Ly Thai To Park No.1 (the u201cTear Drop Parku201d) in Saigon was officially inaugurated on February 12, 2026, and quickly attracted public attention thanks to its preserved green space and a COVID-19 memorial featuring a symbolic tear-shaped monument with deep humanitarian meaning.
A small symbol that carries many memories
At the center of the approximately 1,800 mu00b2 park stands a 6-meter-tall tear-shaped monument made of mirror-finished stainless steel. Inside the tear drop is a heart, symbolizing gratitude and compassion. For many people, this image carries multiple meanings:
- A tear for the loss suffered by many families who lost loved ones during the pandemic.
- A tear of gratitude for doctors, medical workers, volunteers, and those who sacrificed during the pandemic.
- A tear of joy for having overcome those difficult days, together with family and many others.
- A tear of hope for positive changes after the pandemic.
Surrounding the monument are 360 water candles, and at night, their soft glow creates a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.
A small symbol, yet filled with many memories.
For many overseas Vietnamese returning to visit their homeland, Saigon is often associated with busy streets, lively coffee shops, and vibrant shopping centers.
But this park offers a different feeling. It is like a breathing space for the city. Large old trees have been preserved, creating a rare green area in the city center. The old villas in the area have also been renovated into exhibition spaces, small libraries, or community gathering areas.
So this place is both a park and a cultural space.
A new photo check-in spot
Besides its memorial significance, the u201ctear dropu201d monument at Ly Thai To Park No.1 is gradually becoming a new check-in spot in Saigon. With its mirror-finished stainless steel reflecting the sky and the surrounding old trees, the central plaza creates many impressive photo spots.
Especially in the evening, when the lighting system and the 360 water candles are lit, the space becomes quiet and feels very different from the bustling city surrounding it.
Therefore, when visiting Ly Thai To Park No.1, visitors can not only take a walk and enjoy the green space but also capture photos beside the u201ctear dropu201d monument - a new symbol of Saigon after the pandemic.
A mark of transformation
Ly Thai To Park No.1 is also part of Saigonu2019s effort to transform vacant urban land into public spaces. Instead of empty lots in the city center, this area has been redeveloped into a green park for the community.
Notably, the existing old trees have been preserved, creating a large green space that is rare in the inner city. The old villas within the park have also been restored and repurposed into exhibition spaces, libraries, and community areas.
As a result, the park is not only a place for people to relax or take a walk, but also a cultural and memorial space connected to the cityu2019s story after the pandemic.
Conclusion
Without being overly grand or elaborate, Ly Thai To Park No.1 offers a simple green space in the heart of Saigon - a place where people can walk, rest, and sometimes pause before the u201ctear dropu201d monument to remember a special period that has passed.
If you have the chance to visit Vietnam, you can stop by and check in at this new destination, enjoy the rare green space in the city center, and experience a different side of Saigon u2014 quiet, reflective, yet full of hope.
