The Fall of Saigon: Vietnam War Comes to an End
The Vietnam War, a conflict that has lasted for 30 years, has finally come to an end. The government of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, surrendered unconditionally to communist forces today, ordering its soldiers to hand over their weapons to Liberation troops. This marks a historic moment, one that some had thought would never come to pass.
According to reports from The Guardian, the North Vietnamese and the Vietcong rolled into Saigon just after noon, with T-54 tanks flying the red and white flag of the Liberation Armed Forces leading the way. The tanks roared down Cong Ly, the main street that leads to Saigon’s centre from the north, and the first tank smashed through the gates of the Independence Palace.
The troops, armed to the teeth with AK-47s, automatics, and revolvers, and with machine-guns mounted on the roofs of the cabs, waved and smiled as they took control of the city. This was a scene that had been unimaginable just hours before, when the US had completed its evacuation of Saigon.
Just two hours earlier, President Duong Van Minh had announced the surrender over the government radio in a brief speech. Minh, speaking slowly and sadly, said that "our policy as a government is national reconciliation and concord. To save further bloodshed, I now order the armed forces to stop fighting. I also ask the forces of the National Liberation Front to do the same. We are ready and waiting to hand over full administrative power to you."
As reported by The Guardian, Brigadier-General Nguyen Huu Hanh, the highest-ranking General Staff officer left in the city, ordered all units to "remain calm," wait until contacted by communist forces, and then hand over their weapons. However, not all units obeyed this order immediately, with one fight breaking out in front of the Palace itself.
The communist forces, however, were largely peaceful in their takeover. According to Hanoi Radio, the Liberation Army had been ordered not only to occupy "all important positions and major lines of communication" but to "dissolve all armed organisations of the puppet administration." The radio also reported that troops had strict orders on how to behave, with lives and property of both Vietnamese and foreign residents to be protected.
The city of Saigon was relatively calm on its first day under communist control. Newsmen were allowed to operate at will, although there were severe communication difficulties. As The Guardian reported, Radio photographs and radio circuits were ruled out, and no planes were allowed to land to pick up television film.
In the aftermath of the surrender, the Liberation Front issued an order saying: "Let all puppet army officers, soldiers, and air and naval personnel, no matter where they are hiding, quickly return to the nation, bringing with them aircraft, warships, and naval craft, and report in time to the Revolutionary administration."
The city of Saigon will now be known as Ho Chi Minh City, in honour of the communist leader who died in 1969. This marks a significant change for the city, which has been the capital of South Vietnam since the end of the French colonial era.
The fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War mark a new era for Vietnam, one of reunification and communist rule. As reported by The Guardian, the city was calm on its first day under communist control, with newsmen allowed to operate freely. This is a significant development, one that will have far-reaching consequences for the people of Vietnam.
The surrender of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War bring to a close a conflict that has lasted for decades. The war has had a profound impact on the people of Vietnam, and its legacy will be felt for generations to come. As The Guardian reported, the city of Saigon is now under communist control, and a new era of reunification has begun.
