Dong Nai lays to rest fallen soldiers repatriated from Cambodia

The 63 sets of remains were recovered by Team K72 under the Dong Nai Military Command as part of Vietnam’s ongoing search and repatriation mission. Of these, 62 were found in Cambodia during June 2026, while one was recovered within Vietnam.

Delivering the memorial address, Nguyen Thi Hoang, vice chairwoman of the Dong Nai People's Committee and head of the province’s Steering Committee 515, said the search, recovery and identification of fallen soldiers have remained a key priority alongside the preservation of martyrs' cemeteries and memorial sites.

Since 2002, officers and soldiers of Team K72 have searched thousands of locations across Vietnam and Cambodia despite difficult terrain and harsh conditions. Their efforts have resulted in the recovery and repatriation of 4,009 sets of fallen soldiers' remains for burial in their homeland.

The achievements not only reflect Vietnam's enduring commitment to honouring those who sacrificed their lives for the nation, but also help fulfill the long-cherished aspiration of bringing fallen soldiers back to their homeland, she stressed.

As decades have passed since the war ended, none of the 63 sets of remains buried this time has yet been identified. However, recovery teams successfully collected two biological samples suitable for DNA analysis.

According to Dong Nai's Steering Committee 515, the samples, combined with the nationwide collection of DNA samples from relatives of unidentified martyrs, offer renewed hope of identifying the fallen soldiers and reuniting them with their families after decades of waiting.

During the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang and other delegates laid wreaths, offered incense and observed a minute of silence in memory of the fallen soldiers, expressing profound gratitude for those who sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom while fulfilling their international duties.

Following the memorial service, the 63 sets of remains were laid to rest with full military honours at Binh Phuoc Martyrs' Cemetery. Delegates and relatives also lit incense at each grave to pay tribute to those who dedicated their youth and lives to the nation’s peace and independence.

The memorial and burial ceremony marked not only the conclusion of another challenging recovery mission but also another significant milestone in Vietnam's 500-day nationwide campaign to search for, recover and identify fallen soldiers' remains, launched ahead of the 80th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 2027).

From President Ho Chi Minh’s teachings to the search for fallen soldiers in Vietnam

VOV.VN - Nearly 80 years after President Ho Chi Minh launched War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947 – 2026), Vietnam continues his legacy through a 500-day campaign to search for, recover and identify the remains of fallen soldiers, helping more Vietnamese heroes return to their families.