the fall of saigon
On April 30, 1975 the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon (now Ho Chin Minh City), was captured by the North Vietnamese forces (People's Army of Vietnam and Viet Cong). This effectively marked the end of the Vietnam War. As American forced started to withdraw from Vietnam, the South were left to defend their own country, however they were incapable of doing so and the fall of Saigon to the communist forces was predetermined. Since Saigon had been located so far south, the city had not experienced much military action or damage. Rockets were launched into Saigon in April, leaving the city and people nearly hopeless and destroying Saigon's only airport. Unable to resist attack from the North, the president of South Vietnam, Nguyen Van Thieu, desperately asked US president, Gerald R. Ford, to aid in protecting their capital. Ford refused to support the south and as a result, Thieu fled from the country on April 21. The Americans however did organize an evacuation of Americans and South Vietnamese orphans and refugees, hoping to bring people out of distress and misery.
“I, the American Ambassador, am not going to run away in the middle of the night. Any of you can come to my house and see for yourselves that I have not packed my bags. I give you my word.” -Graham Martin
The evacuation proved to be difficult because it required the use of large helicopters as well as a landing area. The embassy did have a helipad its roof, however it could only accommodate small helicopters. What made it most difficult was the garden of the embassy which was covered in trees and a swimming pool that enabled the helicopters to land and rescue citizens. In addition the landing of the helicopters may have attracted more rocket attacks on Saigon from the North. In a rush to escape the city, trees were cut down in order for the helicopters to safely land and an evacuation took place on April 28th. At last, American soldiers and few Vietnamese citizens were safely deported from Saigon just moments before the North put the palace in ruins. South Vietnam was officially under the control of the Communist North Vietnamese government and the city of Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City. Many remaining South Vietnamese soldiers and government officials that were unable to escape the North were captured and placed in camps and encouraged to pursue a career in farming. The Fall of Saigon was an important battle because it not only marked the end of the Vietnam War, but also the beginning of reunification of Vietnam under Communist rule.