In recent years, with deep gratitude and reverence, Điện Biên province has carried out coordinated and comprehensive efforts to search for, recover, and identify the remains of martyrs, regarding this as a particularly important political task. These efforts reflect the nation’s tradition of “remembering the source when drinking water,” while inspiring patriotism and responsibility among officials, Party members, and the wider public.

The provincial Steering Committee for the Search, Recovery, and Identification of Fallen Soldiers has advised the provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee to issue policies and plans, and has directed the armed forces to closely coordinate with sectors, organizations, and localities. Public communication has been strengthened, encouraging residents to provide information on fallen soldiers and unidentified graves. Many citizens have actively cooperated with the authorities in the search and identification process.

Nguyễn Thị Tẹo, a resident of Thanh Nưa commune, has a brother who died while serving an international mission in Laos. For 30 years, she and her family have ceaselessly searched, meeting his comrades and visiting cemeteries at home and abroad in hopes of finding traces of him. When the State launched DNA sampling for relatives of martyrs, she was among the first to register, keeping alive the hope of finding her late brother.

Over the past five years, the search and recovery of remains in Điện Biên province have seen significant progress thanks to active public participation. From village elders and village leaders to veterans and ordinary citizens, 50 valuable sources of information about burial sites have been provided. Based on these, the authorities conducted surveys and verifications, resulting in the discovery and recovery of 16 sets of remains. Each accurate piece of information, each martyr brought back to a cemetery, is not only a shared achievement but also a profound tribute to those who gave their lives.

These initial results have laid an important foundation for systematic, coordinated, and increasingly effective efforts in Điện Biên. Since 2021, the provincial People’s Committee has organized ceremonies to receive and commemorate 83 sets of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who died in Laos; recovered and gathered 14 sets of remains from different periods; buried 11 sets; relocated over 30 sets and graves; collected 43 biological samples for DNA testing; and corrected information on 76 grave markers.

Simultaneously, the review and completion of records and lists of martyrs, as well as verification of burial sites and mapping of search areas, have been carried out comprehensively. The provincial Steering Committee has directed agencies to strengthen IT applications in record management, build and standardize databases, and update information on martyrs’ graves in cemeteries. To date, the review and mapping work is largely complete: conclusions have been finalized for 1,441 villages and villages, with mapping completed at commune, ward, and provincial levels.

Nevertheless, many difficulties remain. The vast terrain, constantly changing landscapes, mountainous geography, and poor transport infrastructure hinder fieldwork. Information on martyrs, relatives, and graves has diminished over time; records often contain errors or gaps; and many historical witnesses have passed away or grown frail, all of which complicates implementation. Currently, 1,040 sets of remains still need to be found in the province, while another 2,990 sets recovered elsewhere remain unidentified.

The province aims by 2030 to recover 20-25 sets of remains locally, and to be ready to receive those returned by search teams, holding official reception, memorial, and burial ceremonies in accordance with regulations. At the same time, efforts will be strengthened to collect, connect, and process information on martyrs and graves; to carry out DNA analysis for identification; to collect samples from remains in cemeteries, newly recovered remains, and relatives of martyrs for comparison and verification.

Every set of remains found, every name identified, is not only a source of solace for families but also an expression of the profound gratitude and respect of today’s generations for those who sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.