Saigon, moments of April 30, 1975

My first time seeing the Liberation Army. Around 10 a.m. on April 30, 1975, the Liberation Army, advancing from Hoc Mon towards the center of Saigon, was passing along Truong Minh Giang Street (now Le Van Sy Street) in District 3. Ahead of them were South Vietnamese soldiers, having taken off their uniforms. How precious it would be if those soldiers from the past could receive this photo.

Portrait of Nguyen Dat on April 30, 1975

At 10:30 a.m. on April 30, 1975, South Vietnamese soldiers, having taken off their uniforms but still wearing their dog tags around their necks, were moving towards the center of Saigon. All of them were sons born to Vietnamese mothers.

At 9:00 AM on April 30, 1975, South Vietnamese paratroopers stationed in Hoc Mon retreated towards the center of Saigon.

At 9:00 AM on April 30, 1975, South Vietnamese paratroopers fled from Hoang Hoa Tham camp in Tan Binh district towards the center of Saigon.

The last soldier I saw. At 10:30 AM on April 30, 1975. South Vietnamese soldiers were discarding their equipment and weapons, but one soldier remained, carrying two M16 rifles in his hands and two M72 anti-tank weapons on his shoulders, walking down the street, seemingly lost. Elderly people and passersby gathered around me, standing in the middle of the road with my camera, taking a report (I had the word "Reporter" plastered in large letters on my chest and back). Just a few minutes later, the Liberation Army marched in.

At approximately 11:00 AM on April 30, 1975, on Truong Minh Giang (Le Van Sy) street, liberation forces advanced from Cu Chi into the city center.

At approximately 11:00 AM on April 30, 1975, the army advanced into the center of Saigon, coming from the Western region via Truong Minh Giang Street, now Le Van Sy Street, District 3.

Liberation Army troops advanced from Hoc Mon into the center of Saigon, passing through Truong Minh Giang (Le Van Sy) street at approximately 10:00 AM on April 30, 1975.

At approximately 11:00 AM on April 30, 1975, the urban guerrilla forces appeared simultaneously, dressed like Saigon residents but armed with AK rifles and P64 pistols.

At 12 noon on April 30, 1975, at the gate of the Independence Palace, I saw for the first time the vehicle that people in the South often called a "Moto va".

At 9 a.m. on April 30, 1975, upon hearing the news that the liberation army had entered Saigon, anything related to the Republic of Vietnam was thrown out into the streets.

The soldier, having taken off his shirt, barefoot, with a piece of cloth (presumably marked) on his left hand, was walking somewhere.

Around 10 a.m. on April 30, 1975, on Truong Minh Giang (Le Van Sy) street, soldiers, having removed their uniforms, were walking towards the city center—the fates of people in wartime.

Behind the jeep lay a dead body covered with a sheet. 12 noon, April 30, 1975, at the Phu Nhuan intersection in Saigon.

On Vo Di Nguy Street - Phu Nhuan at 12 noon on April 30, 1975

At approximately 1 PM on April 30, 1975, the M113 tanks abandoned their equipment and fled. This happened on Chi Lang Street, near the side entrance of Nguyen Thai Hoc Hospital (now Phan Dang Luu Street - the Oncology Hospital).

At 3 PM on April 30, 1975, in the area of ​​the Ha Tien - Thu Duc cement factory (right next to the current Hanoi Highway toll station).

At Hang Xanh intersection on April 30, 1975.

The hat, taken on April 30, 1975, at Thi Nghe Bridge.

Looking for the person in the photo. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of national reunification, let's revisit these images from the historic day of April 30, 1975. The soldier in the photo was taken at Thi Nghe Bridge on May 1, 1975. Where is he now? What is he doing? He's already 60 years old. Hopefully, he'll see this photo of himself from that day on Facebook.

On the morning of April 30, 1975, on Vo Thi Sau Street (formerly Hien Vuong Street).

At approximately 2 PM on April 30, 1975, people gathered in the area around the Independence Palace to watch the news.

A reunion after 21 years. A "Commando" carrying an elderly soldier (without rank) and two bodyguards armed with submachine guns caused a stir in the neighborhood of Tan Dinh. The person who came was Colonel Le Thien of the Ministry of National Defense, searching for his younger brother, the musician Le Do, and... tears spoke louder than words. Brothers, each on a different side of the battlefield, were finally reunited. The nephew standing in front of the car had only been serving in the South Vietnamese army for a few months before liberation.

Around 3 PM on April 30, 1975, on the Bien Hoa highway, near the Thu Duc intersection.

A moment of relaxation after gaining control of the situation. Around 12 noon on April 30, 1975. At the end of Yen Do (Ly Chinh Thang) street, which is Hai Ba Trung street, there was an M113 tank parked in front of a house that is the very famous Pho Binh restaurant, still very well-known today. A large crowd gathered around, but nothing seemed to be happening, so I didn't take any photos. I walked a few dozen meters further and took this picture. Later, I learned that Pho Binh restaurant was the "Command Center of the Inner City Special Forces," and it was later designated a revolutionary historical site, a designation that remains to this day. It's a pity I didn't take a picture then, but that's understandable, because film was shot one by one.

On the afternoon of April 30, 1975, at the intersection of Phan Thanh Giản (Điện Biên Phủ) and Trần Quốc Thảo streets, two soldiers were riding a motorbike but didn't know how to shift gears. The motorbike kept lurching forward and then stalling, and they struggled for a long time.

On April 30, 1975, I encountered a Jeep carrying foreign journalists. It was around 12 noon on Hai Ba Trung Street.

The Ben Thanh Market roundabout, looking towards the National Assembly building of the Republic of Vietnam a few days before April 30, 1975.

Around 2 PM on April 30, 1975, at the Phu Nhuan intersection, an abandoned M48 tank of the South Vietnamese army lay on the road, its weapons and ammunition still intact. Several young men and children, out of curiosity, climbed onto it and played around. On the road, green and red Liberation flags with a yellow star were displayed on the motorcycles of two men who were traveling along the road.

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