150 Sets of Remains Found at Ho Chi Minh City Park in War Dead Recovery Effort

Ho Chi Minh City - After more than three weeks of excavation at two mass grave sites within Le Thi Rieng Park, authorities have discovered 150 sets of remains of fallen soldiers along with numerous personal effects. On July 29, the War Dead Recovery Team under the Ho Chi Minh City Military Command erected a tent over the second excavation trench to shield it from rain and soil. Following the expansion of the trench to approximately 20 meters and the removal of 20 cubic meters of soil, six additional sets of remains were found. Since the excavation began on July 6, the team has opened two trenches, measuring about 20 meters and 30 meters in length and 2-4 meters deep, in the area adjacent to the park's traditional house and a location about 50 meters away. In total, 150 sets of remains have been found, accompanied by dozens of personal items such as AK rifles, bullets, rings, and ballpoint pens. Among these, a personal effect bearing the name of fallen soldier Huynh Van Quen was handed over to his family in Long An on July 26. The Ho Chi Minh City Military Command is preparing to relocate the memorial monument in front of the first excavation trench to expand the search area and collect the remaining remains. Le Thi Rieng Park was formerly known as Do Thanh Cemetery, also referred to as Chi Hoa - Saigon Cemetery. Through cross-referencing documents, witness accounts, and ground-penetrating radar surveys, authorities identified unusual signs and demarcated the excavation zones. The recovery operation at Le Thi Rieng Park is part of the '500 Days and Nights Campaign,' scheduled from March 15, 2026, to July 27, 2027, in anticipation of the 80th anniversary of Vietnamese War Veterans and Martyrs Day. The campaign aims to collect approximately 7,000 sets of remains and identify 18,000 biological samples.