Vietnam Holds Large-Scale Memorial for COVID-19 Victims

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, September 16 – Thousands of attendees and renowned singers, including Đàm Vĩnh Hưng, Quang Dũng, and Uyên Linh, gathered at the "Water Drop" statue in Lý Thái Tổ Park to commemorate victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. The artistic program, "Nghĩa tình Phương Nam - Cùng con đi tiếp cuộc đời" (Southern Sentiments - Continuing Life with Children), culminated in a poignant moment where over 1,000 participants observed a minute of silence for those lost to the virus. Candles and flowers were placed in a central circle around the "Water Drop" monument. Many attendees held up their phone flashlights to their chests, some weeping as the organizers played archival footage depicting ambulances at night and the sounds of medical equipment from ICU rooms. A performance opened the event, evoking memories of the pandemic's complex stages. Child actor Lý Gia Hân, alongside artists Bảo Sơn and Trang Tuyền, portrayed a family whose happiness was shattered by the pandemic, leaving the young girl orphaned. During a segment, MCs engaged in conversations with several children who became orphans due to COVID-19. Among them was 14-year-old Nguyễn Lê Ngọc Anh, whose father died from the virus. Her mother, who suffers from long-term COVID-19 complications and cannot perform strenuous work, single-handedly raises two young children, relying on piecework after taking them to school each day. Ngọc Anh cherishes her late father's phone, filled with family memories. Hoàng Ngân, 10, who attended with her mother, shed tears and was comforted by university students. Her father passed away in 2021. "I was only five at the time, so I don't remember much about that period," she shared. Dr. Trương Vĩnh Long, Director of Gia An 115 Hospital, reflected that the "war feels like it just ended yesterday." He recalled not the frantic sirens or sweat-soaked protective gear, but the bewildered eyes of patients facing life and death, and the exhausted yet unwavering dedication of medical staff during night shifts. He highlighted the profound pain of thousands of children losing parents to the pandemic. Organizers reported that nearly 4,400 children nationwide lost one or both parents, with over 2,300 such cases in Ho Chi Minh City. Businessman Johnathan Hạnh Nguyễn, a benefactor, donated 10 billion VND (approximately $400,000 USD) to the event and urged others to contribute whatever they could to support the orphaned children. Musical performances interspersed the program, reinforcing its message. Singer Đàm Vĩnh Hưng performed "Hãy cho con một mái nhà" (Give Me a Home) alongside Ngọc Anh. Uyên Linh sang "Mẹ yêu con" (Mother Loves Child), depicting volunteers assisting in returning ashes of the deceased. Quang Dũng performed Trịnh Công Sơn's "Để gió cuốn đi" (Let the Wind Carry It Away), while Đức Tuấn, accompanied by the Sơn Ca children's choir, presented "Cùng con đi tiếp cuộc đời" (Continuing Life with Children). Singers Quốc Đại, Quang Hà, and the Mắt Ngọc group conveyed optimism through "Sống như những đóa hoa" (Live Like Flowers). The event was organized by the Thanh Niên Newspaper in collaboration with the Southern Regional Television Center of Vietnam Television, marking the fifth anniversary of a charitable initiative. The production was directed by Nguyễn Minh Hoàng and Trần Hòa Yên from the Directing and Cinematography Department of the Southern Regional Television Center. Source: VnExpress