Vietnam Searches for War Dead Through DNA Campaign

In Quảng Ngãi Province, Vietnam, hundreds of officers, soldiers, and local personnel are conducting a “500 days and nights campaign” to collect DNA samples from war graves and identify remains of fallen soldiers. Teams are working across 11 communes and wards, meticulously excavating graves, some displaced or decayed, despite challenging coastal weather.

The effort involves both biological sample collection and the digitisation of grave records to create a comprehensive database. The campaign addresses a longstanding need.

Quảng Ngãi Province holds 37,689 graves, but information is incomplete for over 15,700 of them, and around 6,000 martyrs remain unaccounted for. Officials are prioritizing careful excavation and sample preservation to avoid contamination, and are coordinating with local communities for support.

The province aims to collect specimens from 13,650 graves by October. Beyond identification, the project seeks to build a long-term digital management system for cemeteries and restore graves to respectful condition.