Maximizing the search for fallen soldiers’ remains, bringing heroes home to their homeland and families

Esteemed leaders of the Party, State, the military, Ho Chi Minh City and Military Region 7,

Dear comrades,

Today, I am deeply moved to visit and encourage the forces who have been working day and night to carry out the mission of searching for and recovering the remains of fallen soldiers at Le Thi Rieng Park — a site associated with the extraordinarily courageous sacrifices of our military and people during the 1968 Spring General Offensive and Uprising.

On behalf of the Party and State leadership, I extend my sincere greetings, best wishes for good health and deepest gratitude to all comrades, officials, soldiers, scientists, historical witnesses, authorities at all levels, sectors and the entire population.

To the fallen soldiers at Le Thi Rieng Park and those who sacrificed their lives on the Saigon – Gia Dinh battlefield in the spring of 1968,

Standing before this sacred land, we respectfully commemorate the outstanding sons and daughters of the nation who fought bravely and gave their lives for the cause of national liberation and reunification in the spring of 1968.

You were the winds that helped create the storms of Vietnam’s revolutionary struggle; you were among the forces that shaped Vietnam’s national character and built the “Citadel of the Fatherland”. For the past 58 years, you — the liberation soldiers, urban commandos and steadfast revolutionary activists — have quietly rested in the motherland’s soil of Saigon.

You did not live to see the day the country was fully reunified, but it was your sacrifices that made that day possible. You did not witness a peaceful, united, developing and integrating Vietnam, but your lives helped open a bright future for the Vietnamese nation.

Fifty-one years after liberation, Ho Chi Minh City has continuously risen, becoming a vivid symbol of Vietnam’s will, resilience, creativity and aspiration for development. Behind every achievement today is the silent presence of those who fell.

You have not only become part of the earth, but have also become part of peace, reunification, development, prosperity, the nation’s confidence and its future. History is written through sacrifice and victories, and history becomes more glorious when it is preserved through the gratitude and remembrance of generations today and tomorrow.

For the Party, State and people of Vietnam, searching for, recovering and identifying the remains of fallen soldiers is a sacred responsibility before the Fatherland and the people; it is the conscience and aspiration of every Vietnamese person.

Our people and our Party will never forget those who sacrificed themselves for the country and the nation. This is the moral foundation and cultural tradition of Vietnam.

Before the spirits of heroic martyrs, we pledge to do our utmost to fulfill this noble mission with the highest sense of responsibility, wisdom and profound affection.

May the souls of our fallen heroes continue to accompany the nation, providing faith, willpower and strength to the officials, soldiers, scientists and forces who are working day and night on this land.

Dear comrades carrying out their mission at Le Thi Rieng Park,

Every set of remains of fallen soldiers discovered today is not merely a professional achievement; it represents the return of a son or daughter to the Fatherland and family; the return of a part of history; and an affirmation of Vietnam’s sacred traditions of “remembering the source of water” and “repaying gratitude.”

The Party and State highly appreciate the sense of responsibility demonstrated by the National Steering Committee, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, the municipal People’s Committee, Military Region 7, relevant agencies, scientists, historical witnesses and the people who have joined hands in this meaningful mission.

In particular, the mobilization of diverse domestic and international sources of documents; the application of modern science and technology; and the combination of historical records, witness accounts and field surveys have opened a new direction in the search and recovery of fallen soldiers’ remains.

This is a highly valuable model that should be studied, reviewed and expanded.

Dear comrades,

The initial results at Le Thi Rieng Park show that we have every reason to believe that, with strong political determination, appropriate scientific methods, the involvement of the entire political system and the support of the people, many locations across the country where the remains of fallen soldiers may still lie can continue to be identified.

In the coming period, I request that the following five key tasks be carried out effectively:

First, Ho Chi Minh City must continue to define the search, recovery and identification of fallen soldiers’ remains as an especially important political task. The city should mobilize the strength of the entire political system, scientists, historical witnesses and the people; and expand reviews of all locations where fallen soldiers’ remains may exist, not only at Le Thi Rieng Park but also in areas where fierce battles took place during different periods of resistance.

Second, the High Command of Military Region 7, the Ho Chi Minh City High Command and the municipal People’s Committee must strengthen their core role, provide unified direction for forces throughout the military region, build shared databases, exchange information and experience, and closely coordinate with localities to accelerate the search, recovery and identification of fallen soldiers across the entire military region.

Third, central ministries and agencies must continue improving mechanisms and policies; promote the application of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, DNA technology, geophysical technology and domestic and international archival materials to support the mission of searching for fallen soldiers.

Fourth, international cooperation must be expanded, making use of documents, maps, wartime records, images and witnesses from countries that once participated in the war to support the search, recovery and identification of fallen soldiers.

Fifth, communication and education on historical traditions must be strengthened; moving stories about the journey to find fallen heroes should be spread to foster patriotism and nurture revolutionary ideals among younger generations.

Dear comrades,

I agree with the policy of continuing to implement the 500-day-and-night Campaign to search for and recover fallen soldiers’ remains and identify their names with higher determination, broader scale and more practical effectiveness.

Based on the results achieved by Ho Chi Minh City and Military Region 7, it is necessary to study and summarize this model so that it can gradually be implemented appropriately nationwide, with the goal of maximizing the search for fallen soldiers’ remains, identifying their names and bringing heroic martyrs back to their homeland and families.

I also request that all levels and sectors pay attention to researching the preservation of representative sites where fallen soldiers’ graves are discovered, linking them with revolutionary tradition education and gratitude toward previous generations.

I believe that the 500-day-and-night Campaign to search for and recover fallen soldiers’ remains and identify martyrs’ names in Ho Chi Minh City, Military Region 7 and throughout the country will achieve even greater results, contributing to the successful implementation of policies for people with meritorious services, strengthening national unity and nurturing spiritual strength as the country confidently enters a new stage of development.

I wish all comrades good health and happiness, and hope you overcome all difficulties and successfully complete all assigned tasks.

Thank you sincerely.

*Headline written by The People’s Deputies Newspaper.