3-month excavation uncovers 664 sets of soldiers' remains beneath Ho Chi Minh City park

A total of 664 sets of war martyrs' remains have been recovered at Le Thi Rieng Park in Ho Chi Minh City after three months of search and excavation, according to the municipal Military High Command.

From June 23 to Sept. 23, K74 Team under the Ho Chi Minh City Military High Command recovered 631 individual sets of remains and 33 sets from eight mass graves at the site, which was formerly Do Thanh Cemetery, in Hoa Hung Ward.

Personal artifacts were found with 298 sets of remains.

The team suspended excavation and search operations on Sept. 23 due to heavy rain and preparations for site clearance and cleaning ahead of a memorial service and reburial ceremony scheduled for early October.

The recovery team found the remains of more than 100 war martyrs in this trench, about 30 m long, beside the history exhibition hall at Le Thi Rieng Park in HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Dinh Van

Heavy and consecutive rains in Ho Chi Minh City in recent days have significantly affected the team's work, with excavation sites becoming flooded. The forces at the site have had to use high-capacity pumps to drain water from excavation pits.

Further rain is forecast in the coming days, potentially causing additional difficulties and slowing the search and excavation work at Le Thi Rieng Park.