Vietnam’s Tay Ninh recovers 511 sets of martyrs’ remains in Cambodia

The figures were announced on Wednesday at a conference reviewing the search and repatriation of Vietnamese martyrs’ remains and assessing progress after 60 days of DNA sample collection.

In 2025-26, Tay Ninh authorities organized three solemn ceremonies to welcome the remains home, followed by memorial services and burials.

The provincial steering committee for the search, recovery, and identification of war martyrs’ remains is now expediting procedures for search teams to begin the next campaign.

Based on information provided, the first stage of the 2026-27 season is expected to recover 499 sets of remains.

The steering committee is also strengthening cooperation with its Cambodian counterpart, including planned workshops with Pailin, Battambang, and Oddar Meanchey Provinces, to gather more data and expand recovery efforts.

As part of Vietnam’s nationwide 500-day campaign running from March 15, 2026 to July 27, 2027 to locate and identify the remains of fallen Vietnamese soldiers, Tay Ninh has collected DNA samples from 16,160 graves, representing nearly 87 percent of the province’s 18,591 martyrs’ graves.

Of these, 13,113 were suitable for sampling.

The first batch of 10,387 samples has been delivered to the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology for analysis.

Tay Ninh police have also collected 5,751 DNA samples from relatives of martyrs.

Recent searches within Tay Ninh recovered 10 sets of remains that will be honored and reburied during the midterm review of the 500-day campaign.

At the conference, the provincial administration also awarded medals and certificates of merit to units and individuals for outstanding achievements in the 2021-25 and 2025-26 periods.

Speaking at the event, Pham Tan Hoa, chairman of the provincial administration and head of the steering committee, urged search team members to continue their mission with determination and gratitude.

“Above all, we must verify identities as quickly and accurately as possible when evidence emerges, so families can welcome their heroes home,” he said.