Hanoi requests lights out in tribute to Covid victims

A ceremony at Thong Nhat Park would commence at 8 p.m. and last for around 30-45 minutes, according to the municipal People’s Committee. It would be televised nationally and host around 300 people, including family members of those who died of Covid-19.

Participants must be fully vaccinated and test negative for the coronavirus 72 hours prior.

The ceremony is expected to showcase images and videos regarding the Covid-19 fight in Vietnam and speeches from officials. Participants would light lanterns and let them float on Ba Mau Lake inside the park as tribute.

Religious institutions like churches and pagodas would ring their bells at 8:30 p.m. During the ceremony, the city would suspend all entertainment activities and performances.

Other tribute ceremonies may also commence in Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An, Da Nang and Bac Giang, all Covid-19 hotspots once.

"The ceremony is to pay tribute to the people who died of Covid-19 and share the loss of their loved ones," said Phung Khanh Tai, deputy chairman of Vietnamese Fatherland Front.

Vietnam has recorded over a million Covid-19 cases so far, with over 23,300 deaths.