The ceremony took place in Da Nang City with the participation of representatives from both sides, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the event, Vietnam handed over one box of remains recovered during a recent joint Vietnam – U.S. excavation in Dan Hoa Commune of Quang Tri Province.
Representatives of Vietnam and the United States attend the 173rd repatriation ceremony for the remains of U.S. service members missing in action during the war in Da Nang on July 2, 2026. Photo by Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
On June 30, forensic experts from both countries conducted a joint examination and made a preliminary assessment that the remains could be linked to a U.S. service member missing during the war in Vietnam.
The remains will be transferred to the U.S. Department of Defense’s POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) forensic laboratory in Hawaii for further analysis and identification.
The handover was marked by the presence of senior U.S. military officials, reflecting the importance the U.S. Government attaches to MIA efforts while recognizing Vietnam’s goodwill and sustained humanitarian support.
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Vietnam hands over the remains recovered during a recent joint Vietnam – U.S. excavation in Dan Hoa Commune of Quang Tri Province. Photo by Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
On June 23, Acting U.S. Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao visited a joint MIA excavation site in Truong Ninh Commune, Quang Tri Province, on the occasion of his attendance at the Pacific Partnership 2026 programme.
Speaking to reporters, the official thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for their continued assistance in searching for missing U.S. personnel.
He described the cooperation achievements in addressing the war legacy as a clear example of the two countries’ shared commitment to leaving the past behind and building a better future, helping heal the wounds of war over the past decades.
He also reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to maintaining long-term support for war legacy settlement programmes in Vietnam.
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Acting U.S. Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao participates in the process of washing soil and rocks up the gutter to search for the remains of missing service members in Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam, June 23, 2026. Photo by Read/Dac Thanh |
Humanitarian efforts to seek U.S. MIA service members in Vietnam began shortly after the Paris Peace Accords were signed in 1973 and have led to the identification and repatriation of remains belonging to about 740 U.S. service members.
The cooperation has also contributed to broader bilateral efforts to address the consequences of war, including U.S. support for the search for and identification of the remains of missing Vietnamese martyrs, unexploded ordnance clearance, dioxin remediation, and assistance for people with war-related disabilities.
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