Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam's nationwide 500-day campaign to accelerate the search for, repatriation and identification of fallen soldiers' remains has recovered 1,563 sets of remains and uncovered nine mass graves, according to the Office of the National Steering Committee for the work.
A campaign progress report said that from July 24 to 30, agencies and relevant units pushed ahead with coordinated operations to seek and recover remains, collect DNA samples, identify remains and clear unexploded ordnance to support search efforts.
During the week, the National Steering Committee continued to direct military regions and local authorities to verify information on fallen soldiers and burial sites provided by organisations and individuals, while expert groups reviewed records related to mass graves.
The committee also asked telecommunications providers Viettel, MobiFone and Vinaphone to send text messages to mobile subscribers encouraging the public to provide information on fallen soldiers and their burial sites.
It further instructed the Dong Nai municipal Steering Committee to transfer remains recovered in Minh Duc commune to the Military Institute of Forensic Medicine for DNA testing.
The Ministry of National Defence supported several key activities, including the launch of a recovery operation in Minh Duc commune of Dong Nai city, inspections and visits to personnel working at Le Thi Rieng Park in Ho Chi Minh City, and a memorial and burial ceremony for 34 fallen soldiers at the Vi Xuyen Martyrs' Cemetery in Tuyen Quang province.
To date, the campaign has recovered 1,563 sets of remains, including 539 in Vietnam, 174 in Laos and 850 in Cambodia. Authorities have also discovered nine mass graves, including five in Tuyen Quang province and four at Le Thi Rieng Park in Ho Chi Minh City.
During the reviewed week, recovery teams located 81 sets of remains and uncovered two additional mass graves at Le Thi Rieng Park.
Alongside search operations, authorities have stepped up DNA sample collection from martyrs' graves.
So far, samples have been collected from 88,889 graves nationwide. Of these, 61,887 met sampling requirements, accounting for 69.62%, while the remaining 27,002 were unsuitable for sampling.
Between July 24 and 30, authorities collected samples from 15,073 graves, including 10,621 eligible and 4,452 ineligible sites.
On DNA identification, the Military Medical Department under the General Department of Logistics and Technical Services under the Ministry of National Defence worked with the Department of National Contributors under the Ministry of Home Affairs to adjust the localities responsible for receiving and analysing DNA samples.
The Military Institute of Forensic Medicine is currently storing and preserving 16,760 samples from 16 of the 17 participating provinces and cities, with Lam Dong yet to complete the handover.
The institute has extracted DNA from 146 samples, successfully generating 31 mitochondrial DNA sequences and confirming the identities of two fallen soldiers.
Mine and unexploded ordnance clearance has also progressed in support of recovery efforts. Teams have cleared 10,225 hectares of the planned 22,725 hectares, equivalent to 45% of the target.
In the core Vi Xuyen area of Tuyen Quang province, 3,875 hectares out of 4,460 hectares have been cleared, reaching 86.9% of the planned area.
In the next phase, the National Steering Committee said it will intensify search and recovery operations both at home and abroad, with priority given to domestic sites. It will also accelerate DNA sampling from unidentified graves at martyrs' cemeteries.
The committee will continue reviewing records and information on fallen soldiers and burial sites, particularly mass graves, before submitting verified findings to relevant agencies and local authorities for expert assessment. It will also ensure adequate equipment and resources for recovery operations.
At the same time, authorities will organise training in next-generation DNA testing procedures and prepare the personnel and infrastructure needed to adopt advanced DNA identification technologies./.
