Digital Technologies to Accelerate Identification of Fallen Soldiers' Remains in Vietnam

The Vietnamese government will accelerate the identification of fallen soldiers' remains by leveraging advanced digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and geographic information systems (GIS). Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra stated in an interview with state media that this is a crucial political and moral responsibility for the nation to honor those who sacrificed for independence and freedom. Despite decades of effort, approximately 175,000 fallen soldiers' remains are still unaccounted for in Vietnam, with about 230,000 martyrs' graves remaining unidentified. This task faces numerous challenges, including incomplete records, changing landscapes, a dwindling number of witnesses, and difficulties in DNA analysis. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the "500-Day Campaign," scheduled to conclude by July 27, 2027, has yielded encouraging initial results. Authorities have recovered 1,491 sets of remains and 10 collective graves, cleared 8,462 hectares of land contaminated by unexploded ordnance, collected samples from nearly 81,000 unidentified graves, and obtained over 250,000 biological samples from relatives, with around 66,000 already undergoing analysis. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that these figures represent more than statistical achievements, as each identified martyr brings long-awaited closure to families. Moving forward, the government will accelerate the development of a comprehensive, fully digitalized national database integrating data from ministries, localities, the armed forces, police, and other relevant agencies. Efforts will also focus on expanding the national gene bank, increasing sample collection from relatives, standardizing genetic data management and matching procedures, investing in modern laboratories, and strengthening the capacity of DNA forensic experts. AI and big data are expected to enhance the accuracy of information review, verification, and analysis, thereby improving the effectiveness of search and identification efforts. The Deputy Prime Minister expressed confidence that rapid advancements in science and technology, coupled with contributions from the scientific community, will lead to significant breakthroughs in the search, recovery, and identification of fallen soldiers' remains in the coming years. This initiative underscores the strong commitment of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the State to never forget soldiers who sacrificed for the nation.