Leaders of Thai Nguyen province and Military Region 1 observing a moment of silence in memory of the heroic martyrs at Yen Trach commune Martyrs' Cemetery

In keeping with the moral traditions of “When drinking water, remember its source” and “Repaying debts of gratitude”, the campaign to intensify the search for, collection of, and identification of martyrs' remains over “500 Days and Nights” (the 500-Day and Night Campaign) has been launched nationwide, to be implemented from March 15, 2026 to July 27, 2027. This is a particularly important political task, reflecting the responsibility and profound gratitude toward the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for national independence.

Implementing the 500-Day and Night Campaign, Thai Nguyen province has mobilized the entire political system with strong determination, step by step restoring the identities of the outstanding sons and daughters resting in this revolutionary homeland.

The province has 941 graves with unidentified information, distributed across 49 cemeteries in 29 communes and wards. (Photo: Du - Dong Dat Martyrs' Cemetery has 23 martyrs' graves with unidentified information requiring sample collection)

As an area of important strategic position during the resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, Thai Nguyen was once home to many agencies and military units, and also served as a major rear base supplying manpower and resources to the front lines. After the war, the province currently has 82 martyrs' cemeteries with 5,112 graves. Through review, 1,547 graves remain without information, of which 606 graves have had samples collected for identification, while 941 graves with unidentified information have not yet had samples collected, distributed across 49 cemeteries in 29 communes and wards.

Forces carrying out the exhumation of unidentified martyrs' graves at Yen Trach commune Martyrs' Cemetery

To implement the 500-Day and Night Campaign, Yen Trach commune was selected as the pilot locality. According to Mr. Trieu Van Son, Vice Chairman of the Yen Trach Commune People's Committee, the locality currently has 129 graves with unidentified identities. The locality has completed the review, mapping, and plan development, and has established two task forces working closely with the Provincial Military Command. Despite the hot weather, the forces have moved swiftly to prepare facilities and assign specific tasks, while stepping up communications so that residents and martyrs' relatives clearly understand the significance and procedures involved.

Not only Party committees and local governments but also a large number of cadres and soldiers of the armed forces are actively taking part in this meaningful task. Militia soldier Doan Duc Thao shared: “Being directly involved in the exhumation of martyrs' remains is an honor and a source of pride. Despite the harsh summer weather, my comrades and I always strive to fulfill our duties well, with the utmost reverence for the heroic martyrs.” Sharing the same sentiment, militia soldier Nguyen Van Hao regards taking part in the exhumation and sample collection of martyrs' remains as the sacred responsibility of youth toward the generation of forebears who sacrificed themselves for the Fatherland.

Task force strictly complying with sample collection procedures, ensuring scientific rigor, accuracy, and solemnity at Ba Be Martyrs' Cemetery

According to Colonel Tran Viet Nang, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Military Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, immediately after the 500-Day and Night Campaign was launched, the Provincial Military Party Committee advised the Provincial Party Committee to establish a Steering Committee and identified this as a particularly important political task. With the highest determination, the entire political system has been mobilized to roll out the tasks in a coordinated manner, completing sample collection from unidentified martyrs' remains in cemeteries across the province by September 2026.

Following the pilot rollout in Yen Trach commune, the entire process - from exhumation and sample collection to the restoration of graves in accordance with proper spiritual rites - has been seriously reviewed to draw lessons learned, ensuring consistency before simultaneous implementation at the remaining cemeteries across the province.

DNA identification work playing a particularly important role and requiring an extremely strict technical process

To determine the identities of the martyrs, DNA identification work plays a particularly important role and requires an extremely strict technical process. According to leaders of the Forensic Center (Department of Health), Thai Nguyen is one of the few localities with adequate facilities and a team of DNA identification experts trained in depth to carry out the collection of martyrs' remains samples. After being handed over, remains samples are preserved and processed in dedicated testing areas, absolutely ensuring the avoidance of cross-contamination with living persons' DNA. Each sample is processed separately in a system of negative- and positive-pressure rooms together with a standard-compliant air filtration system, after which it is cross-checked against the DNA database managed by the police force. It is precisely these strict technical requirements that mean sample collection and processing must be carried out case by case, with only one sample handled at a time to ensure the highest possible accuracy.

Every grave sampled today is one more hope kindled for families who have spent many years longing for news of their loved ones. The 500-Day and Night Campaign is not only a particularly important political task but also a journey of gratitude, responsibility, and heartfelt devotion. With the determination of the entire political system and the combined efforts of all forces, Thai Nguyen is striving day by day to restore the names of the heroic martyrs, helping ease the pain of war and carry forward the Vietnamese nation's moral tradition of “When drinking water, remember its source.”