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| The city leaders repatriated the remains of heroic martyrs found in Laos for burial at the City Martyrs’ Cemetery |
Enormous pressure from numbers
According to the latest statistics, there are 61 martyrs' cemeteries in the entire city, and 17,194 graves containing remains are currently under management. Of these, only 1,181 graves have full information, 3,783 graves have partial information, and the remaining 12,230 graves have no information at all. Consequently, the total number of graves requiring identification through DNA testing is 16,013 out of 17,194 graves, accounting for 93.13%.
These numbers reflect not only the immense workload but also the lingering heartache of thousands of martyrs’ families, as far too many martyrs’ names remain unknown. Identifying martyrs' remains with missing information is an urgent political mission, with deep humanitarian significance. It embodies the tradition of “When drinking water, remember its source”, while fulfilling the fervent wishes of martyrs’ families and relatives, and the society at large.
Surveying and biological sample collection for DNA testing are part of the implementation roadmap of the “500-day campaign to accelerate the search, recovery and identification of martyrs’ remains”, launched by the Government in early April 2026. The campaign aims to create strong momentum in locating, recovering, and identifying unidentified martyrs. The campaign is being implemented nationwide with urgency, aiming to identify the remains of martyrs in a scientific, accurate, and coordinated manner.
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| Verification work for DNA sampling at Hue City Martyrs’ Cemetery |
Colonel Truong Viet Hai, Member of the City Party Committee and Political Commissar of the City Military Command, and Standing Deputy Head of the city’s Steering Committee 515, stated: “To complete the survey of martyrs' graves at cemeteries on schedule, the City Military Command advised the establishment of a 95-member survey team, led by a leader of the Military Command. The team has been tasked with closely coordinating with relevant departments, agencies, and local authorities to carry out the mission decisively and accurately, ensuring not a single grave is missed.”
Quietly racing against time
In late March, the working team of Steering Committee 515, in coordination with functional sectors, representatives of the Culture and Social Affairs Division and officers and soldiers of the Military Command of An Cuu Ward, conducted surveys at Hue City Martyrs' Cemetery (in An Cuu Ward). This is a large cemetery, the final resting place of more than 2,300 heroic martyrs from across the country.
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| DNA sampling to identify the martyrs |
The survey work has faced numerous challenges: the large number of graves, the requirement of meticulousness and accuracy, and the scorching heat weather conditions. With a deep sense of sacred responsibility entrusted to them, the team members and supporting forces have made every effort to fulfill their mission.
Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hai, Head of the Policy Division, the Political Department, the City Military Command, and a team member, shared: “Determining that surveying and verifying martyrs’ graves for DNA sampling is both a noble and urgent mission, we have had to race against time. We have worked continuously without rest. After verification and statistical review, we found that at Hue City Martyrs’ Cemetery alone, there are 1,529 graves requiring DNA sampling.”
Major Hoang Thi Hanh Phuc, a staff member of the Policy Division, the City Military Command, added: “The survey process has encountered many difficulties due to the large number of cemeteries, and time pressure. Especially, the archiving and management of grave records have not been carried out in a systematic manner, which has required the team to verify each grave individually. However, this is an important political mission and a responsibility of today’s generation to heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom. We have done our utmost, making the most of every moment to complete the mission as quickly and accurately as possible in preparation for the forthcoming DNA sampling and identification of martyrs’ remains.”
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| The working team surveyed burial locations to support DNA sampling for martyrs’ identification |
A humanitarian and urgent mission
The journey of surveying, verifying, and DNA testing is not only scientific but also deeply humanitarian, restoring names to those who fell for the Fatherland. After days of tireless work amidst the heat and with inconsistent records, each identified grave and each collected sample carries the sacred responsibility of today’s generation toward the heroic martyrs.
Every successful DNA identification restores a name to a grave, eases a family’s pain, and fully upholds the national tradition of “When drinking water, remember its source”. This work not only meets the heartfelt wishes of martyrs’ relatives but also stands as a testament to the deep affection and gratitude of the entire society for those who sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.
With the strong coordination among agencies, local authorities, and armed forces, the survey, sampling, and DNA identification efforts are expected to be completed on schedule, soon restoring names to each of the fallen heroes…