According to statistics as of August 18, 2026, An Giang province has opened 3,197 martyrs' graves, of which 2,280 graves have been sampled for DNA biological products. To date, 535 samples have been handed over, and 1,745 samples are continuing to complete dossiers and procedures for handover for DNA testing according to regulations.
Currently, the task is being focused on at Rach Gia Martyrs' Cemetery and Ha Tien Martyrs' Cemetery. In Rach Gia, the force has opened 634 graves, collected 476 samples. At Ha Tien Martyrs' Cemetery, as of August 18, the task force has opened 814 graves, collected 671 biological samples.
Colonel Nguyen Viet Thang, Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, Deputy Head of Steering Committee 515 of An Giang province, said that the establishment of an additional sample taking team aims to strengthen forces, organize implementation simultaneously in areas with large graves, but the consistent requirement is still to ensure strictness, science and accuracy.
Colonel Nguyen Viet Thang emphasized: "Each tomb is opened, each biological sample taken is associated with a very large responsibility to the martyr and relatives. We require forces to absolutely not ignore any stages for progress. The ultimate goal is not only to take many samples but also to ensure that the samples are valuable for testing, step by step accurately identifying the martyr's identity".
The task of taking DNA samples is not simply a professional work but also has profound political and humanitarian significance. The implementation process must closely combine biological sample taking, reviewing records, collecting artifacts and receiving information from relatives, comrades, veterans and people.
Colonel Cao Minh Tam, Deputy Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, said: "There are graves where after many years the remains have been decomposed, and biological samples are very difficult to obtain. Therefore, in addition to DNA results, we especially value each artifact and each related source of information. A photo, a comb or a personal item that seems very small can help families recognize relatives, thereby opening up more directions for verification. We hope that relatives of martyrs and people will continue to provide information to join forces to shorten the journey to find the names of the martyrs.
The establishment of an additional DNA sampling team helps the Steering Committee 515 of An Giang province to be more proactive in arranging personnel and organizing task teams, especially in cemeteries with large volumes of graves. Teams are required to strictly implement procedures from opening graves, determining the current status, taking and preserving samples, recording artifacts to returning graves, ensuring solemnity and accuracy.
This is also one of the key contents in the "500 Days and Nights" Campaign of An Giang province to accelerate the work of searching, collecting, taking DNA samples and identifying the remains of martyrs who lack information.
