Water drop emblem installed at Ho Chi Minh City park in tribute to COVID-19 victims

The installation was carried out by Vung Tau Urban Investment and Development Co., Ltd., which said the structure is intended to serve as a focal point of the park, a project nearing completion at No. 1 Ly Thai To Street in Vuon Lai Ward.

At around 8:30 am, a construction unit placed the emblem at the center of the park’s main water feature.

Made from a high-durability metal alloy with a polished, stainless finish, the structure is designed to withstand corrosion and outdoor conditions.

The interior of the emblem is hollow and engineered so that when sunlight or moonlight passes through, a heart shape becomes visible within the water drop.

With a circumference of 13 meters and a height of six meters, the mirror-finished structure reflects the images of surrounding visitors, conveying a message of collective remembrance and resilience.

Sculptor Pham Van Hang, who has followed the project since its early stages, said he participated as a design consultant for the emblem’s design.

He said the droplet-shaped design symbolizes tears for compatriots who died during the pandemic, while the heart revealed through light represents humanity, compassion and the collective efforts of residents, healthcare workers and authorities to overcome the crisis together.

“To me, this is one of my most enduring design ideas,” Hang said.

According to observations by Tuoi Tre (Youth) reporters, most components of the park, envisioned as a symbol of Ho Chi Minh City’s unity and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, are in the final stages of completion.

The park features a central fountain plaza with the water drop emblem at its heart, complemented by terraced seating and extensive lighting that creates a shimmering effect at night.

Ho Chi Minh City was the first locality in Vietnam to record a COVID-19 case on January 23, 2020.

In 2021, the outbreak surged, forcing nearly five months of lockdown and causing heavy loss of life as well as severe economic damage.

Figures released at a memorial ceremony organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Fatherland Front Committee showed that about 23,000 residents, officials and servicemen died as a result of the pandemic.