Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra and other delegates perform the ritual of collecting and moving the remains of martyrs into the mortuary during the ceremony to launch the search and collection of martyrs' remains at Le Thi Rieng Park (Ho Chi Minh City) - Photo: VGP

Launched amidst nationwide efforts to promote "Gratitude and Remembrance" activities, leading up to the 80th anniversary of the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2027), the "500-Day Campaign" is the most comprehensive and largesr campaign ever undertaken to create a breakthrough in the search, collection, and identification of the remains of martyrs whose information is still incomplete.

According to the National Steering Committee for the Search, Collection, and Identification of Martyrs' Remains, to date, forces have searched for and collected 1,425 remains of martyrs. Of these, 401 remains were found domestically, 174 in Laos , and 850 in Cambodia.

The search for mass graves of fallen soldiers has also yielded many positive results. In Tuyen Quang province, authorities have discovered five mass graves containing approximately 23 remains of fallen soldiers.

In particular, in the Le Thi Rieng Park area (Ho Chi Minh City), authorities have launched a search for a mass grave believed to contain approximately 100 individual remains of fallen soldiers, and have discovered 32 artifacts along with 2 sets of remains from a mass grave. These discoveries continue to offer hope for identifying many fallen soldiers whose identities have remained unknown for decades.

To carry out the mission, 32 search and recovery teams with a total of over 1,500 personnel were mobilized, including 13 teams operating domestically and 19 teams operating in Laos and Cambodia.

Along with the search and collection efforts, 13 memorial and burial ceremonies for the remains of martyrs were held, receiving and burying 735 remains of martyrs, demonstrating the profound gratitude of the Party, the State, and the people towards those who sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

Over 93,000 samples from relatives of fallen soldiers were collected for DNA testing.

Identifying the remains of fallen soldiers through DNA testing is one of the key tasks of the 500-Day Campaign.

To date, the process of collecting remains of fallen soldiers has been carried out for 66,013 graves nationwide, of which 46,116 graves meet the criteria for sampling, reaching nearly 70%.

For the relatives of fallen soldiers, 93,464 biological samples have been collected, of which 53,036 have been analyzed and synchronized into the database for DNA matching.

In addition, 15,729 samples of martyrs' remains from various localities have been received and stored for DNA testing.

With over 93,000 biological samples from relatives of fallen soldiers already collected, a gene bank for identifying the remains of fallen soldiers is gradually being established. This is considered a crucial scientific foundation, opening up opportunities to identify tens of thousands of fallen soldiers whose identities have been unknown for decades.

DNA storage, analysis, and matching is not just a matter of science and technology, but also a journey to find the names of those who have fallen for their country. Each successfully matched DNA sample brings renewed hope for reunion to families still anxiously awaiting information about their deceased loved ones.

Alongside the search, collection, and DNA identification efforts, the task of clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance in areas suspected of containing the graves of fallen soldiers is also being intensified.

To date, authorities have cleared 8,462.16 hectares out of a total of 22,725 hectares, achieving 37.24% of the plan. In the core area of Tuyen Quang province alone, 3,566.7 hectares out of a total of 4,460 hectares have been cleared, reaching nearly 80%.

360 mine clearance teams with 5,183 officers and soldiers, along with more than 1,300 detectors and various specialized equipment, were mobilized to carry out the mission.

Mine clearance not only ensures the safety of the task force but also facilitates the acceleration of the search and repatriation of the remains of fallen soldiers in key areas.

Continue to improve policies, promote the application of technology, and enhance international cooperation.

Based on the initial results achieved, the National Steering Committee has identified several key tasks to ensure the completion of the Campaign's objectives.

The focus in the coming period will be on continuing to improve the system of legal documents on searching for, collecting, and identifying the remains of martyrs, ensuring consistency, practicality, and suitability with the two-tiered local government model.

In addition, the application of science and technology, and artificial intelligence in analyzing and exploiting data on fallen soldiers; and the acceleration of collecting, analyzing, and matching DNA of fallen soldiers' relatives for integration into the gene bank will continue to be promoted.

Ministries, departments, and localities will also focus on reviewing and verifying information about mass graves of martyrs, strengthening forces and resources to serve the search and repatriation work, and expanding international cooperation in exchanging information, sharing experiences and DNA testing technology with relevant countries.

Information and communication efforts regarding the Campaign will also be intensified to widely disseminate the humanitarian significance of the journey to search for, collect, and identify the remains of fallen soldiers.

More than half a century after the war ended, tens of thousands of fallen soldiers remain unidentified. Therefore, the "500-Day and Night Campaign" was not just a campaign to search for and collect the remains of fallen soldiers, but also a journey to rediscover the names of those who died for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

Every set of remains found, every DNA sample successfully matched, or every artifact discovered contributes to fulfilling the Vietnamese people's principle of "Always remember your roots" and extends the journey of gratitude to the generations who sacrificed for the country.