Efforts to Bring Fallen Soldiers Home to Their Families

Under the “500-Day-and-Night Campaign to Accelerate the Search, Recovery and Identification of Fallen Soldiers’ Remains,” localities are stepping up efforts and striving to achieve the targets set for 2026.

Gia Minh Gia Minh

October 03, 2026 | 14:59

The 500-Day-and-Night Campaign: Peacetime Mission to Search for and Identify Fallen Soldiers Dien Bien Buries Remains of 10 Fallen Soldiers at Tong Khao Martyrs' Cemetery

On October 1, the People’s Committee of Tay Ninh province and the provincial Steering Committee for the Search, Collection and Identification of Fallen Soldiers’ Remains issued a call for agencies, units, war veterans and local residents to actively provide information to support the search and collection of fallen soldiers’ remains in Ben Cau commune. The effort aims to verify information about a suspected mass grave believed to contain the remains of 16 Vietnamese soldiers in the area.

After more than 100 days of implementing the 500-Day-and-Night Campaign, the armed forces of Military Region 2 have recovered the remains of 143 fallen soldiers (Photo: Military Region 2).

According to the Tay Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, following a period of focused efforts with strong determination from the entire political system and broad public support, as of August 21, 2026, the province had completed DNA sample collection from relatives of fallen soldiers whose remains had not yet been found. Functional units collected samples for DNA testing from all 18,593 of the 18,593 graves. Of these, 15,336 graves, or 82.48 percent, were eligible for sample collection, while 3,257 graves, or 17.52 percent, were not eligible.

In addition, during Phase 2 of the 25th campaign period (the 2025-2026 dry season), K Teams from Tay Ninh province searched for and collected the remains of 358 fallen soldiers. Of these, 12 sets of remains were collected in Viet Nam and 346 in the Kingdom of Cambodia, gradually advancing the goal of bringing the fallen heroes home to rest in their native land.

In particular, to continue this sacred mission, on August 20, the Tay Ninh Provincial Military Command established a task force to coordinate with Ben Cau commune in conducting field surveys and collecting information in Tan Lap hamlet, Ben Cau commune. According to data provided by the US-based Mission POW-MIA organization, a suspected mass grave containing the remains of 16 Vietnamese soldiers is located in Tan Lap hamlet at coordinates 1229437 - 625322.

On September 16, the Tay Ninh provincial Steering Committee for the Search, Collection and Identification of Fallen Soldiers’ Remains held a thematic workshop to discuss and reach conclusions on the information. At the workshop, delegates and experts unanimously affirmed that the information provided by Mission POW-MIA corresponded with historical combat records of the 429th Special Forces Brigade. On that basis, the workshop concluded that there were sufficient grounds to believe a mass grave of fallen soldiers that had not yet been collected existed at the stated coordinates, and proposed that the provincial Steering Committee urgently mobilize forces to conduct a search and collection operation.

To obtain further grounds for accurately verifying the location, the Tay Ninh Provincial People’s Committee and the provincial Steering Committee called on relevant agencies and units, war veterans, former guerrillas, militia members and officials who participated in combat or combat-support activities in the area, as well as relatives of fallen soldiers and residents who previously lived in Tan Lap hamlet, Ben Cau commune (formerly Ben Cau district), to actively provide information.

The requested information includes details of battles, burial locations, places where the opposing side collected the bodies of fallen soldiers, and any changes to former geographical landmarks.

The Military Commands of communes and wards or the Tay Ninh Provincial Military Command will serve as points of contact for receiving information. Information can also be provided directly to Lieutenant Colonel Phan Cong Quan, Deputy Head of the Policy Section under the Political Department of the Tay Ninh Provincial Military Command, at 0982274657.

A representative of the Tay Ninh Provincial People’s Committee stressed that every piece of information received, no matter how small, could provide an important basis for shortening the verification process, contributing to bringing fallen heroes back to their families and fulfilling the heartfelt wishes of their relatives, while demonstrating the Vietnamese tradition of “remembering the source when drinking water” and “showing gratitude and repaying those who rendered great service to the country.”

On the morning of October 1, the Son La provincial Steering Committee for the Search, Collection and Identification of Fallen Soldiers’ Remains (Steering Committee 515), in coordination with the People’s Committee of Song Ma commune, held a ceremony to pay tribute to, commemorate and bury the remains of two fallen soldiers.

In a solemn and reverent atmosphere, delegates offered flowers and incense and observed a minute of silence to commemorate the fallen soldiers and express their profound gratitude for the great contributions of the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. Following the memorial ceremony, the remains of the two fallen soldiers were buried at the Martyrs’ Cemetery in Song Ma commune in accordance with prescribed protocols.

The 500-Day-and-Night Campaign continues the Vietnamese tradition of “When drinking water, remember its source” and “Repay those who have rendered service to the country.” (Photo: VGP/Thu Giang)

Previously, under the “500-Day-and-Night Campaign to Step Up the Search, Collection and Identification of Fallen Soldiers’ Remains,” information provided by local residents led the authorities to identify the garden of the family of Deo Van Thiem, a resident of Cang Kieng village, Chieng Khoong commune, Son La province, as the burial site of two soldiers who died during the resistance war against French colonial rule.

Steering Committee 515, in coordination with the People’s Committee of Chieng Khoong commune, cordoned off the area and mobilized 30 officials, soldiers and militia members to excavate locations identified as possible graves of fallen soldiers. However, the search faced numerous difficulties because the burials had taken place many years ago, while the terrain, landscape and current conditions of the area had changed significantly.

Nevertheless, through the efforts of the forces involved, on September 27, 2026, the remains of two fallen soldiers were excavated and collected. The recovered remains included skull bones, leg and arm bones, teeth and related artifacts, including fragments of ammunition.

Steering Committee 515 of Son La province documented the site conditions, collected biological samples for DNA testing to identify the fallen soldiers, handed over the remains to Song Ma commune and organized a solemn ceremony to pay tribute to, commemorate and bury them.

As DNA testing is still underway, there is not yet accurate information about the names, hometowns, units or dates of death of the two fallen soldiers. Therefore, the search and identification efforts will continue to be carried out by the relevant authorities in order to bring the fallen soldiers back to their comrades, families and hometowns as soon as possible.

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Song Ma commune Hoang Van Thuyen said that thanks to the search and collection efforts of the relevant authorities, the remains of the two fallen soldiers had been found and brought home.

“They were steadfast soldiers of the heroic Viet Nam People’s Army. Their blood and bones became part of the earth, adding to the glory of the national flag and writing brilliant pages in the history of the nation. Their sacrifice without a known name is the noblest symbol of the spirit of ‘determination to die for the Fatherland’s survival.’ Today, as we welcome them to rest in the solemn grounds of the martyrs’ cemetery, the locality hopes this will in some measure ease the pain and the decades-long anguish and longing of their loved ones back in their hometown,” he said.

In the coming period, the Party Committee, authorities, armed forces and people of Song Ma commune will continue to effectively implement gratitude activities and policies supporting military families and the armed forces’ rear. In particular, the commune will strengthen coordination with relevant agencies and actively carry out biological sample collection to identify the fallen soldiers as soon as possible and restore their accurate names and personal identities.