Memorial service held for 18 fallen soldiers repatriated from Cambodia
VOV.VN - Vietnam on June 13 held a memorial and burial ceremony for 18 volunteer soldiers and military experts whose remains were recovered from former battlefields in Cambodia, continuing efforts to bring home those who died while carrying out international duties during past conflicts.
The ceremony, held at Duc Co Martyrs' Cemetery in Gia Lai province, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung, Deputy Minister of National Defence Nguyen Van Gau, representatives of the National Steering Committee 515, government agencies and delegations from the Cambodian provinces of Ratanakiri, Stung Treng and Preah Vihear.
In a solemn atmosphere, Vietnamese and Cambodian delegates offered flowers and incense and participated in memorial rituals to honour the fallen soldiers.
At the ceremony, Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich, vice chairwoman of the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee and head of the province's Steering Committee 515, said the 18 sets of remains had been recovered during the 2025-2026 dry-season search mission in Cambodia.
She described the search and recovery of fallen soldiers' remains as both a special political responsibility and a humanitarian commitment that Vietnam has pursued for many years.
According to local authorities, the recovered remains belonged to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who lost their lives during different periods of conflict in Cambodia.
Representatives of the three northeastern Cambodian provinces expressed appreciation for the sacrifices made by Vietnamese volunteer forces and reaffirmed their commitment to continuing cooperation with Vietnamese authorities in future search and recovery efforts.
Following the memorial service, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung met with members of Team K52 under the Gia Lai Provincial Military Command, the unit responsible for conducting search and recovery operations in Cambodia during the 2025-2026 dry season.
The Deputy Prime Minister commended the team's dedication and achievements and called for closer coordination with Cambodian authorities and relevant agencies to improve the effectiveness of future missions.
Vietnam has carried out search and repatriation efforts for decades to locate and identify soldiers who remain missing from past conflicts. The work is conducted in cooperation with neighbouring countries and localities, particularly in areas that were once major battlefields.
The recovery and return of the remains not only help bring closure to families but also reflect the humanitarian spirit and long-standing cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia.
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