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