Vietnam President To Lam visits Lê Thị Riêng Park to oversee mass‑grave search
On 17 July, President To Lam visited Lê Thị Riêng Park in Ho Chi Minh City, inspected the ongoing excavation of a mass burial site dating from the 1968 Tet Offensive, and delivered a speech honouring the fallen. He said, “Thưa các đồng chí… lời tri ân sâu sắc,” praising the dedication of the forces that continue the search.
The operation, launched in July 2026, involves military units, scientists and volunteers digging dozens of shafts to recover skeletal remains of soldiers who died in 1968. Family members, such as Lê Chí Công—the sole son of martyr Lê Thị Riêng—stand daily before the memorial, lighting incense and hoping to bring their mother home. Elder witnesses, including former courier Phạm Thị Tư and veteran Nguyễn Văn Định, spend long hours at the site, recalling the original collective graves.
The President’s presence underscores the political and symbolic importance Vietnam places on locating missing war dead. Efforts continue with an expanded excavation area, aiming to identify the recovered remains and return them to families, reflecting a broader national commitment to honour the sacrifices of the 1968 conflict.