The campaign has continued to draw public attention, this time through art. On Tuesday, an artistic programme at Le Thi Rieng Park paid tribute to those who gave their lives for the country, connecting the work of remembrance with the responsibility to preserve peace.
Music, poetry and visual art come together at Le Thi Rieng Cultural Park to bring the stories of Vietnam's fallen soldiers to life. The park holds particular significance because searches for fallen soldiers' remains have also taken place here. It has thus become part of the ongoing effort to bring them home.
The special artistic programme Khuc Tri An honours fallen soldiers as Ho Chi Minh City continues its 500-day-and-night campaign to search for, recover and identify their remains. The campaign reflects an ongoing effort to bring fallen soldiers home and provide families with answers, while preserving the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom.
The programme brings together artists from different generations, with songs honouring wartime sacrifices and celebrating the unity and solidarity of the Vietnamese people. One highlight is an on-stage portrait sketch by artist Le Sa Long of 82-year-old doctor Tran Van Ban, a former military doctor who has volunteered to support the search and identification of fallen soldiers' remains. Their encounter reflects the spirit of comradeship and service that continues in peacetime. Artists and musicians also share their thoughts on remembering past generations and passing their values on to younger people.
The programme concludes with an incense-offering and candle-lighting ceremony, reaffirming the message at the heart of the 500-day-and-night campaign: remembering the fallen means continuing the search for those still missing and ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten.
