A Moving Memorial Service for the Compatriots Who Passed and the Officers and Soldiers Who Sacrificed Their Lives to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Every candle lit in the night carries a prayer offered for those who have departed and those who remain. May this light shine through the darkness, guiding the souls of the departed home, and reminding those still fortunate enough to breathe of optimism and hope.
Light a single lamp
An offering to countless Buddhas
One mind at peace
Illuminates the whole earth
Forgetfulness is darkness
Mindfulness is light
Bringing awakening back
To brighten the world
Every candle lit in the night carries a prayer offered for those who have departed and those who remain. May this light shine through the darkness, guiding the souls of the departed home, and reminding those still fortunate enough to breathe of optimism and hope.
We bow in deep gratitude to the silent heroes of this battle, and to the compatriots who lost their lives in the pandemic, we offer our heartfelt condolences to every family enduring such painful loss.
With the deepest respect and reverence.
………………
The memorial service, jointly organized by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the City of Ho Chi Minh City, was held at 8:00 PM on November 19th, to share in and offer comfort for the grief and loss suffered by tens of thousands of families who lost loved ones.
The ceremony took place at Reunification Hall (Ho Chi Minh City) and Thống Nhất Park (Hanoi). Districts across Ho Chi Minh City followed the memorial service live from the Reunification Hall site before joining together in the candle-lighting ritual.
In addition, in Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, Bình Thạnh, Phú Nhuận, and Tân Bình, floating lotus lanterns were released on the Nhiêu Lộc – Thị Nghè and Tàu Hủ – Bến Nghé canals at 8:35 PM the same evening.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports announced that, at the same time, the city called on local religious establishments to ring their bells, while ships, boats, and barges docked at the city's ports sounded their horns in remembrance. The city also urged officials, Party members, civil servants, and residents to turn off their lights and light candles in public spaces, walkways, parks, residential areas, apartments, hotels, offices, and homes.
Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, Nguyễn Hoài Nam, reported that as of the evening of November 16th, the country had recorded 23,279 deaths due to COVID-19, with Ho Chi Minh City alone accounting for 17,263 — more than 74% of the national total.
Of these, men accounted for 41.5% and women 58.5%. By age group, those over 50 made up 86.5% of the total: ages 45–49 accounted for 5%; 50–54 for 7.8%; 55–59 for 11.6%; 60–64 for 14.8%; and over 65 for 52.3%. Ho Chi Minh City recorded 38 children and 62 pregnant women among the deceased.
