City at night: Full of humanity

Behind the cold doors of the funeral home at night are everyday stories, full of humanity.

Located on Tran Phu Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital Funeral Home is a place that witnesses the final moments of many people's lives. Here, the main job of the staff is to receive and care for the bodies of the deceased, with the desire to bring them peace and serenity on their final journey.

A silent farewell in the night

At around 10 p.m. one day in mid-March 2025, the main hall of Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital Funeral Home was immersed in soft yellow light, with a faint scent of incense. The deep and deep chants from the radios blended with the soulful sounds of flutes, zithers, and the typical melodies of Chinese family ritual music. Along the corridor, the lights from lanterns, crosses, and statues of Ksitigarbha shone, creating an atmosphere that was both sacred and solemn, like a silent farewell.

Behind the calmness are stressful and challenging moments for funeral home staff. Their work, especially when receiving incomplete or decomposing bodies, requires a steely spirit and absolute caution. Every day, they make friends with the freezing cold of the cold room, where the temperature is always maintained at 17 degrees Celsius to preserve the bodies. This harsh environment not only tests the body's endurance but also contains harmful factors from decomposing bodies.

At 11pm on March 16, after the forensic department completed the autopsy, the funeral home staff quietly began to wash the body. That night, they received a special case: the body of a foreigner with an oversized body. This required the coordination of all three staff members to be able to carefully carry and wash the body. Finally, when the body was placed in the cold room, the drops of sweat soaked into their shirts were the clearest proof of the dedication and silent hard work of the people doing this special job.

At 11:00 p.m. on March 14, staff at Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital Funeral Home completed the bathing and brought the body to the morgue.

The gatekeepers of yin and yang

Behind the cold doors of the funeral home are everyday stories and confidences of people doing special work. Mr. PH (born in 1976), who has been taking care of the bodies of the deceased for nearly 13 years, sincerely shared: "At first, I was also hesitant, but then this job became a part of my life. However, to be honest, deaths due to traffic accidents still leave me with an indescribable obsession. But perhaps, time has helped me learn to accept and look at things more lightly."

Their job is not only to receive, clean and change clothes for the deceased, but also to assist relatives in completing procedures, embalming, and even cleaning the forensic examination area and funeral hall. It can be said that they are multi-talented people, silently beautifying each person's final journey.

Mr. TT (born in 1980), a colleague of Mr. PH, has a deeper perspective: "For me, this is not just a job, but a sacred responsibility. Every corpse deserves to be cared for with all respect, so that they can leave in the most peaceful way". He believes that "heart" is the key factor to overcome all difficulties and challenges. He added: "Absolutely do not be greedy. All belongings, no matter how small, of the deceased must be returned in full to the family. That is the minimum respect". Regardless of the cause of death, Mr. T. always tries his best to let the deceased leave in the most peaceful way. He said in a warm voice: "I do it out of respect, wanting them to leave beautifully, so that those who stay behind can also ease their pain".

For Mr. HN (born in 1997, residing in Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City), who has worked here for nearly 6 years, this job brings financial stability. He said that working at the funeral home also helps him have a stable job. Moreover, witnessing tragic situations makes him appreciate the value of life even more.

It can be seen that although the work is hard, sometimes with long sleepless nights, the staff at Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital Funeral Home still consider it part of a noble mission.

As the representative of the Funeral Home Management Board of Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital said: "This is not an easy job. Many people have come and gone because they could not stay. However, the current staff, although their work may only be a small part of the whole funeral, have great meaning for the family of the deceased. No one wants to lose a loved one, but at least this job helps them send off their loved ones in the most complete and respectful way."

No matter the circumstances, these silent people are always ready to complete their mission. They are indispensable in the final journey of every life. Thanks to their dedication and responsibility, the deceased can leave with all respect and peace, and those left behind can find a little peace in the midst of the endless pain of loss.

Silent but noble

Working at a funeral home is perhaps one of the most special jobs. Because the staff here not only work with lifeless corpses, but also have to face the pain and extreme loss of their loved ones. Moreover, they have to keep their spirits up to complete the job meticulously, even when they are faced with heartbreaking images of the unfortunate victims.

Despite knowing that this job brings countless difficulties and pressures, the staff at Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital Funeral Home still dedicate themselves tirelessly. For them, this is not simply a job to earn a living, but also a humanitarian mission: to ensure that each person who passes away is cared for and bids farewell with the utmost respect and peace.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thanh-pho-ve-dem-day-ap-tinh-nguoi-196250326211554267.htm