Searching for and collecting the remains of fallen soldiers - Final part: The determination to bring our comrades back to the homeland.

In early November 2025, Tay Ninh will hold a ceremony to send off the K70, K71, and K73 teams to search for and collect the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia during various periods of war, for repatriation in the first phase of the 25th period (dry season 2025-2026). The footsteps of the officers and soldiers of the K teams will continue to leave their mark on Cambodian soil, carrying with them faith, gratitude, and a sacred responsibility – to bring their comrades back to the Fatherland.

Officers and soldiers light incense at the graves of fallen soldiers before departing for Cambodia to carry out the mission of searching for and collecting the remains of fallen soldiers. Photo: Giang Phuong/TTXVN

Expedite the expansion and upgrading of martyrs' cemeteries.

In addition to actively carrying out the work of collecting remains, Tay Ninh is also accelerating the investment and expansion of martyrs' cemeteries - the resting place of tens of thousands of heroes who sacrificed their lives for national independence and noble international duties.

The Vinh Hung - Tan Hung Martyrs' Cemetery (formerly in Long An province) is a particularly significant site. Built in the late 1990s, it is currently the burial place of over 3,300 martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the resistance wars against French colonialism, American imperialism, and the war to protect the southwestern border. Among them are many Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia.

Through numerous search and collection efforts, the cemetery is now almost full with 3,330 graves of fallen soldiers, with only 20 vacant spaces remaining. Furthermore, it will soon receive more remains of fallen soldiers collected from the two provinces of Battambang and PaiLin (Cambodia). Therefore, expanding the cemetery has become extremely urgent.

According to Mr. Dang Ngoc Tao, Deputy Director of the Department of Internal Affairs of Tay Ninh province, the expansion project of the Vinh Hung - Tan Hung Martyrs' Cemetery is divided into three phases: land clearance with a total investment of 6.9 billion VND, completed in 2023; site leveling with a budget of 23 billion VND, implemented in 2024-2025, currently completed; and construction of the remaining items including the funeral home, ceremonial grounds, parking lot, internal transportation system, greenery, lighting, and especially the construction of 4,500 new tombs, with a total capital of over 110 billion VND, expected to be implemented from 2025 onwards.

The Provincial People's Committee has allocated 18.4 billion VND from surplus budget revenue to build nearly 1,000 burial plots in the immediate future. Initially, 491 new burial plots have been completed, meeting the needs for repatriation over the next 5 years.

Simultaneously, the project to upgrade the Hill 82 Martyrs' Cemetery – the burial place of volunteer soldiers who died in a foreign country – is also being urgently implemented. The Provincial People's Committee has approved Component Project 2 on compensation, resettlement support, and land clearance, with a total budget of 18.9 billion VND, managed by the Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board. Compensation and land clearance work is being coordinated with the Tan Bien Commune People's Committee to expedite the construction of subsequent items.

Mr. Dang Ngoc Tao stated that the Department of Internal Affairs has proposed including the remaining investment projects for the Vinh Hung - Tan Hung Martyrs' Cemetery in the medium-term public investment plan for 2026-2030. Simultaneously, they have requested the Department of War Invalids and Martyrs Affairs to provide a list of qualified DNA testing units to identify the remains of fallen soldiers; and have requested the Ministry of Internal Affairs to consider allocating funds and personnel for collecting biological samples at martyrs' cemeteries throughout the province – a task of profound humanitarian and scientific significance.

Gratitude and a profound sense of responsibility.

Colonel Nguyen Minh Tan, Deputy Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command and Deputy Head of the 515 Steering Committee of Tay Ninh province, requested that all units coordinate closely, complete preparations thoroughly and solemnly, and express the profound gratitude of the Party, State, and people in the upcoming departure ceremony for the K70, K71, and K73 teams. He emphasized: "The departure ceremony is not just a ritual, but a pledge of honor, a source of spiritual strength for officers and soldiers to steadfastly embark on their sacred mission."

According to the plan, in phase XXV (dry season 2025-2026), the Provincial Steering Committee 515 will organize the search and collection of remains of martyrs in the Special Military Region and 8 provinces of Cambodia, with 139 pieces of information on martyrs' graves, and is expected to collect 318 sets of remains.

Specifically, Team K70 is responsible for 29 sites in Kompongcham and Tboung Khmum, with an expected recovery of 95 remains. Team K71 is responsible for 75 sites in Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey, and Oddor Meanchey, with an expected recovery of 172 remains. Team K73 is responsible for 35 sites in Svay Rieng, Battambang, and PaiLin, with an expected recovery of 51 remains.

According to Mr. Pham Tan Hoa, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Head of the 515 Steering Committee of Tay Ninh province, to achieve high effectiveness, Tay Ninh needs to focus on implementing key solutions such as: seriously implementing Directive 24-CT/TW dated May 15, 2013, of the Politburo on promoting the search and collection of remains of martyrs; strengthening propaganda on mass media, encouraging people, veterans, and historical witnesses to provide information; expanding propaganda in Khmer on social media to reach Cambodian people and maintaining friendly relations and effective coordination with the government and armed forces of neighboring provinces.

Simultaneously, the province is enhancing the capabilities and sense of responsibility of the task force; linking the repatriation work with civilian affairs and military diplomacy, combining surveys with propaganda, information verification, and DNA testing to ensure accuracy, scientific rigor, and humanity.

To ensure favorable conditions in the new phase, the Provincial Steering Committee 515 recommends that the National Steering Committee 515 provide specific guidance on funding for verification, disinfection, and updating of martyr data; consider supplementing policies and regulations for forces directly involved in the task; and support the Cambodian side in protection and coordination efforts. Tay Ninh also requests that Military Region 7 increase the provision of technical equipment and resources, and provide timely rewards for collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements.

With the spirit of "Drinking water, remembering the source," officers and soldiers of the K Teams in Tay Ninh continue to enter a new phase with the highest will, gratitude, and responsibility - extending the sacred journey of "bringing comrades home."

"Each repatriation journey is an act of gratitude, each grave found strengthens our belief in gratitude and responsibility towards the past - bringing the heroic martyrs back to the Fatherland," emphasized Pham Tan Hoa, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Head of the 515 Steering Committee of Tay Ninh province.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/tim-kiem-quy-tap-hai-cot-liet-si-bai-cuoi-quyet-tam-dua-dong-doi-tro-ve-voi-to-quoc-20251029162713582.htm