Authorities in Dong Thap Province have recovered the remains of 71 war martyrs from an area that previously served as Binh Hoa A Cemetery in Ngu Hiep Commune.
Lieutenant Colonel Vo Thanh Dan of the Dong Thap Provincial Military Command said on September 22 that the remains were found during an ongoing search and recovery operation at the former cemetery site.
Authorities in Dong Thap Province have recovered the remains of 71 war martyrs from a durian orchard that was once the site of a wartime cemetery in Ngu Hiep Commune.
The area is now a nearly 3,000-square-metre durian orchard owned by Le Thi Don, 54. Her family planted the orchard around 15 years ago, and many of the trees are now producing fruit, generating more than VND 300 million (USD 11,538) in annual income.
Since authorities began the search and recovery mission, Don's family has actively supported the operation.
“Beneath this soil lie dozens of soldiers and officials who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s peace. Our family’s only wish is to support the authorities in every way possible so that the remains of these heroes can be recovered and laid to rest with dignity,” Don said.
According to Don, the land was once an old cemetery. After local authorities conducted an earlier recovery effort, her father, Le Van Tuong, resumed farming on the site.
Several years ago, while digging drainage channels for durian cultivation, Tuong discovered three sets of human remains. He reported the finding to local authorities and helped arrange their reburial.
“While he was alive, my father always believed there could still be more remains in the orchard, but the land was so large that nobody knew where they might be. Without any way to locate them, he continued growing durian trees,” Don recalled.
After her father's death, ownership of the orchard passed to Don and her younger sister, who lives elsewhere. Don continued caring for the trees as they matured and became the family's primary source of income.
The recovery of 71 sets of remains from the orchard has deeply moved both the family and the personnel involved in the operation, highlighting ongoing efforts to locate and honour those who died during wartime.
