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.
