Soldier Bùi Quang Thận (holding the flag, front) followed by three soldiers of the Army Corps 2 – Hương Giang Corps enters and plants the flag on the roof of the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Việt Nam at 11:30 am on April 30, 1975.  — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI  —  The Liberation of the South Day (April 30) is an occasion of great significance for all Vietnamese people. Every year, on this day, when national flags colour streets and every corner with red, the whole country recalls memories of the day and shows their gratitude to older generations who devoted their lives to national freedom and independence.

On April 30, 1975, the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising, which culminated in the historic Hồ Chí Minh Campaign, gained complete victory.

The event marked the end of the last war in Việt Nam, becoming a glorious milestone in the revolution of the country under the leadership of the Party and President Hồ Chí Minh, completely defeating the strength of US imperialists and the southern administration, regaining independence and freedom to the Motherland after 21 years of struggling, bringing Việt Nam into a new era, that of national independence and socialism.

The image of soldier Bùi Quang Thận planting the first flag on the roof of the Độc Lập (Independence) Palace, followed by the unconditional surrender of President of the Republic of Việt Nam Dương Văn Minh and Prime Minister Vũ Văn Mậu, has always been kept in the minds of generations of Vietnamese people as well as international friends who love peace and independence worldwide.

An insight into Liberation of the South Day

The April 30 Victory 49 years ago opened up a glorious page in the country’s thousands-year path of national construction and defence. The army and people of Việt Nam defeated an enemy many times stronger than them, ending the domination that had lasted for more than a century of old and new colonialism in the country, becoming a typical victory of the world's revolutionary forces, contributing to promoting the struggle of the people in the world for national independence, peace, democracy, and social progress, and encouraging peoples who were struggling for national liberation and fighting neo-colonialism around the world.

President Dương Văn Minh, who just took office on April 28, declared an unconditional surrender.  — VNA/VNS Photo

At 5pm of April 26, the Hồ Chí Minh Campaign to attack the headquarters of the Saigon regime started. Five wings of the army overcame the enemy's defence line to enter the heart of Sài Gòn and storm the enemy's headquarters. At 10:45 am on April 30, tanks and infantry forces broke into the Độc Lập Palace and captured the whole cabinet of the Sài Gòn government, forcing President Dương Văn Minh, who just took office on April 28, to declare an unconditional surrender. At 11:30 am, the Hồ Chí Minh Campaign ended with a complete victory, marked with a yellow-star red flag flying on top of the palace.

Significance of Liberation of the South Day

The April 30 Victory is a clear testament to the indomitable spirit and proud self-reliance of Vietnamese people in the fight against foreign invaders. The victory ended the rule of imperialism and feudalism in the country, completing the people's national democratic revolution, reunifying the country, and opening up a new era for the nation, enabling the whole country to move towards socialism together.

This victory will be written in the history of our nation eternally as a most glorious page and an illuminating symbol of an all-winning victory of revolutionary heroism and human wisdom, and go down in world history as a great feat of the 20th century and an event of pivotal international importance and profound epoch-making magnitude, commented Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng.

The date of April 30, 1975, is the milestone when Việt Nam realise the desire of President Hồ Chí Minh to completely liberate the South and reunify the nation.

During his lifetime, President Hồ Chí Minh always maintained his desire to liberate the South and reunify the country. He struggled to find revolutionary paths and methods for each stage of the anti-US war for national salvation.

"A day when the Fatherland is not unified and the South is not liberated is a day when I cannot eat well or sleep peacefully", and "Unifying the country is the way of life for our people." That was what President Hồ Chí Minh wrote in a letter sent to the people across the country on July 6, 1956.

It was the strong belief and aspiration of President Hồ Chí Minh that became the urge in the hearts of every person in the North and the South of the country to join hands together for the goal of national reunification, and a strong motivation for the long and arduous resistance war against the US to end with victory. At 11:30 am on April 30, 1975, the South of Việt Nam was completely liberated, the mountains and rivers became whole again, and the country was reunited in the joy of unity.

April 30 – A great celebration of the whole nation

As a tradition over the past 49 years, on the occasion of the Liberation of the South Day (April 30), the whole country bustles with activities, including visits to martyrs’ cemeteries to pay tribute to those who laid down their lives for the nation.

Our military’s tanks entering the Independence Palace on April 30, 1975.  — VNA/VNS Photo

Leaders of the Party and administration at all levels visit policy beneficiary families, war invalids, wounded soldiers, and relatives of martyrs, showing their attention and responsibility of the Party and State to those who rendered great service to the nation.

Alongside, a chain of art, musical, and festive activities are organised across the country. The day is not only a festival of the whole nation but also a chance for promoting the historical tradition and the solidarity of the nation. This year, such activities have brought about a festive atmosphere to the whole country.

Enjoying independence, freedom, and peace today, each Vietnamese is proud of and grateful for the great sacrifice by the elder generations who shed blood for the freedom and reunification of the Motherland. Vietnamese people believe in the wise leadership of the Communist Party of Việt Nam, the indomitable spirit as well as brainpower and creativity of the nation.

Younger generations have been continuing to promote revolutionary heroism, the spirit of self-reliance and great national solidarity. They adopt the determination to rise up and fulfill socioeconomic development and defence-security targets following the action programme to implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, thus building a more prosperous and beautiful Vietnam, as President Hồ Chí Minh ever wished.  —   VNS