On the evening of July 26, to mark the 79th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947-July 27, 2026), Ho Chi Minh City held candle-lighting ceremonies in tribute to fallen soldiers at cemeteries and memorial sites across the city.
The programme was held simultaneously at Ho Chi Minh City Martyrs Cemetery, Binh Duong Martyrs Cemetery, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Martyrs Cemetery, Rung Sac Martyrs Cemetery, Cu Chi Martyrs Cemetery, Le Thi Rieng Cultural Park, as well as temples, monuments and memorial stelae dedicated to fallen heroes.
Leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee pay tribute at the Ho Chi Minh City leaders offer incense at local martyrs cemeteries on the evening of July 26 (Photo: Hoang Quy).
At Ho Chi Minh City Martyrs Cemetery, the ceremony was attended by Le Quoc Phong, deputy secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; former deputy secretary Nguyen Van Dua; deputy secretary Van Thi Bach Tuyet; and Huynh Thanh Nhan, vice-chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council.
Also attending were current and former leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, alongside representatives of departments, agencies, mass organisations and large numbers of youth members, pupils and students.
At the monument to the Heroic Vietnamese Mother and more than 14,000 martyrs' graves, delegates observed a minute's silence in solemn remembrance of the nation's heroes and heroines who fought bravely and sacrificed their lives for the country's independence, freedom and the people's happiness.
Le Quoc Phong, deputy secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, lights incense at martyrs' graves (Photo: Hoang Quy).
After the memorial ceremony, delegates laid flowers, offered incense and lit candles at each grave.
Representing the city's youth, Dang Le Minh Khang, a student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, said he was deeply moved to attend the ceremony.
According to Minh Khang, the presence of many generations, especially youth members, reflected gratitude and reaffirmed that the nation and its people always remember the sacrifices of fallen soldiers.
The memorial ceremony was attended by youth members in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Hoang Quy).
The young representative said the city's youth in recent years had regularly organised activities to support Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, martyrs' families and people with revolutionary service, while also restoring cemeteries, offering incense and lighting candles in tribute.