At the Độc Lập Martyrs’ Cemetery in Điện Biên Phủ ward, having completed the task of collecting biological samples from martyrs’ remains for DNA testing, functional forces concentrated on restoring the graves. In a spirit of utmost care and responsibility, each grave is reconstructed in its exact original location and structure.

Silently arranging each brick in alignment and wiping every headstone clean, each step was performed by Sergeant Lò Văn Tâm of Battalion 1, Regiment 741 with absolute diligence and reverence. Lò Văn Tâm reflected: “Only upon seeing the joints straight, the stone surfaces smooth, and the grave returned to its original integrity do I feel relieved. After each workday, though covered in stone dust, looking at the neatly aligned rows of graves, I feel I have contributed a small part to honoring heroic martyrs.”

Commencing at the Tuần Giáo Martyrs’ Cemetery on June 6, 2026, exhumation and biological sample collection were subsequently carried out across 6 other martyrs’ cemeteries in the province. Restoration proceeded concurrently with the exhumation process. From June to August, the peak rainy season made restoration arduous and prolonged. Yet beside each grave, soldiers persevered through every movement, from clearing traces of soil to calibrating individual stones, as they view meticulous care as the way to express reverence for the fallen.

One of the most arduous tasks is returning tomb lids weighing 300 to 350kg to their precise original positions. Wiping beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Văn Ngọc of the Political Department under the provincial Military Command described the task as a test of coordination and solidarity: “Soldiers coordinate closely to operate chain hoists. Every pulling and lowering cadence must be synchronized. A single misstep can compromise the entire grave structure.”

While exhumation and DNA sampling can process 40 to 60 graves per day, restoration demands exponentially greater precision. For an equivalent count, finishing work can span multiple consecutive days. Each stone is marked carefully prior to placement. This is work that permits no corner-cutting or total reliance on machinery, as even a minor oversight can affect the sanctity of the heroes’ resting place. The soldiers’ patience is such that if any deviation is detected, they stand ready to dismantle and redo it, tolerating no carelessness. “The objective requires prompt completion, yet during restoration, our constant conviction is: however fast we work, precision and prudence must match,” Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Văn Ngọc noted.

Restoring graves following remains sampling is an essential link in the journey of gratitude and a consistent mandate set by provincial Steering Committee 515 throughout the 500-Day-and-Night Campaign. According to Senior Lieutenant Colonel Lê Đình Hải, Deputy Head of the Political Department under the provincial Military Command, to date, 2 martyrs’ cemeteries in Tuần Giáo and Tủa Chùa have completed restoration work. The remaining 5 cemeteries are concentrating on deployment to ensure full restoration to original condition, alongside sprucing up grounds to render cemetery landscapes solemn and clean.

Carrying out the journey to reclaim names for those who fell for national independence and freedom, Điện Biên simultaneously focuses on tending and upgrading their resting places. The province approved an investment policy to upgrade and repair 4 martyrs’ cemeteries - A1, Độc Lập, Tông Khao, and Him Lam - with an estimated total cost exceeding VND 7 billion. As the agency assigned to execute the project, the Department of Home Affairs leadership noted that upgrades and repairs are slated for 2026, focusing on ceremonial plazas, landscaping, electrical and water systems, and degraded structures.

While the task of collecting martyrs’ remains samples under the provincial 500-day-and-night Campaign has concluded, across the cemeteries, the journey of gratitude continues onward. Rows of white headstones stand in orderly lines beneath lush green trees and the red hues of national flags. This work represents not merely the physical restoration of burial plots, but the manner in which today’s generation preserves serenity where those who sacrificed for the country’s independence and freedom rest in peace.