Vietnam's 500‑Day Campaign Accelerates Search for War Martyrs' Remains

Vietnam’s national steering committee launched the "Campaign 500 days night" on 15 March 2026, targeting 15 March 2026 – 27 July 2027 to locate, collect and identify the remains of war martyrs. The effort has mobilised 24 search teams – five domestic, eight from Laos and eleven from Cambodia – and has already recovered 1,109 remains (242 in Vietnam, 173 in Laos, 694 in Cambodia). Advanced methods such as ground‑penetrating radar, DNA sampling and a Viettel‑developed database are being used, while 360 mine‑clearance units comprising about 5,000 personnel and 1,311 detection devices support the work.

A conference held in Ho Chi Minh City confirmed the existence of a collective burial site at Lê Thị Riêng Park. Authorities plan detailed surveying, excavation and DNA verification to retrieve and identify the remains, aiming to complete the first excavation phase by July 2027. The campaign is presented as both a political directive and a cultural mission to honour fallen heroes and educate future generations.