Saigon fell to the NVA.
Gen. Dũng received orders from the Politburo to attack and take Saigon, which was surrounded except on approaches from the sea. Early in the morning NVA sappers tried to take the Newport Bridge but were repulsed by ARVN Airborne. An armored battle ensued, holding the bridge.
NVA armor then attacked Tan Son Nhut, which was defended by ARVN Rangers. An armored battle ensued there as well. A pitch battle broke out, but the NVA overcame the ARVN.
At 10:24 South Vietnamese President Minh surrendered unconditionally, although the ARVN continued to fight at the Newport Bridge, unaware of the surrender. They stopped fighting upon learning of the surrender.
The surrender was announced to the nation at 2:30.
I, General Duong Van Minh, president of the Saigon administration, appeal to the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam to laydown their arms and surrender unconditionally to the forces of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam. Furthermore, I declare that the Saigon government is completely dissolved at all levels. From the Central government to the local governments must be handed over to the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam.
Duong Van Minh on the transcript written by Bùi Văn Tùng
This was followed by:
We, the representatives for the forces of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam, solemnly declare that the City of Saigon was completely liberated. We accepted the unconditional surrender of General Dương Văn Minh, the president of the Saigon administration.
Bùi Văn Tùng.
In the Mekong Delta, the ARVN actually fought on for a day thereafter. Upon learning of the unconditional surrendered, they abandoned the ARVN or surrendered to VC forces that they outnumbered.
ARVN generals Le Van Hung, 42, Tran Van Hai, 50, Le Nguyen Vy, 42, and Pham Van Phu, 46, committed suicide.
Brig Gen. Pham Duy Tat, the ARVN officer known for his hopelessly naive cheerful attitude in Ken Burn's documentary on the Vietnam War, survived but would serve 17 years in a Communist reeducation camp. Upon being released, he relocated to the United States, passing away in 2019.
ARVN generals, Le Van Hung, Tran Van Hai, Le Nguyen Vy, and Pham Van Phu, committed suicide.
Operation Frequent Wind concluded.
Over 7,000 people were evacuated.
Last Marines out. Both are wearing tropical combat uniforms which have been altered to be short sleeved, something never officially authorized. The one in front carries a M1 or M2 carbine in addition to his M16A1 rifle, probably an embassy weapon.
This date has been widely marked in Vietnam this year, as well as the Vietnamese Diaspora community in the US, which naturally view it differently. Celebrations have been taking place in Vietnam. Indeed, a rather odd video clip of young women, very contemporarily addressed, watching a parade in Hanoi in which the Chinese Army was participating, shows them yelling catcalls at the Chinese troops of Chinese PLA honor guards get catcalls of "老公，老公！" (husband, husband!).
I don't get it, but perhaps if a Vietnamese person stops in, they'll explain it.
Anyway, a momentous day in history, certainly for Vietnam, but also for the United States.
