Thousands of Vietnamese gathered with red flags and patriotic songs as Vietnam held a grand military parade to celebrate 50th anniversary of end of Vietnam War, referred to by country’s communist leadership as a “victory of faith.”
The celebration commemorated the first act of Vietnam’s reunification when Communist-run North Vietnam seized Saigon (Fall of Saigon), capital of US-backed South Vietnam, on April 30, 1975. Saigon was subsequently renamed Ho Chi Minh City in honor of North’s founding leader.
Key Features of Event
- More than 300 soldiers from China, Laos, and Cambodia participated for the first time in the military parade.
- The event also marked 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the United States (established in 1995).
Historical Background
- Fall of Saigon: On April 30, 1975, Communist forces from North Vietnam captured Saigon, marking the end of the 20-year Vietnam War.
- Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City shortly after the war, as a tribute to Ho Chi Minh, the founding leader of Communist North Vietnam.
- The fall occurred about two years after the U.S. withdrew its last combat troops from Vietnam.
- The Vietnam War led to the deaths of approximately 3 million Vietnamese and nearly 60,000 Americans, many of whom were young conscripts.
- The final U.S. evacuation flight departed from the rooftop of the U.S. embassy in Saigon on April 30, 1975, carrying the last U.S. Marines out of the city.
- Formal reunification of Vietnam was completed a year later in 1976, 22 years after the country was split following the end of French colonial rule.
Vietnam’s Diplomatic Relations:
Vietnam–U.S. Relations:
- Normalized in 1995.
- Relations deepened in 2023 during a visit by former U.S. President Joe Biden to Hanoi.
- Despite improved U.S. ties, Vietnam maintains close relations with Russia, which remains its top supplier of weapons.
Vietnam-China Relation:
- Vietnam has also developed stronger economic ties with China, despite historical conflicts and ongoing rivalry over the South China Sea. China is a major investor in Vietnam’s economy and supplies many components for Vietnamese exports to the U.S.
Significance of Anniversary:
- Symbolizes national reunification and Communist victory after decades of conflict.
- Highlights Vietnam’s growing diplomatic balance between major powers like the U.S., China, and Russia.
- Marks the evolving geopolitical and economic role of Vietnam in Southeast Asia.