The bomb is safely retrieved from the Da River on May 19.
Among the discoveries was the front half of a massive bomb weighing over 900 kilograms, which had remained buried underwater since the American War. The bomb was located approximately 100 metres from Hoa Binh Bridge, at a depth of nearly one metre, following a temporary adjustment in downstream water levels by the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant. According to officials, the bomb was capable of causing fragmentation injuries within several hundred metres.
The bomb contained hundreds of kilos of TNT. The recovered portion of the device was still fitted with a live detonator and an estimated 100 kilograms of explosive material. Experts warned that if it had detonated, it could have posed a direct threat to the structural integrity of the Hoa Binh Bridge and the surrounding infrastructure and the safety of people within the area.
Following the discovery, the EOD team successfully retrieved the bomb and transported it to a secure location. Authorities are currently searching for the remaining sections of the device in the Da River and nearby areas.
In addition to the large bomb, the team also recovered 112 other explosive remnants of war on the same day, including 20 yellow pineapple-style cluster bomblets, 88 rounds of 12.7 mm ammunition, and four grenades. The items were found not far from the safety perimeter of the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant.
All retrieved ordnance was extremely hazardous, with safety mechanisms destroyed and triggering mechanisms already activated. This significantly increased the risk of accidental detonation, posing a threat. After being removed from the river, the explosives were transported to a designated safe site for disposal planning in accordance with official protocols.
The EOD operation around the Da River and the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant is scheduled to run from May 6 to June 6, 2025.