Le Thi Rieng Park: 256 Martyrs' Remains Recovered in Ho Chi Minh City

Search teams in Ho Chi Minh City have uncovered 11 additional sets of martyrs' remains at Le Thi Rieng Park, raising the total discovered to 256. The ongoing operation, led by the Ho Chi Minh City Military Command's Remuneration Team, is meticulously excavating an area in the park's B zone.

This section of the park, previously a cemetery known as Do Thanh, Chi Hoa - Saigon, has been a focus due to historical records and eyewitness accounts suggesting it holds the remains of soldiers who died during the 1968 Tet Offensive. The excavation involves moving over 300 cubic meters of soil, utilizing heavy machinery like excavators and trucks to access the suspected burial sites.

Of the 256 remains found to date, 228 were buried individually, and 28 were located in seven mass graves. Notably, 151 of the recovered sets of remains were found with personal artifacts. These items are crucial for cross-referencing with historical documents, identifying military units, and aiding in the identification of the fallen soldiers.

The search, which expanded significantly on July 6, employs a careful manual excavation process once potential remains are detected. This ensures the preservation of any skeletal fragments and accompanying artifacts. The military command plans to continue expanding the search area and is coordinating with specialized agencies for DNA testing to identify the martyrs and facilitate their return to their families and hometowns.