Vietnam's DNA Drive Offers Solace to Families of Fallen Soldiers

Vietnam is spearheading a nationwide campaign to collect DNA samples to identify unidentified martyrs' remains from its independence wars, a humanitarian effort aimed at fulfilling the long-held wish of grieving families awaiting the return of their loved ones. Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, along with other government leaders, have expressed deep respect for the fallen soldiers who contributed to the revolutionary cause and the country's development. On July 9, the Steering Committee for the Search, Recovery and Identification of Martyrs’ Remains of Ho Chi Minh City received war memorabilia and burial records of fallen soldiers from the research team for the Vietnam Wartime Accounting Initiative (VWAI). Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that the program to collect DNA samples from relatives of unidentified martyrs is an "order from the heart" and reflects a sense of responsibility towards those who sacrificed their lives for the Fatherland's independence and freedom, as well as the people's happiness. He emphasized that this remains a consistent policy of the Party and State, reflecting the profound humanitarian value of the socialist regime. The Central Highland province of Dak Lak is home to 34 martyrs’ cemeteries with 15,222 graves, of which 4,124 remain unidentified. Since early June, the province has been exhuming unidentified martyrs' graves to collect biological samples for DNA testing. The nationwide campaign has so far led to the recovery of 1,384 sets of martyrs' remains, according to the National Steering Committee for the Search, Recovery and Identification of Martyrs’ Remains. This dedication is exemplified by the recovery of remains of soldiers who fell more than 70 years ago in the forest of Pha Din Pass by the search and recovery team of the Dien Bien provincial Military Command. Through honoring its fallen heroes and preserving their memory, Vietnam seeks to strengthen national unity and identity. This initiative is part of the nation's broader efforts, encompassing disaster recovery assistance in flood-ravaged areas like Muong Than Commune in Lai Chau Province and fostering economic cooperation, such as the Vietnam–Singapore Semiconductor Industry Development Cooperation Forum.