Vietnam Expands Search for Fallen Soldiers' Remains Ahead of War Martyrs Day

In commemoration of the 79th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day, Vietnam is intensifying its search for the remains of fallen soldiers, extending its operations from domestic sites to neighboring Cambodia. The Quân khu 7 (7th Military Region) is leading these expanded efforts to bring the remains of martyrs home.

Significant progress has been made in Ho Chi Minh City. At Le Thi Rieng Park, systematic excavations based on witness accounts have yielded three collective sets of remains and one individual set, along with numerous artifacts. To date, the Ho Chi Minh City Remai ns Collection Team has recovered 101 individual sets and 5 collective sets of remains. Bone and tooth samples are being preserved for DNA identification, and recovered artifacts are being analyzed to identify the soldiers' identities and units.

In Dong Nai province, specifically in Minh Duc commune, the K72 Team discovered a collective grave containing four sets of remains after a resident reported finding a rusted AK-47 rifle. Further excavation in the area uncovered an additional 21 sets of remains and various artifacts. Previously, 55 sets of remains had been recovered in this locality.

Operations are also underway at the former K76A Hospital site in Ho Chi Minh City, where engineers are using specialized equipment to survey a large area. Meanwhile, in Cambodia, five K teams (K70, K71, K72, K73, and K74) are engaged in the challenging task of searching for the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died there. These efforts are complicated by changing terrain, aging witnesses, dwindling information, and unexploded ordnance. In a recent ceremony on July 6, 173 sets of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia were repatriated and buried at the Vinh Hung - Tan Hung Martyrs' Cemetery in Tay Ninh province.