Mai Xuân Thưởng Garden

On your left, you’ll see a large golden lotus sculpture, the centerpiece of Mai Xuân Thưởng Garden. The lotus, Vietnam’s national flower, symbolizes purity, spiritual growth, and harmony. Its delicately carved petals and shining gold surface reflect both natural beauty and the deep connection Vietnamese people feel with their history and environment. The garden itself honors Mai Xuân Thưởng, a hero of the resistance against French colonial rule. Across the road on your right stands a striking white statue visible from afar. It depicts Lý Tự Trọng, born in Thailand, who was mentored in revolutionary work by Hồ Chí Minh from the age of 11. In 1931, during a gathering in Saigon, he was arrested after firing at police to protect a key resistance leader. He was tried quickly, sentenced to death, and executed on November 21, 1931. Before he was executed, he spoke words that would become famous: “The only thing I regret is not having done more for the revolution.” The statue shows him in a determined stance, symbolizing his heroic sacrifice for Vietnam’s independence and freedom.