The armed forces of Military Region 9, the Air Defence–Air Force Service, and Party committees, authorities, and residents of provinces and cities across the Mekong Delta are continuing the transport of 8,453 samples of martyrs’ remains for DNA testing.
This is a sacred air bridge connecting a glorious past with the present-day expression of gratitude. It represents the 12th transport operation and the second time the samples have been transported by military aircraft. The operation also marks the completion of sample collection under the 500-day campaign to search for, recover, and identify the remains of fallen soldiers and martyrs.
Each sample of martyrs’ remains, draped in the bright red national flag, represents a flame of hope and a heartfelt call echoing across the ages. This is not merely a journey of science and technology, but a flight carrying the bonds of comradeship and solidarity among compatriots, along with fervent hopes and the desire to ease the enduring pain of families who have waited for so many years.
To date, Military Region 9 has recovered 1,104 sets of martyrs’ remains, including 748 in Viet Nam and 356 in Cambodia. This represents 122.66% of the 2026 annual target and 76.13% of the target set under the 500-day campaign.
On October 10, 2026, the armed forces of Military Region 9 completed sample collection from graves of martyrs whose identities were unknown at all 107 of the region’s martyrs’ cemeteries. A total of 41,231 out of 41,231 graves had been excavated, representing 100% completion. Of these, 31,963 were eligible for sample collection, while 9,268 were not. The work was completed nearly seven months ahead of the campaign’s scheduled deadline.
