Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra: Accelerate DNA sample collection to ensure the completion of the "500 Days and Nights" Campaign's objectives

Focus all resources on finding the names of unidentified martyrs.

Within the framework of the "500 Days and Nights Campaign to Intensify the Search, Collection, and Identification of Martyrs' Remains," leading up to the 80th anniversary of the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2027), on the morning of June 24, the National Steering Committee for the Search, Collection, and Identification of Martyrs' Remains directed the Ministry of Public Security to organize a launching ceremony for the nationwide peak period of collecting DNA samples from relatives of martyrs whose information has not yet been identified.

The launching ceremony was held in a hybrid format, combining in-person and online participation, connecting to police stations in provinces and cities, and 3,321 commune-level police stations nationwide.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra expressed her emotion: "More than half a century after their sacrifice, the identities of martyrs Nguyen Thien Quyet, Nguyen Trong Cat, and Doan Van Khai have been confirmed, and their remains have been returned to their rightful owners. This is not only a great joy for the three families but also a shared joy for the entire nation, especially those who have been working day and night to search for, collect, and identify the remains of martyrs. This is also vivid proof that, even though the war is long over, the Party, the State, and the people of Vietnam continue to strive to bring these heroes back to their families, hometowns, and country."

The Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged and highly appreciated the sense of responsibility, creativity, and determination of the Ministry of Public Security in proactively researching, developing, and implementing solutions using modern technology, including the collection, analysis, and construction of DNA databases.

In the first six months of 2026 alone, the Ministry of Public Security analyzed and synchronized more than 53,000 DNA data records of relatives of martyrs whose information had not been identified into the database; to date, it has cross-checked and identified the identities of 25 martyrs, contributing to improving the efficiency of identifying the remains of martyrs.

The Deputy Prime Minister also commended the close coordination and efforts of the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Interior, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, and the Party committees and authorities of the localities in organizing and implementing this particularly sacred task.

Emphasizing that the "500 Days and Nights" campaign is entering a decisive phase, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that the task ahead remains immense. Currently, the country still has over 175,000 martyrs whose remains have not been found, and over 300,000 martyrs' graves lack clear information. This is a major concern for the entire political system and the whole nation.

This sacred task is both a responsibility to history and an urgent race against time. Many immediate relatives of fallen soldiers are now elderly and frail; many have carried the aspiration of finding their loved ones throughout their lives.

The Deputy Prime Minister stated that each passing day represents a lost opportunity and a historical gap that needs to be filled. Meanwhile, identifying the remains of fallen soldiers, especially those with incomplete information, requires a systematic, scientific, comprehensive, and long-term approach; therefore, collecting DNA samples from the soldiers' relatives plays a crucial role. Emphasizing this, the Deputy Prime Minister urged ministries, sectors, and localities to consider this a particularly important political task; to focus all resources and accelerate the process of collecting and identifying the remains of fallen soldiers, avoiding delays that could jeopardize these remaining valuable opportunities.

The Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department directs the continued strengthening of communication efforts to highlight the profound political, historical, and humanitarian significance of searching for, collecting, and identifying the remains of martyrs. This aims to leverage the combined strength of the political system and the entire society and people, educate on revolutionary patriotic traditions, especially among the younger generation, and promote the spirit of "Remembering the source when drinking water" and "Showing gratitude" as enduring cultural values ​​and responsibilities in social life, thereby inspiring the aspiration to contribute to the development of the country in the new era.

The Ministry of Public Security continues to play a core role, leading the organization and implementation of the collection, analysis, construction, and management of DNA databases for the relatives of martyrs; ensuring the scientific accuracy, safety, and confidentiality of information; and researching and proposing the addition of modern equipment to promptly and comprehensively carry out the very large volume of work with the highest possible results.

The Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Interior, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, and local Party committees and authorities at all levels are urgently stepping up the work of examining biological samples from the remains of unidentified martyrs; and at the same time, closely coordinating with the Ministry of Public Security in connecting and sharing data to perform comparison and matching to serve the identification of the remains of martyrs.

The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology continues to accelerate research and application of new technologies in DNA identification; strengthen technology transfer, contributing to improving the capacity to identify the remains of fallen soldiers.

The Deputy Prime Minister also requested that Party committees and local authorities at all levels should strengthen propaganda and mobilization efforts to encourage relatives of martyrs to participate in providing information and collecting biological samples; and to mobilize maximum resources from local budgets and social contributions to focus on effectively implementing the specific goals and targets of the "500 Days and Nights" Campaign. This is the most profound expression of gratitude towards those who dedicated their youth and blood for the independence and freedom of the country.

Launching the campaign, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra called on ministries, localities, organizations, businesses, and the entire nation to actively respond and work together to successfully accomplish this sacred task. "Let us all act with responsibility, gratitude, and the highest determination towards those who sacrificed for the Fatherland," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

Intensive campaign to collect DNA samples from relatives of fallen soldiers.

Following the comprehensive directives of the Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the National Steering Committee on the search, collection, and identification of the remains of martyrs, Deputy Minister of Public Security, Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long emphasized that these are important guidelines for the People's Public Security forces, along with ministries, sectors, and localities, to effectively organize the peak period of collecting DNA samples from relatives of martyrs in the "500 Days and Nights" campaign of the National Steering Committee.

Deputy Minister of Public Security, Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, stated clearly: The Ministry of Public Security considers this a particularly important and humane political task, a responsibility, an expression of affection, and a sacred tribute to the heroic martyrs and their families.

Therefore, to concretize and seriously implement the directives of the Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Minister of Public Security, Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, the police forces of all units and localities are required to focus on decisively implementing key tasks. Specifically, the Department of Administrative Management of Social Order (C06) needs to maximize its core role, regularly guide and supervise the forces to effectively implement the plan; organize the collection, construction, and management of DNA databases ensuring scientific accuracy, safety, and security; and urgently complete and integrate utilities into the VNeID application by July 2026, creating the most favorable conditions for people to proactively provide information and improve the efficiency of identifying the remains of fallen soldiers.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Long also assigned the C06 Department as the focal point to monitor, guide, and urge implementation; promptly compile difficulties and obstacles, and report them to the Ministry's leadership for consideration and guidance in resolving them.

For the relevant departments, close coordination with local police is essential to ensure security and safety during the implementation of the peak period, proactively monitoring the situation, and promptly detecting and handling false or negative information.

Regarding the police forces of provinces and cities, Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Long requested that, based on the Ministry of Public Security's plan, they develop detailed plans and roadmaps for implementing the task of ensuring "6 clear points". He urged them to intensify propaganda and mobilization efforts to encourage relatives of martyrs to actively provide information and participate in sample collection. He also called for the commune-level police to strongly play a core role at the grassroots level, demonstrating a spirit of closeness to the people, directly assisting in sample collection, and ensuring that absolutely no cases are overlooked in their areas.

Immediately after the launching ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra and other delegates directly witnessed the activity of collecting DNA samples for relatives of martyrs whose information has not been identified in Hanoi.