Ho Chi Minh City has always regarded the search for and recovery of martyrs’ remains and the identification of the fallen as a particularly important political task, a demonstration of the affection for and commitment to those who sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom, said a local official.
Officers and soldiers are determined to "overcome the heat and prevail over the rain", Lieut. Col. Le Ngoc Ha said, and are working fast without cutting corners on thoroughness or safety, so that no remains go unrecovered or unidentified.
Of the total, 631 were individual sets of remains, while 33 were recovered from eight mass graves. Personal artifacts were found with 298 sets of remains.
The national steering committee will continue verifying information on suspected martyrs’ graves in key areas, including Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Quan Y Bac Son Hill in Dong Nai, the Con Tien base area in Quang Tri and former Vi Xuyen battlefields in Tuyen Quang.
Speaking at the event, First Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee Bui Quang Huy described Vietnam's history as a testament to patriotism, the pursuit of independence and the aspiration for peace. He paid tribute to the millions of Vietnamese who devoted their youth and sacrificed their lives for the nation's freedom.
The PM urged all-level authorities, sectors, localities, and the public to fully implement relevant Party resolutions and directives as well as preferential policies for revolution contributors, push ahead with the 500-day campaign, expand gratitude movements, accelerate housing support for children of Agent Orange/dioxin victims and strengthen patriotic education.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed that caring for martyrs' families, Heroic Mothers, and wounded and sick soldiers has always been regarded as a focal political task, reflecting the nation’s enduring tradition of gratitude towards those who contributed to national independence and reunification.
Nghia described the ongoing 500-day campaign as a sacred mission that embodies the Vietnamese tradition of remembering those who served and sacrificed for the nation. The current generation, he said, must spare no effort in carrying out the Party’s policy and fulfilling the aspirations of the people, particularly the families of the fallen.
The dispatch highlighted that the work has gained significant momentum following the launch of the nationwide 500-day campaign to accelerate the search for, recovery and identification of martyrs’ remains.
The launch of the search and recovery operation for martyrs’ remains at Le Thi Rieng Park in Ho Chi Minh City on July 6 is part of the nationwide 500-day campaign launched in April in Quang Tri province ahead of the 80th anniversary of Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947–2027), underscoring Vietnam’s determination to better care for people with meritorious service and fulfil the long-standing aspirations of martyrs’ families nationwide.
Vice Chairman of the Hue People's Committee Nguyen Van Manh said the large-scale sampling campaign will help build a national DNA database for martyrs, providing a foundation for future identity verification while helping restore the names of unknown fallen soldiers and easing the decades-long anguish of their families.