Vietnam intensifies war martyr remains recovery efforts

Vietnam has initiated large-scale efforts to locate and identify the remains of war martyrs through a nationwide ‘500-day campaign’. In Tuyen Quang province, a steering committee is utilizing historical data and veteran testimonies to locate 1,093 missing martyrs from the 4,267 recorded during the northern border defense. Veterans have provided specific combat details, including troop positions and high-altitude points such as 1509, 1800A, 1800B, 685, 233, and 1387, to assist searchers facing challenges from landslides and forest growth.

In Khanh Hoa, military forces are navigating dense forests and steep terrain to find revolutionary bases and burial sites, using historical clues like the diaries of the late General Secretary Le Kha Phieu.

Efforts have expanded into specialized regional missions. In Ha Tinh province, Military Region 4 is preparing a mission for the 2026-2027 dry season to recover 12 sets of remains in Vientiane and Bolikhamsai province, Laos. Meanwhile, in Dien Bien province, military leaders are overseeing the collection of biological samples for DNA testing. Since the campaign began, forces in Dien Bien have excavated 4,170 out of 4,608 graves, with 3,945 samples meeting the necessary conditions for identification procedures.