Hoài Ân Viên: a 74-hectare "ecological garden" that keeps filial piety alive in Long Khánh

Hoài Ân Viên Joint Stock Company · Hàng Gòn, Long Khánh, Đồng Nai · hoaianvien.com.vn

A garden on the hills

Hoài Ân Viên lies beside National Highway 56 in Hàng Gòn ward, Long Khánh, Đồng Nai province, a little over an hour's drive from the centre of Ho Chi Minh City along the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thành – Dầu Giây expressway. According to the park's website, the project covers 74 hectares, is developed by Beta Việt Development Investment Joint Stock Company in cooperation with Kim Bảo Sơn Cemetery of Malaysia, and has been granted a long-term land-use certificate by the Đồng Nai Provincial People's Committee.

What the company emphasises most is greenery. By its own description, the whole site is designed to be "covered in as much green as possible, like an ecological garden", bringing together flowers and grasses from many regions of the country. The land sits on high ground, ringed by hills, and is described as lying within the shelter of the three Ba Chân mountains. Within the grounds are a lake, flower gardens and an area set aside for prayers for peace.

Filial piety, tended every day

Hoài Ân Viên presents itself as a place that keeps the love and remembrance owed to grandparents, parents and teachers, with the wish of turning people back towards filial piety, "hiếu đạo" in Vietnamese. That spirit is carried into very practical tasks. According to the company, graves are cleaned and incense is offered daily, while the trees and lawns are watered and trimmed on a regular schedule. The park has burial areas for different faiths, a memorial area and a columbarium. Each year it welcomes families back for Thanh Minh, the tomb-sweeping season, for Vu Lan, the Buddhist festival of filial gratitude, and for the Catholic Mass for the souls of the departed.

For a programme about green business, the story of Hoài Ân Viên is a gentle reminder: green is not only for the places where we live and work, but also for the place we return to in order to remember. The sponsor certificate was received on behalf of Hoài Ân Viên by Ms Lục Thị Diễm, Operations Manager.

Hoài Ân Viên is one of the 21 sponsors of the programme.

At the recognition ceremony that closed the programme, Hoài Ân Viên was honoured by the organisers together with the other 20 sponsors, witnessed by Mr. Mohan Ramesh Anand (Founder & CEO, Canopus Group), Mr. Thao Le (Founder, AnChay.TV) and Mr. Nguyễn Tiến Tuyến (Founder & CEO, Chay Vietnam).

Green Business Matching Day Vietnam is co-organised by INCHAM with Canopus, AnChay.TV and Chay Vietnam, with the support of the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City, Ministry of External Affairs of India.

Based on material provided by the company; compiled by the organisers of Green Business Matching Day Vietnam as a gift to the businesses that joined the day.