Vietnam intensifies 500‑day DNA campaign to identify war martyrs

Vietnam is carrying out a nationwide 500‑day operation to locate, exhume and DNA‑test the remains of unidentified war martyrs. Provinces such as Cao Bang, Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Lam Dong, Khánh Hòa and Hà Tiên are sampling graves, digitising records and using ground‑penetrating radar and other scientific methods.

Quang Ngai teams have collected DNA samples from 2,598 graves, including 68 unknown soldiers, while Gia Lai has identified 1,556 graves for sampling out of about 12,000 anonymous burials, with more than 300 samples already taken. Lam Dong is processing 651 unknown graves, aiming to complete sampling by 21 July. In Ho Chi Minh City, authorities have recovered 93 individual sets of remains and two collective burials from the former cemetery now Lê Thị Riêng Park. The effort involves the military, forensic specialists, local officials and volunteers, all working to restore names to the fallen and provide closure for families.