A safe start to 2026: The NPA/RENEW EOD team successfully destroys six dangerous explosives in a controlled demolition in Cua Viet Commune.
QUANG TRI, VIETNAM (January 9, 2026) – The new year has begun with a heartening display of community cooperation and rapid action in Quang Tri Province. On Monday, January 5th—the first working day of 2026 following the holiday break—the NPA/RENEW Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team returned to the field and successfully responded to five separate requests for help, safely removing dangerous explosives found in the middle of busy residential areas.
Neighbors Looking Out for Neighbors
The busy start to the year was driven by the high level of awareness among local residents in Gio Linh, Ben Quan, and Cua Viet. These families know that even decades after the war, the ground can still hold dangerous secrets. By early Monday afternoon, five different neighborhoods were already being made safe thanks to quick-thinking citizens who called the NPA/RENEW EOD team as soon as they spotted a threat.
Local Heroes: Captain Xuân and Mr. Thắng
At the heart of Monday’s success were stories of everyday people taking action to protect their communities.
In Lan Dinh Village, Captain Lê Viết Xuân of the local Public Security force showed how vital local leadership is to the mission. After being alerted by villagers to a suspicious object in a garden, Captain Xuan didn’t hesitate. He called the hotline and stayed on-site to lead the NPA/RENEW EOD team directly to the danger, ensuring the rusted shell was handled before anyone could get hurt.
Captain Le Viet Xuan of the Gio Linh Public Security force (right) briefs Team Leader Hoang Kim Chien on the location of a rusted shell found in a local garden.
A few miles away in Ha Thanh Village, Mr. Trần Ngọc Thắng, a local bricklayer, was at work with his team renovating a village graveyard when they unearthed another large explosive. Recognizing the danger immediately, Mr. Thắng stopped work and called for assistance. His prompt report ensured that a place of rest and reflection for the village remained safe for all visitors.
Local bricklayer Trần Ngọc Thắng explains how his team discovered a large explosive while renovating a village graveyard in Ha Thanh Village.
Making the Land Safe
By the end of this first day back in the field, the NPA/RENEW EOD team had safely recovered and removed six dangerous explosives, including various artillery shells and mortar rounds. These items were found in the very places where people live and work—in backyard gardens, along village roads, and in public spaces.
The day concluded with the team safely destroying all the recovered items at a designated site in Cua Viet. This final act ensured that these remnants of the past will never again pose a threat to the children and families of Quang Tri.
A Comprehensive Partnership for Safety
These rapid-response successes are the result of a holistic approach to mine action, made possible through a strong partnership between local teams and international supporters.
We sincerely thank the Government of the United States (through the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi) and the Government of Norway for their continued support of the technical EOD operations that safely remove and destroy these items.
Equally vital to this process is the alertness of the community. The high level of awareness shown by citizens like Captain Xuan and Mr. Thắng is nurtured through the Explosive Ordnance Risk Education program of RENEW, supported by the Government of Ireland (through the Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam). Ireland’s commitment also extends to victim assistance and support for persons with disabilities, ensuring a safer and more inclusive future for the people of Quang Tri.
This collective commitment from our donors ensures that as the people of Quang Tri build their futures, they can do so with the confidence that their land is safe and their community is protected.
As we move into 2026, the message to every household remains the same: If you see something suspicious, stay away, do not touch it, and call the hotline immediately. Together, we keep our community safe.
📞 UXO Hotline (Quang Tri): 0901 941 941
