Ham Rong Martyrs’ Cemetery contains 1,943 graves, including 1,033 without identification information requiring biological sampling for DNA testing. (Photo: VNA)

On August 3, at Ham Rong Martyrs’ Cemetery in Ham Rong ward, the provincial Steering Committee 515, responsible for the search for, recovery and identification of war martyrs’ remains, coordinated with relevant agencies and units to hold flower and incense offering ceremony and begin collecting samples from unidentified remains for DNA testing.

The sampling process at the Cemetery began on August 3 and is scheduled to be completed before August 25, 2026.

The DNA test results will help expand the relevant database and improve the ability to match the remains with relatives, gradually restoring the identities of heroic martyrs, and promoting Vietnam’s traditions of “Remember the roots” and “Showing gratitude”.

In the solemn atmosphere, delegates respectfully offered flowers and incense, and observed a moment of silence in memory of the heroes sacrificing their lives for National independence and freedom.

Immediately after the commemoration ceremony, specialised forces began collecting biological samples from unidentified graves. The activity is a part of the “500-day-and-night campaign” to accelerate the search, recovery, and identification of martyrs’ remains, contributing to gradually identifying heroic martyrs through DNA testing, fulfilling the wishes of their families and implementing “Showing gratitude” policies.

Ham Rong Martyrs’ Cemetery currently contains 1,943 graves, including 1,033 without identification information that require biological sampling for DNA analysis.

According to the plan, Thanh Hoa’s Steering Committee 515 has established eight teams working simultaneously in eight areas of the cemetery to ensure to follow technical procedures strictly and prevent errors throughout the processes of sampling, information digitisation, documentation, sealing, preservation, and handover.

To carry out the task, provincial Steering Committee 515 mobilised an interdisciplinary force comprising personnel from provincial Military Command, the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Health, the provincial Centre for Forensic Medicine and Medical Assessment, together with local authorities. The sampling process is being conducted scientifically, strictly, and following technical procedures; while ensuring absolute safety, preserving the cemetery’s landscape, and maintaining the solemnity of the martyr’s graves.

At the site, every procedure performed by officers, soldiers and specialised personnel was carried out with great care. Each biological sample represents not only data for DNA testing but also renewed hope of restoring the identities of those who sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom. Every set of remains was handled respectfully and preserved in accordance with regulations before being transferred to specialised agencies for examination.

According to a report by Thanh Hoa’s Steering Committee 515, implementing the “500-day-and-night campaign”, the provincial Military Command has consolidated an interdisciplinary working group and sampling teams and deployed them across martyrs’ cemeteries throughout the province.

Until now, the campaign has been implemented at 17 of the province’s 25 martyrs’ cemeteries; a total of 604 out of 2,955 graves have been excavated, including 452 that contained remains suitable for sampling and 152 unsuitable because the remains had decomposed or become carbonised; handed over 185 samples to the Military Institute of Forensic Medicine (comprising 166 collected from martyrs’ cemeteries and 19 from fallen soldiers’ remains recovered in Laos).

In the coming period, the provincial Military Command will continue accelerating work at the remaining cemeteries, aiming to complete the entire workload in accordance with the established schedule.

More Than 50 Records Provide New Leads for Identifying Fallen Soldiers Dossiers decoding the code name of Unit 962, a map indicating the burial area of 21 fallen soldiers at Hospital K76A T7 under Military Region 7, and keepsakes related to southeastern battlefields from 1966 to 1972,... have been handed over to Vietnamese authorities by Vietnam Wartime Accounting Initiative (VWAI) to identify burial sites, find relatives and conduct DNA matching under the 500-day-and-night campaign.

168 Sets of Martyrs’ Remains Recovered at Le Thi Rieng Park On August 1, the Ho Chi Minh City High Command announced that competent forces had discovered and recovered eight additional sets of fallen soldiers’ remains in Area B of Le Thi Rieng Park, Hoa Hung ward. The latest discovery brought the total number of sets of remains found in the area since June 23 to 168.