Ho Chi Minh City Search Finds 29 War Remains at Lê Thị Riang Park

Between 9 July and 10 July 2026, teams of the Ho Chi Minh City Command intensified excavation at Lê Thị Riang Park, uncovering a total of 29 sets of war‑dead remains and numerous personal artifacts – the largest single‑day discovery since the 500‑day recovery campaign began.

The operation opened a trench about 5 m long, 3 m wide and 2 m deep, removing roughly 50 m³ of soil. Excavators and manual tools were used, with safety checks for possible mines and groundwater. The remains are believed to belong to soldiers killed during the 1968 Tet Offensive; according to Thiếu tướng Nguyễn Thành Trung, “based on the position of the remains and accompanying artifacts, we initially determine that the upper layer are People’s Army soldiers, the lower layer are Saigon Special Forces.” DNA samples have been taken from siblings of identified soldiers for forensic verification.

The dig is part of a broader 500‑day effort aiming to locate around 7 000 sets of remains and to identify them through DNA testing. Historical records and war artefacts donated by a research group at Texas Tech University (US) are being used to cross‑check identities. Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng has ordered accelerated use of technology and resources, and the campaign is also expanding to other suspected sites such as the former Tan Son Nhat airport.