Vietnam's 500‑Day Night Search Recovers More Than 1,400 War Remains

Vietnam's "500 days and nights" campaign, launched to locate and identify the remains of soldiers who fell in past wars, has so far recovered over 1,400 sets of human remains. The effort, coordinated by the Ministry of Defence and involving scientists, DNA testing, and field teams across 34 provinces, seeks to bring closure to families and properly re‑inter those unidentified soldiers.

The operation, tied to the national commemoration on July 27 (War Invalids and Martyrs Day), includes cooperation with neighboring Laos and Cambodia, and has drawn high‑level support from Vice President Phạm Thị Thanh Trà, Vietnam’s first female vice president. Recovered remains are examined, identified through DNA analysis, and honored with flag‑covering ceremonies before burial in designated war cemeteries.