Ho Chi Minh City uncovers multiple 1968 war mass graves at Lê Thị Riêng Park

On 6 July 2026 officials launched a search for collective burial sites in Lê Thị Riêng Park, the former Đô Thành cemetery in Ho Chi Minh City. Using ground‑penetrating radar, historical records and eyewitness testimony, teams from the city’s 515 Command, Military Region 7 and scientific institutes excavated a 25 m‑long trench. The first dig uncovered five sets of human remains and a military vehicle, followed by a second excavation that yielded nine more sets of remains and a range of personal artefacts, including ammunition, a comb and identification papers.

One set of remains was linked to a soldier named Huỳnh Văn Quên of the 962nd unit, who fell during the Tet‑Mậu Thân offensive in early 1968. His family in Tây Ninh confirmed the identification. By 7 July, a total of 11 bodies had been recovered, with further trenches slated for investigation as part of the city’s “500‑day night” campaign to locate and identify all missing war dead.

Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng presided over the launch ceremony, emphasizing the political and moral duty to bring fallen heroes home, and called for continued use of DNA testing and modern technology to expedite identifications. The operation involves high‑level coordination among the central government, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Public Security and local authorities.