PM urges science-based search for missing remains of fallen soldiers

Speaking at a launch ceremony for the search and recovery of war martyrs' remains at Le Thi Rieng Park in Ho Chi Minh City, the Prime Minister noted modern science and technology should play a greater role in locating mass burial sites and identifying war martyrs, while lessons learned from the operation should serve as a model for similar searches across the country.

The excavation forms part of Vietnam's nationwide 500-day campaign to accelerate the search, recovery and identification of the remains of war martyrs.

A decades-long mission to account for the missing

Le Thi Rieng Park has long been identified by historians and veterans as one of the suspected burial sites of revolutionary soldiers who were killed during the 1968 General Offensive and Uprising, internationally known as the Tet Offensive.

After years of collecting historical records, verifying eyewitness accounts and applying advanced survey technologies, authorities concluded that sufficient evidence had been gathered to begin full-scale excavation.

The launch ceremony, jointly organised by Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Military Region 7 Command and the National Steering Committee for the Search, Recovery and Identification of Martyrs’ Remains, marked the transition from historical verification to on-site recovery operations.

Before the ceremony, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and delegates offered flowers and incense in tribute to former Party General Secretary Tran Phu and to Vietnam's fallen heroes at memorials inside the park.

Addressing the ceremony, the Prime Minister stressed that recovering and identifying the remains of war martyrs reflects Vietnam's enduring tradition of gratitude toward those who sacrificed for national independence.

“For many martyrs' families, the war has never truly ended because they are still waiting for news of their loved ones,” he said. “We must do everything possible to bring our fallen heroes back to their families and hometowns.”

He noted that the current operation was made possible through years of research involving historical archives, declassified military documents and information provided by organisations and American veterans who had served in Vietnam.

Science offers new hope

According to Nguyen Manh Cuong, deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City Administration, the city has mobilised municipal agencies, scientists, historians and witnesses, together with domestic and international organisations, to verify information relating to suspected mass graves at the park.

Investigators combined historical documents, military maps, satellite imagery, archival photographs, field surveys and eyewitness testimony to narrow down potential burial locations.

The search has also employed a range of modern technologies, including ground-penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistivity surveys and geophysical analysis.

The work involves experts from the Ministry of National Defence, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Science, the National Mine Action Centre and the Engineer Corps.

Survey results identified several underground anomalies consistent with historical records and eyewitness accounts, reinforcing confidence in the scientific approach.

The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of combining historical evidence, witness testimony and advanced technologies in locating and identifying the remains of war martyrs.

Following the preliminary surveys, authorities began exploratory excavation at one section of the park.

Within two days, search teams uncovered a burial trench measuring approximately 25 metres long and three metres wide, recovering the remains of five individuals together with military ponchos and other wartime artefacts.

The National Steering Committee also announced that one set of remains had been successfully identified as Huynh Van Quen, who was killed during the 1968 Tet Offensive. His remains were returned to his family for reburial in Tay Ninh province on July 6.

Authorities said the discoveries provide strong evidence that the years of historical research and scientific verification have been well founded, while offering renewed hope that more missing soldiers will be located at the site.

A model for nationwide recovery efforts

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung praised the efforts of the National Steering Committee, Military Region 7, Ho Chi Minh City authorities, scientists and eyewitnesses whose long-term commitment has brought new hope to thousands of families across Vietnam.

He instructed relevant agencies to conduct the recovery operation with meticulous care, emphasising that every layer of soil, every artefact and every trace of evidence could become a crucial clue in identifying a fallen soldier.

The Prime Minister also called for closer coordination between Ho Chi Minh City, the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security, urging greater use of DNA analysis and other advanced technologies to accelerate the identification process.

Beyond the excavation at Le Thi Rieng Park, he directed authorities to systematically review records from major wartime campaigns, particularly those fought in 1968 and 1972, while expanding cooperation with historians, witnesses and international partners to identify additional burial sites across the country.

Expressing confidence that the experience gained from the current operation would guide future recovery efforts, the Prime Minister described the search for Vietnam’s missing war martyrs as a sacred national mission that would continue until every possible effort has been made.

He also appealed to Vietnamese citizens at home and abroad, as well as foreign veterans who served in Vietnam, to continue sharing historical information that could help locate the resting places of soldiers who remain missing decades after the war.

A mission of compassion to bring fallen soldiers home

VOV.VN - Vietnam has launched a nationwide 500-day campaign to search for, recover and identify the remains of fallen soldiers, reaffirming the country's commitment to honouring those who sacrificed their lives for national independence.