From early morning, along the road named after legendary General Võ Nguyên Giáp, thousands of people including local residents, officials, soldiers, and students lined up silently and solemnly. With deep reverence and heartfelt gratitude, they awaited the return of the heroes to their beloved homeland. These soldiers had sacrificed their youth and lives for the protection of the nation and to fulfill their noble international duty in Laos. After many years resting on foreign soil, they were finally home.

Red flags fluttered in the breeze. Tearful eyes followed the convoy carrying the martyrs’ remains as it moved toward the Tông Khao National Martyrs’ Cemetery. A sacred stillness enveloped the city, with ceremonial music resonating in harmony with the beating hearts of thousands who came to welcome the heroes back.

In the crowd, Nguyễn Văn Lợi, 76 years old, a resident of Mường Thanh ward, Điện Biên Phủ city, clutched the national flag and emotionally said: “I didn’t know them personally, not even their names, but I feel the pain as if losing my own family. Every time we welcome our heroes home, I come here, despite my age, just to let them know that our country and people will never forget their sacrifice.”

Gratitude also lives on in the younger generation. Trần Thu Hằng, a grade 11 student at Điện Biên Phủ High School, shared: “I learned that the martyrs gave their lives while performing international duties in Laos. I feel deeply moved and proud. Attending this ceremony helps me understand more about the values of life and my responsibility to the community and the nation.”

Responding to President Hồ Chí Minh’s call, “Helping our neighbors is helping ourselves,” nearly half a million Vietnamese volunteers, experts, and youth served in Laos during the wars against colonialism and imperialism, carrying the spirit of solidarity and internationalism.

Many laid down their lives in Laos, becoming symbols of the profound Vietnam-Laos friendship. They helped build revolutionary bases, train cadres, and fight alongside Lao forces through years of hardship to final victory. Their contributions remain etched in the hearts of the Lao people and leaders.

President Souphanouvong once said with emotion: “Tens of thousands of Vietnamese soldiers sacrificed on Lao soil, while their mothers and wives silently endured the loss.” President Kaysone Phomvihane affirmed: “Throughout revolutionary history, there have been many shining examples of proletarian internationalism, but nowhere and never has there been a special, enduring, and comprehensive fighting alliance like Vietnam and Laos.”

At the memorial ceremony, Major General Đặng Văn Long, Deputy Commander of Military Region 2, remarked: “Today’s tribute is more than a solemn ritual, it’s a profound expression of gratitude and the sacred Vietnamese tradition of remembering our fallen heroes. This time, eight sets of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers were repatriated from northern provinces of Laos. One of them, martyr Linh Quang Gắng, has been identified and returned to his homeland in Hà Giang for burial. Each step we take on Laos’ soil is not just a search for remains it is a journey back through history and memory. No matter the rugged terrain or the faded traces of time, we never allow ourselves to give up. Bringing our heroes home is both a sacred duty and an enduring honor that the Vietnam People’s Army pledges to uphold with utmost respect.”

Among the eight martyrs returned this time, the identified remains of Linh Quang Gắng were ceremoniously handed over to his family and local authorities for memorial and burial at his hometown in Hà Giang.

At the Tông Khao National Martyrs’ Cemetery, each set of remains was carefully laid to rest amid somber music and tearful farewells. Fresh wreaths and the scent of incense symbolized a spiritual reunion, as the motherland embraced her long-lost sons.

At the emotional ceremony, Vice Chairman of Điện Biên provincial People’s Committee Lò Văn Cương, stated: “Today, after so many years away from home, our heroes return to the embrace of comrades and fellow citizens. Their blood has soaked the land of Laos, strengthening the enduring Vietnam-Laos friendship. Their sacrifice is immortal, a sacred symbol of international solidarity and a source of inspiration for us to continue building and defending our country.”

As people quietly paid tribute, a sacred feeling of pride, gratitude, and solemn remembrance filled every heart, a call to live worthy of the sacrifices of those who came before.