Ho Chi Minh City Studies Preserving Martyrs’ Mass Graves as Historic Site

Ho Chi Minh City is studying whether mass burial pits containing fallen soldiers at Le Thi Rieng Park should be preserved as a historical monument. Authorities have identified two such pits at the park in Hoa Hung Ward.

The city’s Department of Culture and Sports will lead a survey and assess the site’s historical and cultural value. It will collect and verify records on the discovery, search and reburial of the soldiers’ remains, then organize the material to establish the area requiring research and protection.

The department will advise the municipal government on next steps after completing the assessment. If the evidence supports recognition as a national monument, the city will seek agreement from the central agency responsible for cultural heritage before proceeding.

Officials also asked the department to propose ways to protect and promote the site’s value. Possible measures include defining a protected area, building a memorial and installing an information plaque. Hoa Hung Ward and the management of Le Thi Rieng Park must preserve the area’s current condition during the study. They may not move, renovate or build on the site, or conduct other activities that could affect its historical elements without approval.

The Ho Chi Minh City Military Command will provide records on the fighting and deaths of personnel, as well as maps, photographs, witness accounts and documents related to searches and exhumations. The Department of Home Affairs will also review and provide records concerning the fallen soldiers recovered from the burial pits.