In southern Vietnam, family hopes newly-found remains could bring home soldier lost since 1968

The remains were discovered at Le Thi Rieng Park, where authorities are investigating possible burial sites linked to soldiers killed during the massive, coordinated surprise military campaign launched by Vietnamese forces against U.S. and then-Saigon administration troops during the American war in Vietnam on January 30–31, 1968. 

Personal effects recovered at the site included the name Huynh Van Quen, prompting officials from Ho Chi Minh City's Military Command and agencies in neighboring Tay Ninh Province to contact relatives.

At the family's home in Tay Ninh Province on Tuesday, relatives gathered to recount memories of Huynh Van Quen, who joined revolutionary activities as a teenager before enlisting at the age of 18. 

The family said they lost contact with him after the fighting during the 1968 Tet General Offensive and Uprising and later received official notification of his death in 1977.

Relatives said they had long believed he had been killed in combat but never knew where he was buried. 

They said later administrative documents corrected the spelling of his name after an earlier death notice recorded it incorrectly.

Authorities collected DNA samples from family members this week to compare with the remains found in Ho Chi Minh City. 

The family said they hope the tests will confirm the identity and allow him to be buried alongside relatives after nearly 60 years.

Among those awaiting the results is Nguyen Thi Le, 80, who said she had planned to marry Quen before he left for the operation in early 1968. 

"We met while I was supporting revolutionary forces near his unit and remained together until he departed for what became his final mission," Le said.

She never married after Quen disappeared and remained close to his family through the decades, attending family events and memorial ceremonies. 

She said she had preserved letters they exchanged during their relationship, although the documents were later destroyed over time.

The DNA analysis is expected to determine whether the remains belong to Quen, whose family has waited nearly six decades for answers.