Launched by the Hoa Hiep Nam Ward War Veterans’ Association 20 years ago, the ‘Nghia Tinh Dong Doi’ (Comrade Sentimental Attachment) programme aims to find the remains of Vietnamese martyrs who laid down their lives for the nation’s re-unification in forests on the northern side of Da Nang’s Hoa Vang District.

A ceremony to move the remains of a martyr to the Hoa Hiep Nam Martyrs’ Cemetery

During the 2 decades, local authorities, agencies and organisations - especially ex-servicemen and war veterans who once served on the northern side of the city - have been actively involved in this meaningful programme.

To date, the remains of 71 Vietnamese martyrs have been found and repatriated to their hometowns.  All the funds needed have been raised by the Association’s members.

One of the most active members of the Association is 77-year-old Truong Van Tranh from Lien Chieu District’s Hoa Hiep Nam Ward.  He is a former politician of the Revolutionary ‘Doc Lap’ (Independence) Military Company.

As a young man he served in the war against the Americans, and he remembers the fierce battles on the northern side of Da Nang, plus at such historical sites as Khe Ram, Khe Dau, Doc Quat and Hon Quap. 

Mr Tranh (left) telling guests about his search for the remains of his comrades over the past 12 years

Mr Tranh remarked “I was luckier than most of my comrades because I was able to return home after the war.  Although I have suffered the physical wounds of war for the past 35 years, I want to join in the efforts of the Association to help the relatives of martyrs find the remains of their lost loved ones”.

Over the past 12 years, Mr Tranh and other Association members have personally found the remains of over 20 martyrs in total, and moved them to martyrs’ cemeteries in their hometowns across the country. 

In addition to the meaningful programme, the Association has established a ‘Dong Doi’ (Comrades) Fund in order to help poor ex-servicemen and relatives of martyrs across the locality.  So far, hundreds of millions of VND have been raised for the fund from over 280 Association members. 

Recently, the Association has used some of the funds to buy a sugarcane juicing machine for 52-year-old war veteran Ly Hoa whose wife is unemployed and their children are of school age.  It has also helped Mr Mai Tan Vu, a nephew of martyr Mai Tan Xu, to repair his downgraded house.