A heart in the heart of the city

Ly Thai To Park No. 1 has now become an integral part of the daily life of Ho Chi Minh City residents. It's a heart in the city, and surrounding that heart are not just memories, but, more importantly, revival and continuity.

Báo Tuổi Trẻ•31/05/2026

A heart full of love and remembrance for the city dwellers who perished in the pandemic, and for the losses suffered by those who remain.

A peaceful heart, where from early morning, midday to late evening, countless city dwellers choose this place as a resting spot, a place to visit, and a place to have fun… A heart that, even just recently, has become familiar in the rhythm of city life.

A heart filled with faith and love for the future of the city, modern and humane. Just like how Ly Thai To Park No. 1 was formed, from a swift decision and equally swift implementation. To have the heart of the city today.

Early in the morning, the first rays of sunlight illuminate the central lake of Ly Thai To Park, featuring a heart-shaped water droplet with a gap.

Occasionally, people stand silently in front of the central lake for quite a while. Amidst the passing crowds and soothing music , the space around the iconic water droplet remains a place where many choose to linger.

Every few days, someone would quietly place bouquets of flowers by the central lake. No sign, no message, just a few stems of flowers lying at the edge of the lake.

Viewed from above, Ly Thai To Park No. 1, nestled amidst densely packed urban buildings, offers an additional green space. At the inauguration ceremony on February 12th, the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Nguyen Van Duoc, praised the project as having profound humanitarian significance, a place where people can return to remember and cherish the past. He also thanked the construction and consulting teams, as well as Sun Group, for completing the project after 90 days and nights of work.

The teardrop design is inspired by the moment a droplet falls, creating a depression like an indentation on the ground. Inside is a heart shape, a detail that has led many to call this place "the heart within a heart."

Every morning, as the city awakens, footsteps steadily make their way to the park. Pedestrians, joggers, people practicing Tai Chi, playing badminton... all contribute to the familiar scene we see today.

Security guards and cleaning staff say that people who come here are very conscientious about keeping the common space clean; no one litters, unlike the situation often seen in some other parks. Their daily work mainly involves sweeping fallen leaves.

There was a time when face masks were synonymous with the city's toughest days. Today, amidst the crowds exercising, playing, and strolling freely in the park, the scene is quite different.

When the water show began, people gradually gathered around the central lake. From the walkways to the open spaces along the lake's edge, many people sat in groups to watch the show and chat.

Ms. My Linh (66 years old, from Long Xuyen) shared that this was her second time visiting Ly Thai To Park No. 1 with her family. Sitting by the central lake watching the water show, she recalled the COVID-19 pandemic period when the whole country, and especially Ho Chi Minh City, went through difficult times, many people were affected, and some were no longer alive.

Even after the water fountain show ended, many people lingered around the central lake. Throughout the day, from early morning to late evening, the park became a gathering space for families and children in the heart of the city, culminating in the reflections of lights on the water and the teardrop-shaped water droplets resembling a heart.