Workers on Monday installed the six-metre-high polished stainless steel sculpture at the centre of the memorial after it was fabricated overseas and shipped to Vietnam by sea.
Designers said the teardrop symbolises grief, with an embedded heart representing compassion, while the mirror-like surface reflects visitors themselves, underscoring a sense of shared sorrow and collective solidarity.
Sculptor Pham Van Hang said tears are universal across cultures, making the image a fitting tribute to those lost during the pandemic. He added that while the design process took three months, the work reflects a lifetime of artistic dedication.
Engineers threaded underground electrical cables through the structure, which will be illuminated to create visual effects once construction is completed. The memorial is conceived as a water feature, with the “tear” appearing to fall into a pool below and form concentric ripples.
Hang said the sculpture could also be interpreted as a drop of sweat, honouring the sacrifice and endurance of frontline workers who fought the pandemic.
He expressed hope that the memorial would resonate beyond Vietnam, noting that Covid-19 was a shared global tragedy.
Construction of the memorial is expected to be completed by February 12, ahead of the Lunar New Year. Restoration work on several historic villas within Ly Thai To Park is also under way, with the buildings intended to serve public functions.
