Visiting, commemorating, and burying martyrs’ remains and offering incense in remembrance of martyrs on the occasion of 81st anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army

On the morning of December 20, at Binh Phuoc Martyrs’ Cemetery in Dong Nai province, the provincial Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee and Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee solemnly held a memorial service, funeral rites and reburial of martyrs’ remains, along with incense-offering ceremonies in tribute to fallen heroes. The event marked the 81st founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and the 36th anniversary of All-People’s National Defence Day.

Comrade Ton Ngoc Hanh, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee and Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Council, offers incense in tribute to fallen heroes. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Leaders of the Dong Nai Provincial Military Command light incense at the coffins containing martyrs’ remains prior to their reburial. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Delegations offer incense and pay tribute to the martyrs’ remains before they are taken to the burial site. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Attending the ceremony were comrades: Colonel Nguyen Van Loc, Deputy Director of the Political Department of Military Region 7, authorized by the leadership of Military Region 7; Ton Ngoc Hanh, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Council; and Huynh Thi Hang, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairwoman of the provincial VFF Committee. Also present at the event were members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, the Provincial Party Executive Board, leaders of provincial departments, agencies and mass organizations, representatives of 16th Army Corps and Depot K882, as well as the provincial armed forces.

Dong Nai provincial leaders solemnly attend the memorial service. Photo: Nguyet Ha

At the ceremony, leaders of Military Region 7, Dong Nai province, along with representatives of units, agencies and departments, laid wreaths and offered incense in tribute to fallen heroes, and attended the memorial service for the martyrs’ remains recently recovered in Cambodia and several locations within the province.

Leaders of Military Region 7 and the Dong Nai Provincial Military Command observe the memorial service in a solemn manner. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Leaders of armed forces units observe the memorial service in a solemn manner. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Delivering the eulogy at the memorial service, Comrade Le Truong Son, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee and Head of Steering Committee 515 of Dong Nai province, emphasized that the Party organization, authorities, armed forces and people of Dong Nai Province solemnly held a ceremony to pay tribute to, commemorate and rebury the remains of 41 soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the resistance wars in the areas of Loc Ninh and Loc Tan communes, as well as Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Their remains were reburied at Binh Phuoc Martyrs’ Cemetery in Dong Nai province.

Comrade Le Truong Son, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee and Head of Steering Committee 515 of Dong Nai Province, delivers the eulogy. Photo: Nguyet Ha

In this solemn moment, we respectfully remember, honor and express our profound gratitude to great President Ho Chi Minh, the revolutionary predecessors, and heroic martyrs who fought bravely and sacrificed their lives for the cause of national liberation, as well as the national building and defense. We also pay our profound tribute to veteran revolutionaries, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, Heroes of the People’s Armed Forces, Labor Heroes, war invalids, wounded soldiers, families of martyrs and those who rendered meritorious service to the revolution.

We sincerely share the grief and immeasurable sorrow of the families and relatives of the martyrs whose remains were recovered during this search and repatriation. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the families who gave birth to and raised devoted children whose loyalty and sacrifice brought honor to their hometowns and the nation.

Colonel Nguyen Van Loc, Deputy Director of the Political Department of Military Region 7, authorized by the Military Region 7 Command, and Comrade Ton Ngoc Hanh, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee and Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Council, perform the ritual of escorting the martyrs’ remains to their final resting place. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Comrade Huynh Thi Hang, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairwoman of the provincial VFF Committee, and Colonel Vo Thanh Danh, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Commander of the Dong Nai Provincial Military Command, perform the ritual of escorting the martyrs’ remains for burial. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Comrade Le Truong Son, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee and Head of Steering Committee 515 of the province, and Colonel Huynh Cong Toi, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Dong Nai Provincial Military Command, perform the ritual of escorting the martyrs’ remains to the burial site. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Colonel Bui Dang Ninh, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Military Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Dong Nai Provincial Military Command, and Truong Thi Huong Binh, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Director of the Department of Finance, perform the ritual of escorting the martyrs’ remains to their final resting place. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Before the spirits of over 5,000 martyrs who rest eternally here, we - those fortunate to live in peace – come here with boundless sorrow and reverence. We respectfully bow to lay fresh wreaths and light incense, expressing our deep gratitude to the heroic martyrs - forever young at the age of 20 - who carried with them unfinished dreams and youthful aspirations, and who voluntarily fought and sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom, and for the happiness of the people.

Comrade Ha Anh Dung, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the provincial VFF Committee, and leaders of 16th Army Corps perform the ritual of escorting the martyrs’ remains. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Deeply guided by President Ho Chi Minh’s teaching that “helping others is helping ourselves,” tens of thousands of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts nationwide, including those from Dong Nai province, despite facing countless hardships after emerging from the resistance war against the U.S. imperialism and the reunification of the country, willingly went to fight on the Cambodian battlefield for a noble and selfless international cause, and for the independence and freedom of each nation.

Nguyen Minh Kien, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the provincial VFF Committee and Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union, and Colonel Vu Manh Hung, Deputy Commander of the Dong Nai Provincial Military Command, perform the ritual of escorting the martyrs’ remains to the burial site. Photo: Nguyet Ha

“The Cambodian nation was liberated, and the Cambodian people were freed from the threat of genocide, yet many of our comrades and fellow soldiers have not returned to their Fatherland. This remains a deep concern for the Party, the State, the people, and countless families who have endured immense losses caused by war, which nothing can compensate. The blood of the martyrs has dyed the national flag red and secured independence for the nation and unity for the homeland. Eternal glory belongs to the heroic martyrs,” emphasized Comrade Le Truong Son.

The Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee stated that since 2002, members of Team K72 of the provincial Military Command have worked diligently to overcome difficulties, searching thousands of sites and exhuming 3,953 sets of martyrs’ remains who sacrificed their lives during various wars, both within Vietnam and in Cambodia, for reburial at the provincial Martyrs’ Cemetery.

Delegates observe a moment of silence in front of the martyrs’ remains. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Delegates observe a moment of silence in front of the martyrs’ remains. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Under the plan of the Dong Nai Provincial Military Command to continue searching for and repatriating martyrs’ remains in Loc Ninh and Loc Tan communes and in Cambodia, since September 2025, Team K72 has located and exhumed 41 sets of martyrs’ remains from Loc Ninh Airport, Loc Tan commune, and Cambodia. Of these, 10 samples are suitable for DNA testing to determine their identities, while the rest have not yet been identified in terms of hometown or names.

Provincial leaders and the Dong Nai Provincial Military Command light incense at the martyrs’ graves at Binh Phuoc Martyrs’ Cemetery, Dong Nai province. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Immediately after the memorial service, delegates from Military Region 7, Dong Nai province, and various agencies and armed forces units solemnly performed the ritual of escorting the 41 martyrs’ remains to their final resting place, in a respectful and reverent manner.

By Nguyet Ha – Translated by Huyen Trang, Thu Ha