DNA testing brings new hope for identifying fallen soldiers

Happy Vietnam

The last letter sent to his family by fallen soldier Tran Quoc Hung, who died in 1970 at the age of just 20. Photo: Hong Dat - VNA
Ho Chi Minh City launches a peak campaign to collect DNA samples from relatives of fallen soldiers whose identities remain unknown during the second round of collection in 2026 at the Phu Nhuan Ward People’s Committee office. Photo: Hong Dat - VNA
DNA samples are collected from relatives of fallen soldiers whose identities remain unknown during the second round of collection in 2026 at the Phu Nhuan Ward People’s Committee office. Photo: Hong Dat - VNA
Dinh Thi Hanh, born in 1944 and residing in Tan Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, provides a DNA sample at the Phu Nhuan Ward People’s Committee office in the hope of identifying the remains of her elder brother, fallen soldier Dinh Nguyen Ha, born in 1942, who died on the southern battlefield in 1966. Photo: Hong Dat - VNA
Biometric data of relatives of fallen soldiers whose identities remain unknown are collected before DNA sampling. Photo: Hong Dat - VNA
The DNA sample collection area for relatives of fallen soldiers. Photo: Hong Dat - VNA
DNA samples are collected from relatives of fallen soldiers whose identities remain unknown during the second round of collection in 2026 at the Phu Nhuan Ward People’s Committee office. Photo: Hong Dat - VNA
Gifts are presented in recognition of representatives of families of fallen soldiers whose identities remain unknown and who participate in DNA sample collection at the Phu Nhuan Ward People’s Committee office in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hong Dat - VNA
Senior Colonel Tran Hong Minh, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department, speaks at the ceremony. Photo: Hong Dat - VNA
DNA testing brings new hope for identifying fallen soldiers
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, in coordination with the municipal police, on November 12, 2026 organised the second round of DNA sample collection in 2026 from relatives of fallen soldiers whose identities remain unknown. The collection was conducted simultaneously at three locations: Thu Dau Mot Ward, Ba Ria Ward and Phu Nhuan Ward. For this round, the city has identified and mobilised 6,927 relatives to participate, while setting up three mobile teams to collect samples at home from elderly people, those in poor health and those with limited mobility. The programme contributes to the development of a DNA database for comparison and identification of fallen soldiers’ remains, bringing renewed hope to families who have spent many years searching for their loved ones. Photo: Hong Dat - VNA