The event took place at No.1 Ly Thai To Park in Vuon Lai Ward and was organised by the Standing Board of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.
Attendees paid tribute to civilians, officials and members of the armed forces who died amid what was described as the city’s most challenging public health emergency in recent history.
Nguyen Phuoc Loc, Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee and Chairman of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, recalled the painful months when the city faced the full force of the pandemic. He highlighted the leadership of the Party organisation, the administration and the mobilisation of the entire political system, stressing the role of the Fatherland Front in uniting residents from all walks of life in the fight against COVID-19.
Despite concerted efforts to protect public health and save lives, the unprecedented nature of the pandemic meant that Ho Chi Minh City, the locality hardest hit nationwide, suffered thousands of fatalities.
Loc said the ceremony, held at the start of the Lunar New Year, was not only a traditional act of remembrance but also a moment to reaffirm the enduring strength of national solidarity. He called for continued unity and compassion in building a more modern and humane city, contributing to a strong and prosperous Viet Nam.
Following the memorial, organisers coordinated with the municipal chapter of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha to conduct a requiem service for the victims.
