Nearly 60,000 DNA samples of martyrs' relatives have been collected after only one year of implementing Plan 356 of the Ministry of Public Security . Behind that number are countless silent journeys of police officers, the efforts of the entire political system and the burning desire for reunion of hearts still aching to find their roots. It is not just a story of technology, but a humane journey connecting bloodlines and memories, returning names to those who have incarnated into motherland.
When data becomes a bridge of reunion
Deployed from July 2024, Plan 356 of the Ministry of Public Security is a large-scale program with profound humanistic values, aiming to identify the identities of martyrs with missing information, the children who have been incarnated into the motherland, resting in thousands of cemeteries across the country. It is a journey to bring technology to serve memories, an effort so that lifeless data streams can light up hope, connecting the hearts of the living with the silhouettes of the deceased.
According to the latest report of the Department of Administrative Police for Social Order (Ministry of Public Security), as of July 20, 2025, the whole country has collected 57,273 DNA samples of martyrs' relatives. Behind that number are countless quiet journeys of the grassroots police force, who do not mind the distance and hardship, going to every door, meeting each gray-haired old man, heroic Vietnamese mothers, elderly relatives, living almost their entire lives anxiously waiting for the day when their children will have their names on their tombstones again.
More than 500 mobile and on-site sample collection sessions are not only professional work, but also "knocking on the door of memories", a journey to collect every drop of precious biological product to preserve hope, cherish the sacred opportunity of reunion for many families. Many police units and localities have launched campaigns, peaking at collecting DNA samples from relatives of martyrs such as Ninh Binh Provincial Police, Thanh Hoa Provincial Police... These results of the police of provinces and cities are important conditions for implementing DNA sample identification as well as the next steps to "call the right name" of heroic martyrs on "unidentified" graves. Informing reporters, comrade Truong Quoc Huy, Secretary of the Ninh Binh Provincial Party Committee, assessed: This is not only a political task but also a sacred duty to our ancestors and future generations.
Based on the 696,908 martyrs' information provided by the Department of Meritorious People (Ministry of Home Affairs), the local police force has urgently reviewed, verified and cleaned the data. Initial results: 336,243 cases of unidentified martyrs and 284,329 relatives' information have been updated, equivalent to 42.3% of the total number of samples needed to be collected. Each line of clarified data is a step towards the truth so that each fragment of memory can be pieced together into a complete entity, bearing the name, age, hometown and bloodline of the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives.
Not only stopping at sample collection, DNA analysis has also recorded many positive results. More than 11,000 samples of relatives have been identified, of which over 10,000 samples have been integrated into the National Identity Database, forming a synchronous data platform, serving long-term comparison. In parallel, out of a total of 17,726 samples of remains handed over, 5,493 samples have been analyzed by each gene slice, gradually illuminating historical mysteries, revealing sacred stories buried deep over the years.
One of the most touching results was recorded at the Duc Co District Martyrs' Cemetery (Gia Lai). Here, the Ministry of Public Security coordinated with the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Department of Meritorious People to conduct DNA testing. From the collected data, 16 martyrs were identified, and 27 relatives found their maternal bloodline. Names that seemed to have been lost in the dust were now called back in sobs, in tearful eyes and warm handshakes of the martyrs' families after decades of waiting.
Major General To Anh Dung, Director of Thanh Hoa Provincial Police, said: Through review, Thanh Hoa province currently has 37,720 martyrs whose information has not been identified, with a total of 39,137 cases whose relatives need to collect DNA samples. Up to now, Thanh Hoa Provincial Police have collected more than 36,000 DNA samples from relatives of martyrs' families.
After the comparison and analysis process at the Gene Bank provided by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine with the data of martyrs' relatives collected by the Department of Administrative Police for Social Order (Ministry of Public Security) nationwide, 16 cases of DNA of martyrs' remains buried at Duc Co cemetery (Gia Lai) were initially discovered to be identical (through the mother's family line) to the DNA of 30 martyrs' relatives, including 2 martyrs from Thanh Hoa province: Trinh Van Hai, born in 1952, from Thanh Loc commune, Hau Loc district (formerly) and martyr Trinh Quang Lam, born in 1952, from Nga An commune, Nga Son district (formerly). From this result, Thanh Hoa Provincial Police continued to coordinate to review and match, successfully identifying the identities of the 2 martyrs.
Based on careful verification and scientific appraisal results, on June 27, 2025, the Department of Meritorious People (Ministry of Home Affairs) announced to the families of the martyrs that the appraisal results of biological samples of relatives and the remains of the two martyrs Trinh Van Hai (Hau Loc) and Trinh Quang Lam (Nga Son) were consistent. This is a result with profound humanistic meaning, demonstrating the spirit of "repaying gratitude", showing gratitude to those who sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, while affirming the important role of the police force in the journey of connecting the past - present - future with heart and responsibility.
Unanimous participation, connecting responsibility
Major General Vu Van Tan, Director of the Department of Administrative Police for Social Order, Ministry of Public Security, Secretary of the Working Group implementing Project 06, assessed: Plan 356 is not only the story of the Public Security sector, but also a vivid demonstration of the effective coordination between ministries, sectors, localities and the business community in a particularly sacred political task. From professional guidance documents to the process of selecting qualified units for analysis, the Ministry of Public Security has proactively built a methodical, cautious but decisive implementation roadmap. Up to now, Genestory is the unit that fully meets legal and technical standards, directly participating in the process of analyzing and integrating DNA data into the national system.
Not only relying on the State budget, the program also marked by the cooperation of the whole society. The total mobilized social resources reached 39.4 billion VND, equivalent to more than 17,500 DNA test samples. In particular, Ha Nam province (old) is a typical bright spot of this sacred and meaningful journey. The Ha Nam provincial police (old) mobilized nearly 18 billion VND from the companionship of 20 businesses and officers and soldiers, enough to analyze DNA for 100% of martyrs' relatives in the area, a number that not only shows the effectiveness but also clearly reflects the deep gratitude and affection.
The urgent direction of leaders at all levels, along with the participation and support of businesses and banks, has contributed to the timely collection of DNA samples for priority subjects, the biological mothers of martyrs whose identities have not been determined. In addition, the Ministry of Public Security has also deployed DNA samples collection for many other relatives of martyrs who are old and weak and have been sent to the Gene Bank for relatives of martyrs whose identities have not been determined.
However, the path of this journey of love has not been really smooth. Up to this point, the Ministry of Home Affairs has not yet issued a plan to assign specific tasks according to the direction of Steering Committee 515, causing confusion in coordination between units. Some localities have not been really proactive in reviewing, disseminating, and updating data. The technical infrastructure for connecting and comparing DNA data is also not complete, leading to delays in returning appraisal results.
More worryingly, there are still many samples that have been analyzed but have not been paid for due to problems with the previous financial mechanism. This not only affects the progress of implementation, but also puts great pressure on the implementing units, and affects the legitimate rights of the martyrs' relatives, who have waited their whole lives to know exactly where their loved ones are resting.
Faced with this situation, the Ministry of Public Security recommends that the Ministry of Home Affairs promptly complete a specific implementation plan, urgently promote the connection and sharing of DNA data among ministries and branches, ensure synchronous integration into the identification system, and form a consistent, unified and transparent data ecosystem. At the same time, the Ministry of Finance is requested to promptly allocate funds and disburse funds to remove remaining obstacles, maintain the progress and quality of the program.
The Ministry of Public Security will continue to accompany functional agencies, local authorities and enterprises in promoting propaganda, mobilizing resources, and synchronously implementing solutions to realize the common goal: returning the names of those who fell for the independence and freedom of the nation. Because this is not just a technical program but a mission of gratitude. Not just data but a source of memories. Not just responsibility but an obligation from the heart. That journey is still continuing quietly but persistently, bringing technology to connect with memories, so that each drop of blood of relatives illuminates each unidentified grave... And so that the living can rest in gratitude, when the pain of waiting of countless families of martyrs finally calls the correct name of their loved ones in tens of thousands of unidentified graves across the country...
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/ket-noi-du-lieu-danh-thuc-ky-uc-mot-hanh-trinh-mang-ten-to-quoc-post649744.html
Comment (0)