Beneath layers of earth, opening each grave marks another step into historical vestiges, creating an opportunity for those resting here to be called by their true names and return to their families and homelands.

The A1 National Martyrs Cemetery was constructed in 1958 and has undergone multiple renovations and upgrades. Consequently, excavating and collecting biological samples for DNA testing here was identified as one of the most arduous tasks within the “500-day-and-night Campaign” across the province. Since the beginning of the campaign, A1 is the 6th among 7 cemeteries where sampling has been conducted.

The A1 National Martyrs Cemetery has 592 graves requiring sampling. Each grave has an average depth of 1.2 to 1.5 meters, with some reaching up to 2 meters and lying off-center relative to the headstone. To reach the inner burial vault (quách), operational forces must break through thick concrete layers and pry off 5 to 6 courses of brick. Young soldiers take turns working, their hands blistered after hours of heavy labor, yet every layer of material is removed urgently but with extreme care. On average, completing the excavation and sampling of each grave takes about 3 hours.

Soldier Lù Tuấn Anh from Regiment 741, the provincial Military Command, shared: “The hard-packed soil and sturdy construction with multiple layers of brick and concrete make accessing the burial vaults time-consuming. However, we all recognize this as a special mission tied to restoring identities for heroic martyrs, so everyone strives to work with meticulous care, sincerity, and profound gratitude.”

Beyond compacted earth, concrete, and masonry, moving gravestones weighing over 300 kilograms presents its own operational challenges. Relying purely on manual strength requires 6 to 8 soldiers to lift and shift a stone, demanding heavy manpower and posing potential safety hazards. Drawing from experience at previous cemeteries, the working group proactively modified a chain hoist system for lifting and lowering gravestones to suit the structural layout of the A1 National Martyrs Cemetery. Thanks to this adaptation, 4 to 5 soldiers can transport, install, and operate the device, moving gravestone slabs in and out in just about 2 minutes per turn.

This method reduces physical labor, keeps gravestones intact, and minimizes disruption to surrounding spaces. More importantly, the equipment helps the working group shorten execution times and satisfy the campaign’s progress targets.

Nevertheless, for such a solemn task, speed is never the sole criterion. Upon reaching the burial vault, every biological sampling procedure must strictly follow protocols with accuracy and utmost care. This stage also provides renewed encouragement to the entire team, as bone preservation at the A1 Martyrs Cemetery is relatively good, facilitating sampling for DNA analysis. Major Triệu Hùng Tâm, a military medical officer from the provincial Military Command, shared: “The remains of most heroic martyrs at the A1 National Martyrs Cemetery remain solid and relatively intact. Therefore, sample collection is smooth and comprehensive, yielding an eligible DNA testing rate of over 98%.”

High sample viability motivates cadres and soldiers to overcome difficulties throughout the process. Completing each biological sample represents not merely fulfilling a technical specification, but conveying hopes of restoring a name, a homeland, and closure for a family that has waited for information about their loved one across decades.

From August 10 to August 19, personnel executing tasks at the A1 National Martyrs Cemetery excavated 448 out of 592 graves, collecting biological samples from 440 graves for testing. To secure progress, the working team mobilized 78 cadres and soldiers directly on-site, alongside 7 police officers ensuring security and 3 logistical support personnel. Work begins early in the morning and extends until dusk, frequently requiring overtime hours to complete planned targets.

Lieutenant Colonel Đặng Xuân Hòa, Deputy Chief of Logistics and Technical Services of the Điện Biên provincial Military Command, and head of the working team at the A1 National Martyrs Cemetery, stated: “To expedite progress and complete excavation and sampling early, the working team organized briefings to establish a spirit of overtime and extended shifts. Every day, we strive to collect 58 to 60 samples. In the morning, we lift gravestones for over 30 graves, occasionally working until 12:00 PM; in the afternoon, tasks sometimes extend until 7:00 PM. In a spirit of gratitude to the heroic martyrs and looking forward to National Day on September 2, cadres and soldiers are fully united in fulfilling this duty.”

With that resolve, the team expects to finish excavation and sampling at the A1 National Martyrs Cemetery by the end of this week. One division will remain to restore and reinstate grave sites, while the remainder will move to the Young Volunteers Martyrs Cemetery, the final martyrs cemetery within the province’s “500-day-and-night Campaign”.

Completing the excavation and sampling of 592 graves over more than 10 days requires continuous execution across many stages - from uncovering gravestones, excavating, and collecting biological samples to restoring each burial site. Every stage is performed with meticulous precision, expressing gratitude toward the heroic martyrs. Within the solemn atmosphere of the A1 National Martyrs Cemetery, this journey continues with a simple yet sacred faith: returning names and homelands to martyrs resting here, so that their sacrifices return more completely to their families and the Fatherland.