Vietnam 500-day campaign recovers over 2,000 martyr remains

The “500-day campaign” to search for, collect, and identify the remains of war martyrs has reached a significant milestone. As of August 29, 2026, authorities have collected 2,014 sets of remains, including 990 in Vietnam, 174 in Laos, and 850 in Cambodia.

Efforts are being intensified across various provinces. In Ho Chi Minh City, search teams at Le Thi Rieng Park have recovered 521 sets of remains since June. In Quang Tri, a recent ceremony was held to honor and bury 13 martyrs discovered in the Cau Nhi area. In Quang Ngai, teams have recovered 20 sets of remains and collected biological samples from over 6,400 graves for DNA testing.

To date, 17 out of 34 provinces and cities have completed the process of collecting remains for sampling. The campaign involves approximately 1,559 personnel across 32 search teams, including 19 teams operating in Laos and Cambodia. The initiative aims to accelerate identification through DNA analysis and is part of a broader effort to honor those who died during the war ahead of the 80th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day in 2027.