Vietnam Holds Large-Scale Memorial for COVID-19 Victims

A large-scale artistic program, "Nghĩa tình Phương Nam - Cùng con đi tiếp cuộc đời" (Southern Gratitude - Continuing Life with Children), was held in Ho Chi Minh City on the evening of September 16th to commemorate victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event drew thousands of citizens and prominent singers, including Đàm Vĩnh Hưng, Quang Dũng, and Uyên Linh. A poignant moment of the ceremony was a minute of silence observed by over 1,000 attendees for those who passed away during the pandemic. Candles and flowers were placed around the "Giọt nước" (Water Drop) monument at the center of the venue. Participants held up their phone flashlights to their left chests, forming a circle around the monument. Many were moved to tears as documentary footage played, showing images of ambulances at night and the sounds of medical equipment from ICU rooms. The opening skit depicted the complex period of the pandemic and the story of a young girl who became an orphan. The performance featured child actor Lý Gia Hân and artists Bảo Sơn and Trang Tuyền. The MC engaged in conversations with several children orphaned by COVID-19. Among them was 14-year-old Nguyễn Lê Ngọc Anh, whose father died from the virus. Her mother, suffering from long-term health issues due to COVID-19, struggles to perform heavy labor while raising her two young children. Ngọc Anh cherishes her father's old phone, which contains many family memories. Hoàng Ngân, 10 years old, also shed tears while watching the program from the audience and was comforted by university students. Her father passed away in 2021, but she was only five at the time and doesn't recall much of that period. Dr. Trương Vĩnh Long, director of Gia An 115 Hospital, stated that the "war feels like it just ended yesterday" in his memory. He recalled not the urgent sirens or the sweat-soaked protective gear, but the bewildered eyes of patients facing the brink of death and the exhausted yet determined gazes of medical staff working through the nights. He highlighted that the greatest pain left by the pandemic is the thousands of orphaned children. The organizing committee announced that nearly 4,400 children nationwide lost one or both parents due to the pandemic. In Ho Chi Minh City alone, over 2,300 children are in this situation. Businessman Johnathan Hạnh Nguyễn, a sponsor of the event, donated 10 billion VND (approximately $400,000 USD) and urged everyone to contribute, "even a little, with a lot of heart," to support these children. Musical performances were interspersed to convey the program's message. Singer Đàm Vĩnh Hưng performed "Hãy cho con một mái nhà" (Give Children a Home) alongside Ngọc Anh. Uyên Linh sang "Mẹ yêu con" (Mother, I Love My Child), recreating scenes of volunteers assisting in returning the ashes of the deceased to their families. Quang Dũng performed Trịnh Công Sơn's "Để gió cuốn đi" (Let the Wind Carry It Away). Đức Tuấn presented "Cùng con đi tiếp cuộc đời" (Continuing Life with Children) with the Sơn Ca children's choir. Singers Quốc Đại, Quang Hà, and the Mắt Ngọc group conveyed optimism through the song "Sống như những đóa hoa" (Live Like Flowers). The music night was organized by Thanh Niên newspaper in collaboration with the Southern Regional Center of Vietnam Television (VTV). The program was directed by Nguyễn Minh Hoàng and Trần Hòa Yên from VTV's Direction and Cinematography Department.