Receiving the remains of 103 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos

Attending the ceremony, on the Lao side were Major General Si Tha Duong Ma La - Director of the Department of Personnel, General Department of Politics, Ministry of National Defense, Deputy Head of the Lao Government's Special Working Group; Comrade Si Vi Lay Seng Cha Lon - Deputy Governor, Head of the Special Working Group of Xieng Khouang province; Comrade Phu Vong Bun Xu - Deputy Governor, Head of the Special Working Group of Vientiane province; Comrade Vong Xon In Phan Phim - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Special Working Group of Xay Xom Bun province.

On the side of Nghe An province, there were comrades: Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Special Work Committee; Colonel Pham Van Dong - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, Deputy Head of the Provincial Special Work Committee.

Comrades from the Lao PDR Special Working Group attended the ceremony. Photo: Trong Kien

Implementing the Plan to search for and collect the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos in the dry season of 2021 - 2022, in the past time, with the attention of the Party Committee, the government, the armed forces, and the people of Lao ethnic groups in general, the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Vientiane, and Xay Xom Bun in particular have provided material, spiritual, and means support to the Nghe An Provincial Collection Team while performing its duties. The Nghe An Provincial Military Command Collection Team has not been afraid of difficulties and hardships, searching for and collecting 103 remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos.

At the handover ceremony, the Special Working Group of the four provinces expressed their condolences and respect to the souls of the martyrs, the outstanding sons of the Vietnamese people who devoted their youth, bravely fighting and sacrificing for the cause of national liberation and the noble spirit of international friendship.

Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Special Working Committee of Nghe An province spoke at the ceremony. Photo: Trong Kien

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Special Working Committee thanked the sentiments and wholehearted support of the Party Committee, government, armed forces, and people of Lao ethnic groups in general, and the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Vientiane, and Xay Xom Bun of the Lao PDR in particular.

In the coming time, the work of searching and collecting martyrs' remains will face many difficulties and hardships, the martyrs' remains are mainly located in remote areas, with difficult roads. In addition to the efforts of the officers and soldiers of the Collection Team, the Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee hopes to continue to receive the attention and support of the Party, State, Government, Army and people of Lao ethnic groups in general and the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Vientiane, Xay Xom Bun in particular, creating favorable conditions and helping the Collection Team of Nghe An province in spirit, material, means, forces, and security. At the same time, mobilize the masses to provide information related to the search for martyrs' remains and guide and point out graves so that the Collection Team can successfully complete its assigned tasks.

Major General Si Tha Duong Ma La - Director of the Department of Personnel, General Department of Politics, Ministry of National Defense,Deputy of the Lao Government Special Working Group and the delegation offered incense and flowers.Sending off the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos to the Collection Team in the 2021-2022 dry season to their homeland. Photo: Trong Kien

Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Special Working Committee of Nghe An province presented gifts to the Special Working Committees of the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Vientiane and Xay Xom Bun. Photo: Trong Kien

Also on this occasion, the Provincial Party Committee, the Government Committee, departments, branches, organizations, armed forces, monks, nuns, Buddhists, people of Lao ethnic groups and a large number of overseas Vietnamese living in Xieng Khouang province held a ceremony to send off the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos, which were searched for and collected by the Collection Team in the 2021-2022 dry season, back to the motherland.

The Special Working Group of 4 provinces signed a document to hand over and receive martyrs' remains. Photo: Trong Kien

Colonel Pham Van Dong - Political Commissar of Nghe An Provincial Military Command presents gifts to the Special Working Group of the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Vientiane and Xay Xom Bun. Photo: Trong Kien

After the handover ceremony, the remains of 103 Vietnamese martyrs and experts who died in Laos, collected by the Provincial Military Command's Collection Team, will be brought back to Vietnam and handed over to the Provincial Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to collect biological samples on May 24. A memorial service and burial will then be held at the Nghi Loc District Martyrs' Cemetery on May 25.