Authorities have recovered three more sets of soldiers' remains at Le Thi Rieng Park in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing the total number of individual remains found at the site to 96, along with two collective burial sites.
Authorities search for the remains of fallen soldiers at Le Thi Rieng Park (Photo: Le Trai).
The search and recovery operation at Le Thi Rieng Park was launched following conclusions reached by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra after a workshop examining information about a suspected mass grave at the former Do Thanh-Chi Hoa Cemetery, the site now occupied by the park.
Based on witness testimony and historical records, the Ho Chi Minh City High Command had previously estimated that hundreds of soldiers killed during the 1968 Tet Offensive may have been buried in the area.
The search began on July 6, when authorities uncovered the first seven sets of remains. One set was accompanied by identifying information believed to belong to Huynh Van Quen, a fallen soldier.
Excavation work was later expanded beneath a concrete section of Le Thi Rieng Park. By July 17, search teams had recovered 96 individual sets of remains and two collective burial sites containing additional remains.
As of July 17, authorities had found 96 sets of fallen soldiers' remains and two collective burial sites (Photo: Le Trai).
On the afternoon of July 17, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President To Lam, led a central government delegation to lay flowers and incense in tribute to the fallen before inspecting the ongoing search and recovery operation at Le Thi Rieng Park.
Search teams are expected to widen the excavation area on July 18, with updated recovery figures to be released at the end of the day.
