The journey has no end

From a promise…

I first met Thang in August 2019 when I came to Ho Chi Minh City through a friend. Thang is not outstanding in appearance, but his gentle, warm smile radiates energy that makes the other person feel at peace.

Few people know that Thang is an architect who has never experienced war. But since 2017, his life has taken a different turn. Just from a promise to his mother, that he would find the remains of his uncle who died on the Quang Nam battlefield in 1972, Thang embarked on a new journey: assisting authorities in determining the resting place of hundreds of martyrs.

Hành trình không có điểm dừng - Ảnh 1. — A map analyzed by Nguyen Xuan Thang and colleagues

Hành trình không có điểm dừng - Ảnh 2. — An aerial photo analyzed and compared by Thang's group

"In 2016, while searching for documents, I stopped in front of a photo of Bien Hoa airport taken by American soldiers in 1968 on an American veterans forum," Thang said. Under the old photo was the caption: "At the end of the runway... where we buried Viet Cong soldiers after the Mau Than battle."

The seemingly meaningless words echoed in him like a call from the ground. "No one assigned this job, but I see it as a debt," he said.

Hành trình không có điểm dừng - Ảnh 3. — Nguyen Xuan Thang (second from left) and colleagues compared the map with the field to determine the excavation site.

From that information, Thang formed a research group consisting of several friends: some were children of martyrs, some were doing historical research. They translated hundreds of pages of war documents, sent letters to American veterans, and collected pieces of memories from across the ocean, hoping to find accurate information about the burial sites of martyrs by American soldiers.

In May 2019, a ray of light appeared. Thang received an email from Robert, an American veteran who had been stationed in Bien Hoa, along with a yellowed map marking a small plot of land next to a rubber forest: "I still remember… it was here."

Hành trình không có điểm dừng - Ảnh 4. — An excavation site in the middle of a rubber forest in Binh Phuoc

With just a red dot and a few words from Robert, the group decided to set out. They crossed the rubber forests, carrying metal detectors, hoes, shovels and bundles of incense, and began their search.

"Machines are just one part, the rest is patience and faith, brother," Thang said.

Many times they dug through layers of soil but still found no trace, the group stood still in front of the empty hole, thinking about giving up. But their eyes met, as if there was an invisible string reminding them: "Down there, someone might still be waiting." And they continued digging, continued to hope.

Hành trình không có điểm dừng - Ảnh 5. — American veterans at an excavation site

From aerial photographs(aerial photos, usually taken by airplanes, helicopters or satellites) taken by the US Air Force during the war, memories of veterans and military documents from both sides, the group circled the area at the end of the runway of Bien Hoa airport - where there was a mass grave after the 1968 Mau Than campaign. The files were transferred to the Dong Nai Military Command.

On April 17, 2017, at the exact point Thang marked on the map, the red soil layer that had been sealed for half a century was opened. The burial pit was revealed: more than 150 remains of martyrs of Regiment 4 (Division 5) and Bien Hoa Special Forces Company were found.

The moment the white bones, the vases, the rusty army belt buckles appeared in the ground, the whole group was silent, no one could say a word. Thang knelt at the edge of the hole, his hands trembling as he lit incense. The thin smoke drifted into the windless afternoon, like a farewell to the martyrs returning home after half a century of lying here.

Hành trình không có điểm dừng - Ảnh 6. — American veterans and relatives of martyrs at an excavation site

To long trips…

After the turning point in Bien Hoa, Thang and his group entered a new battle, without gunfire but full of challenges. From a small room in Ho Chi Minh City filled with black and white aerial photos, military maps and notebooks full of coordinates, they painstakingly put together each layer of photos, calculated each error, checked each witness's story, paving the way for many martyrs to return to their families.

Wherever there are traces, there are their footprints. From the end of Bien Hoa runway to Xuan Son hill (Binh Dinh) - where more than 60 martyrs of Regiment 22, Division 3 Sao Vang were excavated; from the forests of Tri - Thien, Quang Nam, Tay Nguyen to the Cambodian border, they searched for every clue. They contributed to determining the location of 213 martyrs of Regiment 1, Division 9 in Long Khanh; more than 20 sets of remains at FSB Balmoral (Binh Duong); more than 140 martyrs at Loc Ninh airport... And there are still big unverified doubts about the nearly 600 martyrs who sacrificed at Tan Son Nhat airport...

Those efforts took Thang beyond geographical borders, opening a journey of cooperation across the ocean. He and a delegation from the Vietnam Association for Supporting Families of Fallen Soldiers went to the US, met, exchanged, and shared documents with people who had been on the other side of the battle line, and together determined things they had not said for half a century.

At the end of July 2022, four American veterans who fought at Xuan Son Hill in 1966 returned to Vietnam, along with Thang and his teammates, to conduct a field survey. They were Stephen Holmes Hassett (76 years old), Kinbourne Lo (79 years old), Ivory Whitaker Jr (74 years old) and Spencer John Matteson (75 years old). When they set foot on the top of the hill, the silver-haired soldiers looked at each other, silent for a long time. The red soil was still there, but the sound of gunfire had receded more than half a century ago. Kinbourne Lo said softly:

- Everything has a beginning. The most important thing is that today we have started…

Matteson, looking at Vietnam, whispered: "This country is extremely beautiful and the people are very gentle... I just want to look forward to a good future, friendship between the two countries...".

From people who once shot at each other, they now burn incense together on a piece of land suspected to contain the remains of martyrs. No more hatred. Only humanity and tears mixed between two hair colors.

Hành trình không có điểm dừng - Ảnh 7. — Nguyen Xuan Thang took a photo with two "female assassins" of Saigon Special Forces - Le Thi Rieng Battalion

The day of return and the unfinished promise

The day the remains were solemnly brought back to the martyrs’ cemetery for burial, Thang stood silently among their relatives. When the song Soul of the Dead began, the space fell silent, leaving only the sobs of the white-haired heads. An old man tremblingly clung to his son’s arm, his voice choked:

- Grandpa… I've waited for this day for so many years, finally I've waited…

Thang could not contain his emotions at those words. He bowed his head, his hands shaking as he held the incense bundle tightly, the white smoke swirling in the windless afternoon. That moment was not only a joy, but also proof that their silent work - giving names to the dead - was not in vain.

"As long as I have the strength, I will continue to go. Because there are still many martyrs waiting to return home," Thang said, his voice low but his eyes shining with quiet faith.

On the occasion of the 78th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 2025), Nguyen Xuan Thang and engineer Lam Hong Tien were honored to meet with Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh in Hanoi. The Deputy Prime Minister held Thang's hand tightly and said slowly: "Your work is a noble act, a national morality of remembering the source of water when drinking. On behalf of the Government, I commend you."

The day I met him, Thang did not talk much. He hesitated:

- Today, I think a lot about my mother.

With just a promise to his mother: to find his remains so that she can rest in peace, Thang began a seemingly endless journey. And so, every step he took was not only a beat of the present, but also a response to the past, a proof that no hardship is meaningless if illuminated by love and filial piety.

The fifth Living Well Writing Contest was held to encourage people to write about noble actions that have helped individuals or communities. This year, the contest focused on praising individuals or groups that have performed acts of kindness, bringing hope to those in difficult circumstances.

The highlight is the new environmental award category, honoring works that inspire and encourage action for a green, clean living environment. Through this, the Organizing Committee hopes to raise public awareness in protecting the planet for future generations.

The contest has diverse categories and prize structure, including:

Article categories: Journalism, reportage, notes or short stories, no more than 1,600 words for articles and 2,500 words for short stories.

Articles, reports, notes:

- 1 first prize: 30,000,000 VND

- 2 second prizes: 15,000,000 VND

- 3 third prizes: 10,000,000 VND

- 5 consolation prizes: 3,000,000 VND

Short story:

- 1 first prize: 30,000,000 VND

- 1 second prize: 20,000,000 VND

- 2 third prizes: 10,000,000 VND

- 4 consolation prizes: 5,000,000 VND

Photo category: Submit a photo series of at least 5 photos related to volunteer activities or environmental protection, along with the name of the photo series and a short description.

- 1 first prize: 10,000,000 VND

- 1 second prize: 5,000,000 VND

- 1 third prize: 3,000,000 VND

- 5 consolation prizes: 2,000,000 VND

Most Popular Prize: 5,000,000 VND

Prize for Excellent Essay on Environmental Topic: 5,000,000 VND

Honored Character Award: 30,000,000 VND

The deadline for submissions is October 16, 2025. The works will be evaluated through the preliminary and final rounds with the participation of a jury of famous names. The organizing committee will announce the list of winners on the "Beautiful Life" page. See detailed rules at thanhnien.vn .

Organizing Committee of the Beautiful Living Contest