The "Our Beloved Ho Chi Minh City" event, initiated by One Central Saigon, commemorates the 50th anniversary of national reunification and continues with activities for National Day on 2/9. The program explores stories of Ho Chi Minh City's people, architecture, daily life, and culture through a community lens.

Held over three days from 11-13/9, the event drew thousands of residents and tourists for visits, photos, and interactive experiences. Organizers also received over 1,000 submissions for the "Write a Story, a City" contest, featuring essays sharing memories and recollections of the city.

The journey began with a visual display surrounding One Central Saigon, showcasing landmarks and cultural aspects from various regions. Following this, the "Our Beloved Ho Chi Minh City" space at 23/9 Park brought stories about Ho Chi Minh City closer to residents and visitors through interactive formats.

This space at 23/9 Park featured three experience stations, utilizing 360-degree LED cubes and touchscreen systems. Each station explored a different aspect of Ho Chi Minh City, from daily life and architecture to specific landmarks, culture, and art. Participants engaged directly with the system to discover city themes, rather than just viewing exhibits.

At specific times, the 360-degree LED cubes projected content and light effects about Ho Chi Minh City, using technology as a storytelling medium to combine urban imagery with historical, cultural, and daily life narratives.

Many visitors stopped to record, photograph, and participate in activities at the experience space. According to the organizer, the program aims to create new avenues for engaging with the city's culture and memories through technology and direct interaction.

A key highlight of the event series was the "Write a Story, a City" contest, co-organized by One Central Saigon and Tri Thuc Znews electronic magazine. After two weeks, the competition received over 1,000 entries about Ho Chi Minh City. These works covered many themes, from personal memories and daily routines to urban changes. The judging panel selected 100 works to feature at the program.

Thi Anh Dao, Marketing Director of Masterise Group, shared at the award ceremony that the submitted stories help preserve memories and uphold values associated with Ho Chi Minh City. The company representative added that this spirit guides One Central Saigon's direction, aiming to create more community connection spaces in the city center.

Nguyen Thanh Hung, a member of the editorial board and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tri Thuc Znews electronic magazine, believes that Ho Chi Minh City's identity also lies in everyday routines and the ways people meet, connect, and preserve memories. He noted that the over 1,000 diverse stories offered many perspectives on the city. In the photo, visitors queue to enter the exhibition area displaying prominent works from the contest.

One Central Saigon is located near Ben Thanh Market and 23/9 Park, an area central to Ho Chi Minh City's vibrant life. According to the developer, the "Our Beloved Ho Chi Minh City" series is part of efforts to connect the project with the community and the surrounding urban environment.

Thy An

Photos: One Central Saigon