Vietnam advances search for missing war martyrs in 500‑day night campaign

Vietnam’s "500‑day night" campaign, launched in April 2026, is intensifying efforts to locate, exhume and identify the remains of war martyrs. By early July, more than 1,300 individual remains and three collective graves have been recovered, including discoveries at Ho Chi Minh City’s Lê Thị Riêng Park. Modern techniques such as ground‑penetrating radar, drones and GPS mapping are being combined with DNA testing. Over 35,000 graves have been sampled nationwide; about 70 % meet the criteria for DNA analysis. The campaign has gathered more than 93,000 DNA samples from relatives and over 53,000 genetic profiles have been entered into a national database. Provincial actions include sampling over 2,500 graves in Nghệ An, extensive DNA‑sample collection in Hà Tĩnh and Phú Thọ, and continued mine‑clearance work in Vị Xuyên (Tuyên Quang). International teams from Laos and Cambodia are also participating, bringing the total to 32 search teams and 1,541 personnel, of which 1,085 operate abroad. The effort has already led to ten memorial services honoring nearly 400 identified remains, and ongoing clearance of more than 7,000 hectares of land. Officials stress that the campaign not only provides closure for families but also preserves historical memory.