Vietnam Celebrates 50th Anniversary of War End with Parade and Positive View of Americans
Sky News has reported that Vietnam is marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the war with a parade and celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City. The city, formerly known as Saigon, was renamed after the US departed Vietnam in 1975.
The streets of Ho Chi Minh City are filled with national flags and thousands of troops and civilians dressed in patriotic attire. Some people have camped out overnight to witness the early morning display of military might, featuring fighter jets and helicopters decorating the skies above.
According to Sky News, 50 years after the unification of Vietnam, this is a celebration of national pride, revolutionary heroism, and victory against the odds. The legacy of the Vietnam War, a bloody battle between communist North and US-backed South Vietnam, is complex.
Around three million Vietnamese lost their lives, and about 58,000 Americans died in the war. It exposed the limits of American military power and led to a huge backlash in the US. The psychological scars on both sides were profound, and it altered the political landscape.
The impact of Agent Orange, a notorious chemical defoliant used by US forces over Vietnam to destroy jungles, is still being deeply felt. From the 1960s onwards, doctors saw a sharp rise in birth defects and cancers. Decades later, those victims are still suffering and now have the added worry of a possible cut in US funding to help with their medical needs.
Despite their history, many Vietnamese have a positive view of Americans, according to Sky News. They see them as forward-looking, partly due to the cultural exchange and economic benefits they have felt from normalised relationships and the high number of products Vietnam exports to America.
As Sky News reports, a defining and iconic image of the Vietnam War was taken by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Nick Ut. It shows a nine-year-old girl running naked on a road after being severely burned in a napalm attack by the South Vietnamese Air Force. Mr. Ut has returned to Ho Chi Minh City and tells Sky News that he still speaks to the girl, now a woman, every week.
In his first term, Donald Trump invited Mr. Ut to the White House. He told Sky News that the president held up a framed copy of the photograph to a packed room and said: "This man’s image stopped the war." It certainly became a powerful symbol of the war, influencing global public opinion and anti-war movements.
Now in his second term, Mr. Trump is threatening Vietnam with 46% tariffs, which would be ruinous to the Vietnamese economy. However, Mr. Ut says he’s hopeful the relationship will endure. He believes the US remains a "good friend".
The relationship between the US and Vietnam has come a long way since the end of the war. As Sky News notes, many Vietnamese people see Americans as friends and allies, rather than enemies. The cultural exchange and economic benefits have helped to foster a positive view of Americans.
Nguyen Ngoc Xuan Mai, a resident of Ho Chi Minh City, told Sky News: "We have so much joy. We celebrate it together. I feel so grateful because [of] what my ancestors did in the past. So that we can have today."
The 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War is a significant milestone, marking a new chapter in the country’s history. As Sky News reports, the celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City are a testament to the country’s resilience and determination.
The war may be over, but its legacy continues to shape the relationship between the US and Vietnam. As Sky News notes, the two countries have made significant progress in recent years, with growing economic ties and cultural exchange.
In conclusion, the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War is a significant event, marking a new chapter in the country’s history. According to Sky News, the celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City are a testament to the country’s resilience and determination, and the positive view of Americans is a reflection of the growing relationship between the two countries.
