorate the victims of the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945.

This park has items such as a memorial for victims, a museum, a monument to child victims, a peace flame, a peace bell, an exhibition space, and a workshop. The park is open to the public but is not for entertainment or food, but for the purpose of commemoration and expressing the wish for peace.

COVID-19 Memorial - 3 Important Things to Do

In my opinion, the city should carry out three important tasks in the near future:

First, a contest or forum for ideas on parks and memorials. The purpose is to collect contributions from personalities and experts in the fields of history, culture, sociology, anthropology and people, in order to gather the most valuable ideas. From there, the city leaders have enough theoretical basis and information to set the topic for the second contest.

The second is an international technical design competition to realize the ideas gained from the first competition on park space and memorial, attracting the best projects from architects, designers, sculptors and artists at home and abroad.

The final step is a public exhibition of models and drawings, and online publication for public viewing and comments.