The Central province of Ha Tinh held a solemn memorial service on May 13 for the remains of 25 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who lost their lives during wartime in Laos.

Representatives from Laos’ Bolilkhamxay province, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the High Command Zone 4 as well as Ha Tinh provincial leaders and locals attended the ceremony.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee showed his deep gratitude to the fallen soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the Vietnam-Laos friendship.

After the memorial service, the sets of remains, which were collected in Laos during the 2014-2015 dry season, were reburied at the Nam martyrs’ cemetery in the locality.

Millions of Vietnamese soldiers laid down their lives for national liberation during the two resistance wars against French and US forces as well as in international missions in Laos and Cambodia.

Thousands of fallen soldiers are still unaccounted for across Vietnam and the two neighbouring countries.

The search for, gathering, repatriation and re-interment of the martyrs is conducted annually, receiving due attention from the Party and the State.-VNA