Based on this practical experience, the province continues to clearly define tasks and solutions for the coming period, with a focus on reviewing information, expanding search areas, and identifying the remains of the fallen.

As time passes, many traces of war are gradually being obscured. However, the journey to find and gather remains in Điện Biên is maintained continuously through the participation of various forces, from functional agencies to local residents. This is not merely a political task but a responsibility toward history and the families who are still waiting for news of their loved ones.

During the 2021-2025 period, under the direct leadership of the Party committees and local authorities, this work achieved distinct outcomes. The provincial Steering Committee 515 advised the provincial People’s Committee on organizing programs to receive, memorialize, and rebury 83 remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who sacrificed their lives in Laos.

Furthermore, over 21,000 officials, students, and armed forces members were mobilized to participate in searching, excavating, and burying remains. Beyond field operations, the collection and verification of information have been prioritized; the province successfully mobilized 50 witnesses to provide information on original burial sites and collected biological samples from 43 cases for DNA testing to gradually clarify identities.

Recently, Điện Biên province organized a solemn ceremony to receive, memorialize, and rebury 10 remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who died in Laos during the first phase of the 2025-2026 dry season. The ceremony was held at the Tông Khao Martyrs’ Cemetery. Among the 10 remains handed over, eight had insufficient information for identification, while two were successfully identified as Hà Văn Thọ from Phú Thọ province and Hà Văn Ân from Hà Nội. These remains were found and excavated by the Military Region 2 Search Team in Laos over many months before being repatriated through the Tây Trang International Border Gate. Along the route to the cemetery, crowds of soldiers, students, and ethnic residents lined the streets in silence to show their deep gratitude and respect for those who sacrificed their lives for international duties.

According to Colonel Dư Công Thịnh, Captain of the Military Region 2 Search Team, the search process faces immense difficulties due to the vast and treacherous terrain, the near-total lack of grave records, and the unstable living conditions for the troops. However, driven by a high sense of responsibility, the unit has proactively coordinated with Laotian authorities to survey and search across six provinces in Northern Laos. The reality remains that this work is a race against time as original burial sites change and witnesses grow older.

For the families of the martyrs, the journey to find their loved ones never stops. Nguyễn Thị Tẹo of Thanh Nưa commune is one such person; her brother died while performing international duties in Laos. For over 30 years, she and her family have traveled to various locations and met with her brother’s former comrades in hopes of finding a trace. When the State implemented DNA sampling for relatives, she was among the first to register, hoping for one more chance to identify her brother.

Recognizing these needs, Điện Biên has set clear goals for the 2026-2030 period. The focus will be on continuing to survey all locations where information about remains exists, striving to collect 20 to 25 remains annually, and accelerating identification through DNA testing and historical record comparisons. Beyond the specialized forces, the involvement of historical witnesses is considered crucial. The application of science and technology will help bridge the gap between fragmented information and specific identities. The work of searching for and gathering remains is therefore not just about bringing the fallen back to their motherland, but a process of reconnecting broken threads of information so that every grave has a name and every family can find their relative.