Located at No. 1 Ly Thai To Street in Vuon Lai ward, the park was completed after three months of construction and is now open to residents. Designed as both a landscaped urban park and a symbolic memorial, the project honours those who lost their lives during the pandemic while offering a place for the community to reconnect and move forward.

Built on a triangular site with gently curved edges, the centerpiece of the park is a 1,800-square-meter circular plaza designed in the form of a falling water droplet. According to the organisers, the droplet symbolises a tear touching the ground, forming a hollow like a scar of painful memory before spreading into ripples, representing the transformation of grief into positive energy and hope for the future.

At the heart of the plaza stands a six-meter-high stainless-steel droplet sculpture, measuring 13 meters in circumference. The plaza surface is lowered by approximately four meters, while the excavated earth has been shaped into surrounding garden hills, reflecting the philosophy of balance between yin and yang.

Inside the droplet sculpture is a heart motif symbolising gratitude and love. Its reflective surface mirrors visitors standing around it, reinforcing the idea that the pain of the pandemic is a shared memory of the community.

Encircling the monument are nine steps and 360 water candles. At night, nearly 1,000 lights illuminate the space, creating a tranquil atmosphere reminiscent of a forest of candles in tribute to COVID-19 victims.

The nine steps are divided into three tiers representing the journey of life. The lowest tier features the 12 zodiac animals symbolising the passage of time; the middle tier bears stone footprints; and the highest tier is inlaid with bronze lotus, frangipani and chrysanthemum flowers, signifying continuity and hope.

All mature trees on the site have been preserved, and old villas have been renovated into exhibition and library spaces. The park also includes community and sports areas, as well as sculpture gardens, aiming to become a cultural and healing destination for residents.

The project, sponsored by Sun Group with a total investment of VND263 billion (approximately US$10.6 million), was completed in more than 90 days with the participation of around 500 workers and 20 engineers to ensure inauguration before the Lunar New Year.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on February 12, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Van Duoc described the park as more than a landscape project, calling it a space of profound humanitarian value.

He led a moment of silence in memory of thousands of residents and frontline healthworkers who lost their lives during the pandemic, and paid tribute to doctors, nurses and volunteers whose sacrifices helped the city overcome an unprecedented crisis.

At the height of the outbreak, Ho Chi Minh City faced soaring infection rates, overwhelmed healthcare facilities and its first negative economic growth. However, through national leadership and community solidarity, the city gradually recovered.

City leaders said the memorial park conveys three enduring messages: resilience and revival, compassion and unity, and a forward-looking spirit toward the future.

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