Dak Lak Province is mobilising the entire political system, alongside broad public participation, to accelerate the search, recovery as well as identification of fallen soldiers' remains under Operation 500 Days and Nights.

Team K51, together with relevant forces, excavating rocky terrain while searching for fallen soldiers' graves province-wide.

In line with directives from National Steering Committee, Ministry of National Defence and Military Region 5 Command, provincial steering committee has promptly strengthened its organisational structure while instructing departments, agencies and local authorities to draw up detailed action plans. Responsibilities have been assigned, with performance closely tied to accountability of agency heads.

Spirit of "When drinking water, remember its source" has inspired practical action at grassroots level. Cu Prao Commune has established its own steering committee, proactively surveyed areas of interest, compiled witness and veteran lists, besides expanding public channels for gathering information from local residents. Comrade Pham Ngoc Quang, Chairman of Cu Prao Commune People's Committee, said about 18 locations across the commune are still believed to contain fallen soldiers' remains. Working along with Team K51, local authorities have so far recovered one set of remains.

Comrade Ho Hong Nam, Secretary of Xuan Dai Ward Party Committee and Chairman of Xuan Dai Ward People's Council, said local authorities stepped up public awareness campaigns among officials, Party members together with residents immediately after Operation 500 Days and Nights was launched, while encouraging people to provide relevant information. "Every piece of information, no matter how small, could prove a crucial lead, enabling authorities to locate remains, verify identities, as well as return fallen soldiers to their names, hometowns and families", comrade Ho Hong Nam said.

Accelerating the mission to bring fallen soldiers home

Dak Lak is home to 34 war cemeteries containing more than 15,000 graves, including 4,019 still awaiting biological sampling for DNA analysis. Province-wide, authorities have identified 584 locations believed to contain remains of an estimated 6,060 fallen soldiers yet to be recovered. Accelerating efforts to search for, recover and identify those remains has become a race against time, driven by long-held hopes of thousands of martyrs' families.

Alongside domestic operations, Team K51 continues working with authorities and armed forces in Cambodia's Mondulkiri Province, expanding cross-border search efforts. During the 2025-2026 dry season, the unit verified more than 576 leads, excavated 118 sites, recovering remains of 27 fallen soldiers in Cambodia. Within Dak Lak, as of July 25, Team K51 had received 107 reports alongside recovered seven sets of remains.

Tay Son Commune, in coordination with Dak Lak Provincial Military Command and Son Hoa Commune, holding a memorial coupled with burial ceremony for fallen soldiers' remains recovered during Operation 500 Days and Nights.

Biological sampling coupled with DNA analysis are being carried out in a coordinated manner, fully complying with established procedures. By July 24, sampling had been completed at 11 of 33 war cemeteries, with work under way at two more. Authorities had exhumed 728 of the 4,019 graves requiring DNA testing, yielding 241 bone samples.

Dak Lak has also placed strong emphasis on digital transformation in management of records relating to fallen soldiers and their graves. Open letters together with electronic information forms have been issued to encourage public participation, while reporting channels have been expanded for local residents, war veterans, historical witnesses as well as relatives of fallen soldiers.

Comrade Dao My, Dak Lak PPC Vice Chairman and head of the provincial steering committee for search, recovery combined with identification of fallen soldiers' remains, said the province is striving to closely integrate recovery operations with identity verification, aiming ultimately to return every fallen soldier to his name, hometown and family.

During Operation 500 Days and Nights, progress is measured not only in statistics but also in commitment demonstrated by local authorities, perseverance shown by search teams, alongside unwavering support from the public. Every successful recovery marks another step towards returning home those who sacrificed their lives for the nation.

Translated by HAI LOAN