Longing for more than half a century
In a small house in zone 2, Viet Hung ward, Quang Ninh province, before talking to a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Le Dinh Khuong, born in 1958, quietly lit incense on the altar of his father - martyr Le Thanh Huan.
Mr. Khuong's father sacrificed himself in 1971, when he was only 13 years old.
More than half a century has passed, but memories of his father are still intact in him through stories preserved from childhood: The times his father came home to visit, the days his father enlisted in the army according to the call of the Fatherland.
Memories of my father followed me throughout my childhood. Later, when I grew up, I decided to follow in my father's footsteps, becoming a soldier in the Vietnam People's Army. Up to now, I am 68 years old, but I have never stopped looking forward to information about my father" - Mr. Khuong said.
For many years, Mr. Khuong's family has been searching for information about martyr Le Thanh Huan at many large cemeteries such as: Truong Son, Khe Sanh and many other places, but there has been no result.
My family is very touched and excited. The 500-day and night campaign is the concern of the Party and State for the martyrs and relatives of the martyrs. After more than half a century of waiting, we only hope that one day we can know exactly where our father rests, so that our children and grandchildren can burn incense more fully" - Mr. Khuong shared.
Determined to complete the sampling of martyrs' remains before July 27, 2026
About 500m from Mr. Khuong's house, from 6 am, at Viet Hung Martyrs' Cemetery, Viet Hung ward, the working group of Steering Committee 515 of Quang Ninh province quietly but urgently deployed work.
In the solemn space of the cemetery, each operation is performed slowly and accurately.
Excavation, separation, taking samples, recording codes, sealing, and preservation. Each task requires caution, because behind each grave is a family that has waited for many years to have more information about relatives.
Lieutenant Colonel Le Quoc Quan - Deputy Political Commissar of the Military Command of Viet Hung Ward - said that Viet Hung Martyrs' Cemetery currently has 160 martyrs' graves, of which 73 graves need to be sampled for DNA testing.
The special feature at this cemetery is that many graves have been restored many times, the grave part is deep, in some places it is necessary to dig down about 1.3m to reach the earthen urn. Therefore, the excavation process takes a lot of time, requiring high manpower and caution.
The weather in recent days has also continuously changed. On July 6, the Viet Hung ward area had very heavy rain; on July 7, the weather turned hot. However, the sampling work is still maintained, ensuring progress. The goal is to complete the sampling at Viet Hung Martyrs' Cemetery before July 9, 2026.
To accelerate the progress of the 500-day and night Campaign, Steering Committee 515 of Quang Ninh province has established 5 specialized sampling teams.
Since the beginning of the campaign, working groups have coordinated with local forces to complete sampling at 636/803 martyrs' graves, reaching 79.2% of the plan; collected 573 sets of remains that meet the conditions for DNA testing.
Quang Ninh province strives to complete the sampling of martyrs' remains before July 27, 2026.
For Mr. Le Dinh Khuong and many other relatives of martyrs, each set of remains taken is a moment of hope lit up after many years of waiting. In the journey to find names, find hometowns, and find relatives for the martyrs, the caution and accuracy of those on duty is also a silent way of gratitude to those who fell for the Fatherland.
