Cao Bang (VNA) – Authorities in the northern province of Cao Bang have begun collecting DNA samples and digitising records from 135 unidentified war martyrs' graves at Quang Uyen Martyrs' Cemetery as part of efforts to identify fallen soldiers.
The work, which began on July 9, is being carried out by military and medical personnel following strict technical procedures. The process includes exhumation, biological sample collection, sealing and preservation of samples, documentation, and digitalisation of all relevant information. Each sample is carefully verified and catalogued, while excavation sites are accurately marked.
Once sampling is completed, the martyrs' remains are reinterred in new ceramic ossuaries, with graves and the cemetery restored to their original condition. All related data will be digitised and uploaded to the national management system to support future DNA matching and identity verification.
Major Nguyen Van Thin, an information technology officer at the Cao Bang provincial Military Command, said the on-site digitalisation process requires absolute accuracy. Despite challenging weather conditions, teams are working against the clock to record every detail, including grave layouts, soil layers, artefacts and GPS coordinates, to maximise the chances of identifying the martyrs and reconnecting them with their families.
According to Colonel Ma Cong Hoc, Political Commissar of the Military Command, the province has 15 martyrs' cemeteries, 14 of which contain unidentified graves. The search, recovery and identification programme will be implemented in two phases, from April 2026 to July 2027.
The programme aims to complete DNA analysis of 670 samples, recover about 40 additional sets of martyrs' remains, and establish a genetic database of relatives of unidentified martyrs to facilitate DNA matching and identification.
DNA sampling, sample handover and the digitisation of records at Quang Uyen Martyrs' Cemetery are expected to be completed before August 9, 2026./.
