This morning, at Gia Lam Airport in Hanoi, Vietnam and the United States held the 171st repatriation ceremony for the remains of a US serviceman missing in action during the Vietnam War.
Representatives from Vietnam and the US sign the handover agreement for the 171st repatriation.
The remains were recovered recently during a unilateral search operation conducted by Vietnam in Lao Cai Province.
On December 5, Vietnamese and American forensic experts conducted an examination of the remains and made a preliminary determination that they may belong to a US serviceman lost during the war in Vietnam.
The remains will be transferred to a forensic laboratory in Hawaii for further analysis and identification.
Representing the US government and people, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper expressed sincere gratitude to the Government of Vietnam for its strong and sustained commitment to this humanitarian effort.
He emphasized that the ceremony reflected the deep cooperation between the two nations and laid a foundation for reconciliation and strengthened bilateral ties.
Ambassador Knapper also praised the capabilities of the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP), which successfully conducted safe and professional search missions even in the absence of joint US teams.
Vietnamese and American forensic specialists examined the remains and concluded they may belong to an American serviceman. The US Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) will transfer the remains to its lab in Honolulu, Hawaii, for further verification.
Kelly McKeague, Director of DPAA, also expressed appreciation for Vietnam's dedication and humanitarian spirit in supporting this mission.
Vietnam is one of only two out of 46 countries where DPAA operates that possesses the capacity to independently carry out search operations in challenging and rugged terrains.
Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, shared that, rising above the pain of war, Vietnam has fully cooperated in the search for missing American soldiers since the very beginning on the basis of humanitarian goodwill.
He expressed confidence that with mutual goodwill and continued efforts, both nations would overcome the legacies of war together while expanding bilateral cooperation. He affirmed that this approach represents the best path toward healing scars - on land, in bodies, and in hearts - and building a brighter future for Vietnam–US relations.
Vietnam will continue close coordination and create the most favorable conditions for the search and recovery of missing American soldiers, as it has done over the past five decades.
The 171st repatriation ceremony for the remains of a missing US serviceman.
General Chien also urged the US to enhance its support, expand projects to help Vietnam address war legacies - including UXO clearance, dioxin remediation, assistance for war victims and persons with disabilities - and improve the identification process for missing Vietnamese soldiers.
Humanitarian cooperation between Vietnam and the US in searching for American soldiers missing in action began soon after the Paris Peace Accords were signed in 1973. Over the years, this partnership has yielded positive results, enabling the identification and return of hundreds of sets of remains to American families.
This 171st repatriation ceremony marks one of the final events of 2025 - a year that commemorates the 30th anniversary of Vietnam–US diplomatic ties (1995–2025), the 40th anniversary of their first joint MIA recovery mission (1985–2025), and the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War (1975–2025).
The event symbolizes a long journey of reconciliation and development, transforming former enemies into Comprehensive Strategic Partners.
Vietnamnet.vn
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