A Hanoi veteran has spent 16 years cycling Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to find remains of his former comrades.
Mr. Tan discovered a grave in the Viet-Lao Friendly Martyrs\' Cemetery
To date, 64 year-old Tieu Van Tan, who now lives in Khuong Dinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, have helped 1,400 families find the remains of their loved ones.
Mr. Tan joined the army in 1964 at 17, and retired in 1992 after working for various army agencies.
On July 27, 1996 Tan set aside his housework and began his journey to search for the remains of his cousin Nguyen Van Tan who died in Quang Binh Province.
Some people called him crazy to spend so much time on such a hopeless task, but nothing could deter him. It took him 11 days to cycle 500 kilometres from Hanoi to Le Thuy District, Quang Binh Province. After spending a week of research, he discovered that his cousin was buried in Mai Thuy Commune. He then cycled to Hai Duong Province to inform his family.
His trusty bicycle which he bought in the 1970s, a map and a book in which he carefully records the thousands of names of the war dead have been his constant companions on his travels.
He said, “Cycling improves your health and protects the environment; and it’s very convenient because I can just leave it somewhere if I need to take a rest.”
Three to four times in a year he will leave his home on a trip that will last months. He has visited every corner of the country. Despite facing post-trip illnesses and fatigue, he has never abandoned the memory of his friends.
“Due to limited finances I often stay overnight in a tents with the cemetery guards, the local Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs or people’s houses,” the veteran said.
He has helped to find 350 remains in Quang Tri Province, 250 remains in Laos and 130 in Cambodia.
Many families visit him to seek his support. After receiving the information from these families, he begins his search. He finds where the dead have been buried and helps move the remains to their hometown.
He never asks for any payment from the families, a sharp contrast with the money spent by many families on hiring telepaths to look for their missing loved ones.
His trusty old bicycle which has accompanied him for 16 years on his journeys
