On the morning of June 13, authorities in Gia Lai Province held a solemn memorial and burial ceremony at Duc Co Martyrs Cemetery for Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who lost their lives in Cambodia during wartime.

The ceremony was conducted in a respectful and solemn atmosphere, attended by representatives of government agencies, armed forces and citizens from both Vietnam and Cambodia.

Representing Vietnam were Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Cao Huy, Deputy Minister of National Defense Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Gau, leaders of Gia Lai Province, Corps 34 and representatives from provincial departments and local authorities.

The Cambodian delegation included representatives of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

A sacred return home

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Memorial and burial ceremony for Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia. Photo: A.S.

Following an incense-offering ceremony, Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich, Vice Chairwoman of the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee, delivered a memorial address recalling the difficult years of history when Cambodia faced the horrors of genocide.

During that period, tens of thousands of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts undertook an international mission that helped restore peace and bring renewal to Cambodia and its people.

Many of Vietnam's finest sons made the ultimate sacrifice while still very young, leaving behind dreams and ambitions that would never be fulfilled. Their sacrifices helped strengthen the special bond of friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Cambodia.

"Each set of remains recovered represents a homecoming after decades of waiting. It is a sacred reunion between these sons and their homeland, a source of comfort for families, comrades and people across the country," Lich said emotionally. "Today, after many years resting in the forests and mountains of a foreign land, these 18 martyrs have finally been found by their comrades and brought home in the loving embrace of the nation."

Cambodia expresses gratitude

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The remains of 18 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts recovered in Cambodia are welcomed home. Photo: A.S.

Representing Cambodia, Sor Soputra expressed profound gratitude for the sacrifices made by Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in helping Cambodia overcome the genocidal regime of Pol Pot.

"We will always remember the contributions of the heroic Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who did not hesitate to sacrifice their blood and lives to bring peace and an opportunity for national rebirth to Cambodia and its people," he said.

Following the memorial service, the remains of the 18 martyrs were laid to rest at Duc Co Martyrs Cemetery.

Recovery mission across northeastern Cambodia

During the 2025-2026 dry season, Team K52 of the Gia Lai Provincial Military Command carried out search and recovery operations in three northeastern Cambodian provinces: Ratanakiri, Stung Treng and Preah Vihear.

The search area covered 808 villages across 139 communes and wards in 23 districts and cities, stretching from regions bordering Vietnam and Laos to areas near Thailand.

Since November 25, 2024, Team K52 has recovered 18 sets of remains, including eight in Ratanakiri Province, seven in Stung Treng Province and three in Preah Vihear Province.

Investigations determined that all of the recovered martyrs died during the period of the resistance war against the United States. Many of the remains were found wrapped in multiple layers of military ponchos and burial shrouds, accompanied by personal artifacts belonging to Vietnamese soldiers.

According to the recovery plan, Team K52 will continue operations in the three northeastern Cambodian provinces during the 2026-2027 dry season, with a target of locating and repatriating between 20 and 30 additional sets of remains.

Tran Hoan