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The Ho Chi Minh City High Command, working alongside experts, on June 15 began surveying areas suspected of containing mass graves of fallen soldiers within Le Thi Rieng Park.
The Ho Chi Minh City High Command and a research team led by architect Nguyen Xuan Thang launched a four-day survey campaign at Le Thi Rieng Park in Hoa Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, on the morning of June 15. The effort aims to identify locations believed to contain collective burial trenches.
According to the plan, from June 15 to June 18, the Ho Chi Minh City High Command will coordinate with experts and historical witnesses to examine three designated areas - A, B and C - within Le Thi Rieng Park. The locations are suspected to contain mass burial sites holding the remains of hundreds of soldiers who died during the 1968 Tet Offensive.
The operation follows directions issued by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, head of National Steering Committee 515, during a June 8 workshop. The objective is to gather scientific evidence to support the search for and recovery of the remains of fallen soldiers.
Speaking at the site, Senior Colonel Nguyen Dinh Chuan, Deputy Political Commissar of the Ho Chi Minh City High Command, said the survey is focused on three areas marked A, B and C, covering a combined area of more than 2,500 square meters.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Le Van Anh Cuong, the team completed radar scanning - referred to as the "all-seeing eye" - in one designated area on the morning of June 15, while work continued in the remaining sections. Electrical resistivity measurements have so far been carried out along one survey line. The experts aim to complete all radar scanning and electrical measurements within two days.
Nguyen Van Si, a former student of the University of Science, said the team is using electrodes inserted into the ground to measure soil resistivity throughout Le Thi Rieng Park. By analyzing differences in resistivity between locations, experts can identify and mark areas showing unusual underground characteristics. The data will then be recorded and cross-checked to support further investigation.
The three survey zones are identified as Areas A, B and C. Area A is located east of the park's Traditional House, centered at coordinates 10.78462, 106.66466, and covers about 500 square meters. Area B is near San Chim Coffee Shop, centered at 10.78399, 106.66458, with an area of roughly 1,200 square meters. Area C is near The Huc Bridge, centered at 10.78433, 106.66443, and spans approximately 800 square meters.
Major General Nguyen Thanh Trung, Political Commissar of the Ho Chi Minh City High Command, was present during the survey to inspect progress.
Representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City High Command noted that after nearly six decades, the remains of fallen soldiers may have significantly decomposed and become disturbed, making precise identification difficult. As a result, the current survey is focused on detecting abnormal underground features. The collected data will be analyzed and compared with historical records to support the next stages of the search effort.
Tuan Hung
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