Vietnam intensifies recovery and DNA testing of war martyrs' remains

Military and local authorities across Vietnam are intensifying efforts to locate, recover, and identify the remains of war martyrs as part of a ‘500-day campaign’.

In Quang Ngai, 2,219 biological samples have been handed over to the Military Institute of Forensic Science for DNA testing. This follows a massive effort where 12 teams excavated over 13,500 graves to collect more than 9,000 samples. Similarly, a large shipment of over 15,000 samples is being transported to Hanoi for forensic analysis.

In Khanh Hoa, authorities recently recovered nine sets of remains in Phuoc Dinh commune, four of which have been identified, while five others are undergoing DNA testing. In Ho Chi Minh City, the recovery efforts at Le Thi Rieng Park have yielded 731 sets of remains since June, with a formal ceremony scheduled for October 14 to honor and reinter them at the city's Martyrs' Cemetery.

Many of these recoveries have been made possible through local citizens providing historical clues and memories, helping military units pinpoint locations where remains were buried decades ago.