Day and night, they persist in searching for, recovering, and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military advisors who sacrificed their lives in Laos, bringing them back to rest in their homeland.
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Team 589 conducts search and collection operations at Kator cave, Kator village, Boalapha district, Khammuane province, Laos. |
Working hard in search of martyrs’ remains
According to Head of Team 589 Colonel Nguyen Thanh Binh, following information provided by local people that Kator cave once served as a combat and shelter site for Vietnamese troops during the war, the unit quickly dispatched personnel to conduct a field survey.
After nearly half a month of survey work, the team discovered the first skeletal remains and collected the remains of two martyrs near the cave entrance. Based on these initial findings, the unit assessed that additional remains might still be located deeper inside the cave and therefore decided to expand the search area.
After nearly two months of persistent efforts, the unit found and collected the remains of three additional martyrs deeper inside the cave. In total, Team 589 successfully recovered the remains of five martyrs from Kator cave.
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Members of Team 589 and officers of the Khammuane provincial Military Command offer incense in tribute to fallen soldiers. |
Non-commissioned Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Chung from Team 589 shared that the search process was extremely difficult, and there were moments when it seemed impossible to continue. However, whenever they discovered the remains of a martyr, all the hardships and exhaustion seemed to disappear. Those findings have strengthened their determination to expand the search area, ensure that no martyrs’ remains are left behind.
Sentiments in Laos
In the 2025-2026 dry season, Team 589 carried out its mission across four districts and 276 villages in Khammuane province. The operational area was vast, with many locations situated deep within mountainous forests, where transportation was difficult and weather conditions were harsh.
To enhance the effectiveness of its mission, the team proactively maintained close coordination with the Special Task Committee of Khammuane province, local authorities, and relevant Lao agencies in reviewing and verifying information. During the recent dry season, the unit surveyed and verified 10 additional information sources relating to 15 locations suspected of containing martyrs’ graves, providing an important foundation for future search operations.
Col. Nguyen Thanh Binh stated that this was not only a special political mission but also a responsibility of today’s generation toward those who sacrificed their lives for national independence and noble international duties.
Together with its task of searching for and collecting martyrs’ remains, the unit places great emphasis on mass mobilization, military diplomacy, and people-to-people exchanges. During the 2025–2026 dry season, Team 589 presented gifts, essential supplies, and medicines, and gave assistance to needy families in Khammuane province. The team also conducted medical examinations, health consultations, and distributed free medicines to 265 local people.
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Team 589 presents gifts to local people in Khammuane province. |
During its task performance, Team 589 has received valuable support from the Party committees, authorities, armed forces, and people of Khammuane province. Many locals have voluntarily provided information and personally guided Vietnamese troops to areas suspected of containing martyrs’ remains. Their support has not only improved the effectiveness of recovery efforts but also served as a vivid demonstration of the special friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos.
Colonel Phanmaha Choummaly, Secretary-General of the Special Task Committee of Khammuane province, affirmed that cooperation in searching for and recovering the remains of Vietnamese fallen soldiers is both a responsibility and an expression of gratitude from the authorities, armed forces, and people of Khammuane toward fallen soldiers who fought and sacrificed their lives in Laos. He emphasized that these efforts also contribute to further strengthening the special solidarity and friendship between the two countries.
Translated by Quynh Oanh