Over 7,000 martyr remains samples leave Ho Chi Minh City for Hanoi for DNA testing

The ceremony at the military terminal of Tan Son Nhat International Airport was attended by senior military and city leaders, including Lieutenant General Le Xuan The, commander of Military Region 7, and Nguyen Manh Cuong, vice-chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City administration.

Officials emphasized the sacred duty of returning martyrs to their families with proper names and identities.

The samples were carefully sealed and transported aboard a CASA-295 military aircraft operated by the Air Defense-Air Force Service.

They will be delivered to the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology in Hanoi for DNA analysis.

The effort is part of Vietnam’s nationwide 500-day campaign running from March 15, 2026 to July 27, 2027 to accelerate the search for, recovery and identification of fallen soldiers' remains.

Cuong, who serves as head of Ho Chi Minh City's steering committee for the search, recovery and identification of martyrs' remains, said the mission reflects the responsibility of the city’s Party Committee, administration, armed forces, and people to honor those who sacrificed their lives for independence.

He added that the city is working closely with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security to build a DNA database of martyrs’ relatives for comparison.

Colonel Phan Viet Anh, deputy commander of the 370 Air Division, described the flight as a “special mission of gratitude,” stressing the determination of the military to complete the task despite limited time.

Officials acknowledged the urgency of DNA testing, as many relatives of missing and unidentified martyrs are aging.

They expressed confidence that with collective effort, more families will soon experience sacred reunions, allowing martyrs to rest under their true names.