Vietnam repatriated the remains of two U.S. soldiers at a ceremony at Da Nang International Airport Tuesday.

The remains of two U.S. soldiers are being returned to the U.S. at Da Nang Airport April 2, 2019. Photo courtesy of Quan Doi Nhan Dan newspaper

The remains were discovered during a joint Vietnam-U.S. search operation being carried out between February and April this year.

They were examined by the two countries' forensic experts, who concluded they likely belonged to U.S. soldiers designated missing in action during the Vietnam War.

U.S. government officials expressed gratitude at the ceremony and appreciated Vietnam's humanitarian gesture, goodwill and its full and increasingly efficient cooperation on the issue.

The search for the remains of U.S. soldiers missing from the Vietnam War is an ongoing humanitarian activity by the two countries.