On October 21, a military flight carried 8,453 biological samples from fallen soldiers’ remains from Can Tho to Hanoi for DNA testing. The operation is part of a nationwide effort to give families answers and preserve the memory of those who died for the country.

It was the 12th transport mission and only the second to use a military aircraft, marking the end of sample collection by Military Region 9 under a 500‑day campaign to intensify the search, recovery and identification of fallen soldiers nationwide. The campaign aims to locate and identify remains that have been missing for decades.

The command excavated 41,231 graves, of which 31,963 were suitable for DNA sampling, and completed collection at all 107 cemeteries containing unidentified graves ahead of schedule. Finishing the work nearly seven months early shows the speed of the identification drive.

To date, Military Region 9 has recovered 1,104 sets of martyrs’ remains, including 748 in Vietnam and 356 in Cambodia, reaching 122.66 % of its 2026 target. These results also represent 76.13 % of the overall campaign goal, demonstrating significant progress.

Many fallen soldiers are still buried in unknown graves, leaving families without information. DNA testing offers a chance for closure and helps the nation honour its heroes.