Vietnam families locate war hero graves after decades of searching

Retired teacher Nguyễn Sỹ Hồ has spent decades photographing and digitising tombstones of Vietnam’s war martyrs, creating the largest national archive of such records. His work, recognised by the Prime Minister’s commendation, has helped thousands of families locate the burial sites of their relatives, including a recent reunion that ended a 72‑year search for martyr Huỳnh Văn Bằng.

In a separate case, the family of martyr Nguyễn Trọng Cát finally brought his remains home after 54 years. DNA testing in 2025 confirmed his identity, allowing a ceremony in Hợp Tiến commune, Thanh Hóa, to return his remains from the Cần Thơ war cemetery to his hometown. The effort was driven by his brother Nguyễn Trọng Bảy, who continued the search after decades of uncertainty.