Address of love and desire to live

In recent days, the story of Ho Chi Minh City converting land plot No. 1 Ly Thai To, Vuon Lai Ward into a park and building a memorial to pay tribute to frontline forces and victims who died in the COVID-19 pandemic has made many people feel sad and appreciative. This is not only a place to preserve urban memories and expand public cultural spaces, but also a memorial for tens of thousands of compatriots, officers and soldiers who have passed away forever in the pandemic.

Land plot No. 1, Ly Thai To street, Vuon Lai ward. Photo: tphcm.chinhphu.vn

A gentle, profound reminder

Although many years have passed, just mentioning the COVID-19 pandemic still makes many city residents feel heartbroken. The days when the city fell into an unprecedented "epidemic storm": quiet streets; blockades; ambulance sirens wailing in the quiet air... Many children suddenly became orphans after just one afternoon. Many families lost loved ones without even having a chance to say goodbye.

More than 23,000 people have left their families, loved ones, and communities in silence and tears. Therefore, when the information that Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang proposed to build a park and memorial for COVID-19 victims on the above land made many people really moved - that is the city's care and gratitude for the deceased compatriots and soldiers.

After more than 4 years of being a single father, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Thai (living on Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, old Binh Thanh District) still cannot forget the last days of his wife, who used to support people in difficulty: giving gifts, food, and encouraging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19...

“Recalling the past makes everyone feel sad, but at the end of her life, my wife did many meaningful things, helping many people… Now, building a memorial has great significance, not only for the past, for the tens of thousands of people who have passed away, but also to remind the living of their responsibilities and obligations to the community…”, Mr. Thai shared.

The COVID-19 pandemic also caused Ms. Le Thi Phuong, a resident of Vinh Hoi ward, to lose three relatives in just three days.
According to Ms. Phuong, the city's plan to build a park and memorial for COVID-19 victims has touched the hearts of many people. This is not only an architectural work but also a gentle, profound reminder that: We have experienced too great a loss, so we know how to cherish the life we ​​have today.

Although the shape of the project is not yet clear, Mr. Thai, Ms. Phuong and many people still believe that this meaningful project will become an address of love and the desire to live.

Remember to live better every day

When asked about the city's plan to build a park and memorial, Mr. Le Quoc Duy, a resident of Binh Hung Commune, Ho Chi Minh City, said that this is a very meaningful work and believes that people across the country will support it. A park, a memorial, not only to remember the past days and those who have passed away, but also to honor humanity during the pandemic.

“At that time, although the front line was fierce, the rear always devoted themselves to the front line. This shows that in hardship and difficulty, humanity is above all, that is the Vietnamese people's humanity of yesterday, today and tomorrow…”, Mr. Duy shared.

During the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Le Thi Bich Hanh, former President of the District 5 Labor Federation, was always active on many roads and alleys; always remembering the stories of "3 on-site, 2 destinations, 1 route" to take care of the safety of workers. "The city was deserted at that time, there were many cases of workers' families in the factory not being able to see their family members at home and there were even cases of children following their parents to quarantine camps... so pitiful. Those were unforgettable days," Ms. Hanh shared.

According to Ms. Hanh, the pandemic is over but the lessons about humanity and the resilient vitality of the City are still valuable. “Commemorating is not to make us sadder, but to know that we need to live more kindly every day. It will be a space, a destination of love, a desire to live and the will of the Vietnamese people in the most severe challenges,” Ms. Hanh expressed.

From that profound humanistic meaning, many people believe that the project should be planned into an open space, with lots of trees and harmonious landscape so that people can come to heal and soothe their pain. The monument is not only for the deceased, but also for those who remain so that each person can remind themselves to live better with their family and community.

Ms. Than Ngoc Huong, wife of Dr. Trinh Huu Nhan, who died in the fight against the pandemic, wanted the project to be designed simply but rich in symbolic meaning. “There is no need to be ostentatious, just need to touch the hearts of every city resident, so that they can see in it the silhouettes of their loved ones, those who have silently sacrificed, contributing to creating today's peace,” Ms. Huong said.

Former Deputy Chief Architect of Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Vo Kim Cuong said that the memorial needs to be associated with functional items such as: Green space symbolizing regeneration; area displaying documents and images about the pandemic; place to organize annual memorials; and at the same time connect with community activities to educate the younger generation about the spirit of solidarity of the city's people. This is not only an address of memory but also of the future. Looking back to appreciate life today, knowing responsibility for the community tomorrow.

It can be said that a memorial space deserves to be expected to become a “spiritual address”, a place where the city bows in remembrance and also a place to remind each person to cherish the life they have. Remembering is not to be sad forever, but to love more deeply and live better every day.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/dia-chi-cua-tinh-yeu-thuong-va-khat-vong-song-20251104154824820.htm