Workers in Hanoi have unearthed the remains of 181 people under a footpath while upgrading sewers ahead of the rainy season.

The bodies were found at the foot of a pedestrian overpass on Tay Son Street.

Workers of Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage Company No.4 discovered the first set of remains just one metre underground. They reported the find to their leaders and continued digging, finding 181 sets of remains in a 100-metre dig.

The remains were in burial containers.

Trinh Ngoc Son, director of the work company, said the remains were gathered and placed in new containers, and with the approval of city authorities, transferred to a funeral home.

"The city will rebury the remains in accordance with the law." he said.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, chairman of Quang Trung Ward, said according the area was in the vicinity of the battle of Ngoc Hoi-Dong Da against Qing China more than 200 years ago. Vietnamese and Chinese soldiers were buried there.

"Maybe the remains were missed during the rebuilding," he said. "Elders say this area was also once a cemetery of Nam Dong Village, inundated by water a long time ago. We'll ask for further directives from the city authorities."

Workers find 181 burial containers (photo:danviet)

Remains found at the foot of a pedestrian overpass

Many more remains left untouched