In a significant discovery, officials have found seven remains of soldiers at Le Thi Rieng Park in Ho Chi Minh City following an extensive search operation. The search, which began in late June, was part of an initiative to locate and recover the remains of soldiers who fought during the Vietnam War.

According to Major General Tran Chi Tam, Deputy Political Chief of Military Region 7, the search team excavated a trench measuring 3 meters deep, 3 meters wide, and 10 meters long in a suspected area near the park's traditional house. Upon draining the water from the trench, the team found five remains, three of which were relatively intact, while the other two were severely decomposed.

One of the identified remains belongs to soldier Huynh Van Quen, confirmed through a wallet containing personal identification documents. Military Region 7 verified that Quen was a member of the liberation army's Battalion 1, which operated in Long An province and participated in a battle near Chu Y Bridge, approximately 6 kilometers from the park, in 1968. It is believed that Quen lost his life during this battle and was subsequently buried at the site.

By early July, two additional remains wrapped in tarpaulin were discovered, with their identities currently under investigation by specialists. The search team also collected various artifacts, including ammunition boxes, bullets, a comb, a hand saw, and several faded documents. Among these documents was a paper believed to be a decision related to soldier Huynh Van Quen, which included phrases like 'Southern Vietnam Liberation Army' and references to military decisions.

The search operation was initiated by the Ho Chi Minh City Command in late May, following information provided by architect Nguyen Xuan Thang about potential mass burial sites in the park. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Deputy Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, noted that the city utilized historical records, satellite images, military maps, and field surveys to narrow down the search areas. Witness accounts from individuals who observed the burial of soldiers and patriotic citizens during the 1968 Tet Offensive also played a crucial role in verifying and supplementing the information.

The search and recovery of soldiers' remains at Le Thi Rieng Park is part of a larger campaign called the '500 Days and Nights Campaign,' which aims to collect approximately 7,000 soldiers' remains and conduct DNA testing on around 18,000 samples from unidentified graves. The campaign is scheduled to run from March 15, 2026, to July 27, 2027.