Fall of Saigon

The Fall of Saigon occurred on April 30, 1975 when the South Vietnamese government announced its unconditional surrender to the Vietcong.

The President, Duong Van Minh, who has been in office for just three days, made the announcement in a radio broadcast to the nation early in the morning. He asked the South Vietnamese forces to lay down their arms and called on the Vietcong to halt all hostilities.

Directly addressing the Enemy forces, he stated: "We are here to hand over to you the power in order to avoid bloodshed."

The announcement was followed by the swift arrival of Vietcong troops. Their entrance was virtually unopposed, contradicting any predictions of a long and bloody final battle for the city.

The front line of tanks smashed through the gates of the presidential palace within minutes, and at 1130 local time (0330 GMT), decades of war came to an end.

Vietcong troops, many barefoot and some no more than teenagers, rounded up government soldiers, and raised their red and blue flags. The looting which has ravaged the city over the last 24 hours stopped, and power was restored later in the day. Only the United States embassy remained closed and silent, ransacked by looters.

Saigon was immediately renamed Ho Chi Minh City. A statement by the Provisional Revolutionary Government, or PRG, in Paris, promised a policy of non-alignment, and the peaceful reunification of Vietnam.

The capitulation of the South Vietnamese government came just four hours after the last frenzied evacuation of Americans from the city. President Ford, who had requested humanitarian aid for the Vietnamese, let it be known that he was proud to have saved what Vietnamese he could in the last, frantic helicopter evacuation.

There is said to be deep humiliation in the United States government at the desperation and chaos of the final hours of America's presence in Vietnam.

The President ordered United States ships to remain indefinitely off the Vietnamese coast to pick up refugees: but even this gesture was snubbed by the North Vietnamese, who have prevented any more refugees from fleeing.

The contents of this web site are Copyright © 2009 Philadelphia Website Design. All Rights Reserved.

Please review our Privacy Policy.

Vietnam War is the best Vietnam War information resource on the Internet. We offer information on Vietnam War History, Vietnam War Timeline, Vietnam War Facts, Vietnam War Myths, Vietnam War Figures, Vietnam War Battles, Vietnam War Weapons, Vietnam War Aircraft, Vietnam War Protests, Vietnam War Prisoners, Vietnam War Casualties, Vietnam War Quotes, Vietnam War Memorial, Vietnam War Veterans and more.

Help us make this site better - and have fun! Take our quick survey. Click here!