The Fall of Saigon, April 30, 1975: The end of the Vietnam War

On April 30, 1975, North Vietnamese troops entered Saigon as the last Americans evacuated the city.

The surrender of South Vietnam ended the decades-long war and signaled the reunification of North and South Vietnam. The country had been divided in 1954. Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in honor of Communist leader Ho Chi Minh.

The Morning Advocate of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, dated April 30, 1975, featured a story by George Esper of The Associated Press. (Associated Press Corporate Archives)

South Vietnamese civilians scale the 14-foot wall of the U.S. embassy in Saigon, trying to reach evacuation helicopters as the last Americans depart from Vietnam, April 29, 1975. (AP Photo)

A South Vietnamese war veteran limps away on crutch with food looted from abandoned U.S. installations after evacuation of Saigon, April 29, 1975. (AP Photo)

U.S. Marines disembark from a CH-53 "Jolly Green Giant" to restore order and restrain crowds at the gates of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon during the final evacuation on April 29, 1975. (AP Photo/Frances Starner)

Mobs of Vietnamese people scale the wall of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, Vietnam, trying to get to the helicopter pickup zone, just before the end of the Vietnam War on April 29, 1975. (AP Photo/Neal Ulevich)

Americans and Vietnamese run for a U.S. Marine helicopter in Saigon during the evacuation of the city, April 29, 1975. (AP Photo)

U.S. Marines drop to prone firing position to guard helicopter at landing zone at former U.S. Military headquarters at Tan Son Nhut airport during evacuation from Saigon on April 29, 1975. (AP Photo)

U.S. Marine helicopter crewmen carry Vietnamese civilians to safety aboard the U.S.S. Blue Ridge April 29, 1975, after their evacuation helicopter crashed on the deck of the amphibious command ship. (AP Photo)

A weeping South Vietnamese mother and her three children are shown on the deck of this amphibious command ship being plucked out of Saigon by U.S. Marine helicopters in Vietnam, April 29, 1975. (AP Photo/J.T. Wolkerstorfer)

A helicopter lifts off from the U.S. embassy in Saigon, Vietnam during last minute evacuation of authorized personnel and civilians, April 29, 1975. (AP Photo)

U.S. Navy personnel aboard the USS Blue Ridge push a helicopter into the sea off the coast of Vietnam in order to make room for more evacuation flights from Saigon, Tuesday, April 29, 1975. The helicopter had carried Vietnamese fleeing Saigon as North Vietnamese forces closed in on the capital. (AP Photo/jt)

Associated Press wirecopy story by Peter Arnett and George Esper on the fall of Saigon, April 29, 1975. (Associated Press Corporate Archives)

A U.S. Marine helicopter lifts off from the landing pad atop the U.S. Embassy during the evacuation of Saigon Wednesday, April 30, 1975. (AP Photo/phu)

A U.S. Marine helicopter takes off from helipad on top of the American Embassy in Saigon, Vietnam, April 30, 1975. (AP Photo/Phu)

Evacuees board a boat on the Saigon water front in Saigon as PRG troops closing in on April 30, 1975. (AP Photo/Matt Franjola)

Victorious North Vietnamese troops on tanks take up positions outside Independence Palace in Saigon, April 30, 1975, the day the South Vietnamese government surrendered, ending the Vietnam War. (AP Photo/Yves Billy)

Victorious North Vietnamese troops ride a tank down Rue Catinat in Saigon while South Vietnamese civilians look on, April 30, 1975, as the capital of South Vietnam fell to communist forces, ending the Vietnam War. (AP Photo/Yves Billy)

View fullsize

View fullsize

Associated Press wirecopy story by Peter Arnett and George Esper on the fall of Saigon, April 29, 1975. (Associated Press Corporate Archives)

Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG) forces enter Saigon and are seen parked outside the Independence Palace on April 30, 1975, minutes after the unconditional surrender of a Vietnam. (AP Photo)

As victorious North Vietnamese troops ride past on a tank, defeated South Vietnamese troops discard their uniforms in Saigon, April 30, 1975, the day the South Vietnamese capital fell to communist forces, ending the Vietnam War. (AP Photo/Yves Billy)

Associated Press wirecopy story by Peter Arnett and George Esper on the fall of Saigon, April 29, 1975. (Associated Press Corporate Archives)

A Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG) tank enters the gates of the Presidential Palace in Saigon on May 1, 1975. (AP Photo/Frances Starner)

Defeated South Vietnam President Duong Van Minh (middle) walks out of Independence Palace after surrendering to PRG forces in Saigon on May 1, 1975. (AP Photo/Billy)

South Viet flag being torn in front of National Assembly Building at Damson Sq. in Saigon on May 4, 1975 by Saigonese and Revolutionary Forces. (AP Photo)

View fullsize

View fullsize

The last three staffers in The Associated Press' Saigon bureau, reporters Matt Franjola, left, Peter Arnett, rear, and George Esper, second from right, are joined by two North Vietnamese soldiers and a member of the Viet Cong on the day the government of South Vietnam surrendered, April 30, 1975. One of the soldiers is showing Esper the route of his final advance into the city. (AP Photo/Sarah Errington)

---

The AP Corporate Archives contributed to this blog

See these photos on AP Images

AP Photo Archive on Instagram