Vietnam Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of Its Victory Over the United States
by Vu Kim Chung
31-3-2000
It was 25 years before that in April 1975 Vietnam finally won full independence
from its Eurocentric yoke, first from the French and then from the Americans
in what the world over is called the Vietnam War, but which the Vietnamese
call the American War. Celebrations started in Vietnam on March 10 to mark
the twenty-fifth anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war. The celebration
continued in various parts of Vietnam during the month of March.
Celebrations mark Vietnam anniversary
In Buon Me Thuot -- the first town to be taken in the final offensive, on
March 10, 1975 -- colourful parades included white gloved soldiers, ethnic
minority people in traditional dress and trained elephants. And an exhibition
of photographs of the war opened in the capital, Hanoi.
The images come from a book -- Requiem, the Vietnam Collection --
of the work of more than one-hundred photojournalists who died covering two
decades of conflict in Indo-China. The book, published in 1997, has won several
awards for its depictions of the brutality of war. The Vietnamese celebrations
moved south and to culminate in Ho Chi Minh City on April 30 -- twenty-five
years to the day since the hurried departure of the Americans, tails between
their legs.
Politburo Sends Liberation Day Message
The Vietnamese Politburo sent a message to cadres, people, soldiers,
revolutionary veterans, war invalids, sick soldiers, families of fallen
combatants and families who made contributions to the revolution, with warm
congratulations and best regards to mark the 25th anniversary of the south's
Liberation Day (April 30, 1975-April 30, 2000).
Meeting on the 25th anniversary of the Buon Ma Thuot
victory |
"Reviewing the past 25 years since the south's liberation," the message read,
"the people of the southern provinces and cities, along with people nationwide,
have recorded significant and meaningful achievements in the cause of national
development and defence, gradually changing Vietnam from a poor and backward
economy to a modern, industrial nation. The Politburo warmly thanks the entire
Party, army and people of the southern region as well as those from the rest
of Vietnam for their efforts and creativeness in making such progress, steadily
moving the country into the new millennium." |
"The Politburo requires Party committees and administrations at all levels
to guide sectors and mass organisations to organise a thrifty celebration
of Liberation Day, in an effort to fulfill the socio-economic targets set
for 2000 and the five year plan (1996-2000) and to welcome the ninth congress
of the Communist Party of Vietnam."
Vietnamese Troops, Elephants Mark Key War Victory
Young Vietnamese soldiers in starched uniforms, cheered by grizzled old
revolutionaries, marched through a central highland town on March 10 to mark
the beginning of the end of the Vietnam War. Several thousand troops carrying
rifles paid tribute to the communist forces who on March 10, 1975, captured
the strategic town of Buon Ma Thuot before pushing on to take Saigon, then
capital of the U.S.-backed South Vietnam, 50 days later.
Witnesses said the mood
was festive in the provincial capital of Daklak as more than 10,000 people
lined the streets in bright sunshine to watch two hours of parades that included
elephants pulling artillery pieces. State television showed colourful floats
decked out with Communist Party insignias and busts and pictures of a smiling
Ho Chi Minh, the country's late revolutionary leader. Some elephants even
carried people draped in costumes who resembled legendary Vietnamese warriors
who had fought a succession of invading Chinese armies over the past 2,000
years, a reminder that Vietnam is no stranger to battle.
Festivities were launched in Buon Ma Thuot on March 6 to mark the start of
two months of events across the country aimed at commemorating the end of
the Vietnam War. What began as a final offensive with the capture of Buon
Ma Thuot 25 years before became a rout as South Vietnamese troops retreated
in disarray along the 350 km route to Saigon, now called Ho Chi Minh City.
When Saigon fell on April 30, 1975, it brought to an end the decade-long
war, a conflict that still haunted those from both sides who fought in the
shimmering paddy fields and dense jungles of this Southeast Asian nation.
"Buon Ma Thuot was a very
strategic location," Ybloc Eban, an 80-year-old veteran who fought for the
Viet Cong in the central highlands, told Reuters Television.
"After this victory we sped up and launched the Ho Chi Minh Campaign to liberate
the whole of South Vietnam, especially the attack to liberate Saigon," said
Eban, his old uniform weighed down with medals.
Vietnam Wants to Put on a Show
Large-scale celebrations, especially those involving the secretive military,
are rare in communist-ruled Vietnam. The scale of the events in Buon Ma Thuot
indicated the Communist Party aimed to put on a major show for the 25th
anniversary. Diplomats said the party wanted the celebrations to reinforce
patriotic fervour at a time of mediocre economic prospects and also remind
the country's huge young population about the sacrifices made by their parents
and grandparents.
Some 58,000 American servicemen were killed during the Vietnam War, while
Vietnam put its losses at more than three million soldiers and civilians.
Since normalising diplomatic relations in 1995, Hanoi and Washington have
had regular contacts.
Gia Lai Celebrates Liberation Day
Gia Lai province held an elaborate meeting to mark the 25th
anniversary of its liberation from the United States in Pleiku city on March
17. Many Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, armed forces’ heroes and people
from the province attended the meeting.
Gia Lai Party secretary, K'sor Phuoc, reviewed the heroic struggles and glorious
victory of the Party committee, soldiers and people of the province. After
the provincial liberation day, people carried out hunger elimination and
poverty alleviation programs to harness all potential for provincial
socio-economic development.
At the meeting, the Gia Lai People's Committee and Fatherland Front launched
a campaign to call on cadres and people to unite in order to build a stronger
and a wealthier province.
Colourful tribute to remember end of war
In the grey light of dawn on March 26, 1975, communist forces ran their yellow
star-on-red up the Citadel's flag tower, officially laying claim to Hue.
On March 26, 2000, the city commemorated that victory with a colourful tribute
as part of celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the end
of the Vietnam War. Holding aloft vibrant silk banners, costumed youths paraded
past flower floats as troops marched through To Do (Freedom) Stadium. Thousands
of students carried placards with patriotic sayings such as "Uncle Ho forever"
and "Remember the soldiers".
Casting a watchful eye over the proceedings was a giant portrait of Ho Chi
Minh - the father of communist Vietnam. Adding a solemn note, government
officials dedicated the festivities to the memory of those killed in the
war.
"What we have today is due to the sacrifice in lives, sweat and tears of
our fallen fathers and brothers," said Ngo Yen Thi, Thua Thien Hue province's
Communist Party chief.
Hue was the second major city taken as communist troops advanced down the
coast. A month later, tanks rolled into Saigon to accept the surrender of
the US-backed South Vietnamese government. That ended the war that claimed
58,000 American lives and three million Vietnamese soldiers and civilians,
reunifying the nation.
Da Nang Hails War Anniversary with Pomp, Parade
Clusters of multicolored balloons filled the air while hundreds of troops
paraded past a giant soldier's memorial on March 29 as Da Nang commemorated
the 25th anniversary of the communist capture of the city. The
celebration in this former U.S. military base, marking the second-most strategic
capture of the last days of the Vietnam War, drew 15,000 spectators and
performers. Decorated floats and costumed performers streamed through Danang's
public square during the two-hour event, televised live nationally. Army,
air force, navy and militia troops marched past a war memorial inscribed,
"The nation remembers their contributions."
The 1965 landing of U.S. troops in Da Nang marked the United States' official
entry into the war. On March 29, 1975, Da Nang - the largest military base
north of Saigon -- became the third city to fall as communist forces advanced
down the coastline in an aggressive offensive that ended April 30 with the
capture of the South Vietnamese capital.
Underscoring the significance of the Da Nang victory, those attending the
March 29 event included former Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, Vice President
Nguyen Thi Binh and Gen. Van Tien Dung, the North Vietnamese commander who
led the campaign to capture Saigon.
"The liberation of Da Nang pushed the Saigon government into a desperate
situation and disintegration, providing an important contribution to our
final victory in spring 1975," Mayor Nguyen Ba Thanh said. "Our massive attack,
which lasted 30 hours, smashed one of the U.S.'s strongest military bases
in Vietnam."
Col. Nguyen Ngoc Phi, now 75, led the forces that took over the city and
hoisted a communist flag over the government building shortly before noon
on that March 29.
"The city was in chaos," he said. "The Saigon army tried to evacuate with
their families, and they ran, leaving their weapons and uniforms behind."
Da Nang fell with no bloodshed as Southern troops and their families frantically
sought escape via boat, aeroplane or road. The port was chaotic as overcrowded
barges and boats carried some of the half-million people trying to flee the
advancing troops.
A quarter century later, the frenzy was repeated -- without the fear -- as
hundreds of flag-festooned boats lined up Tuesday for a spirited race that
kicked off the celebrations. Da Nang had been a flurry of festive activity
in recent days prior to the celebrations, with red and yellow flags and colored
banners planted along every corner. Performers practicing for the parade
filled the streets with music and dance.
During the Vietnam War, Da Nang was a major base for U.S. troops, with the
nearby white sands of China Beach a favorite rest and relaxation spot. Boosted
by its shipping port and manufacturing industry, the city has since doubled
in population to 700,000, becoming one of Vietnam's four largest cities.
Da Nang is under a constant dust cloud as construction crews widen roads,
and scaffolding covers many new homes along the roadside. As part of anniversary
festivities, the city officially inaugurated a third bridge spanning the
Han River and a cable car system from the mountainous Ba Na resort area.
"You can say that Da Nang is a construction project these days," Vice Mayor
Nguyen Hoang Long said. "Anyone who lived here 25 years won't recognize it
anymore." After years of wartime sacrifice, the dividends of peace have paid
off, said Pham Trung Kien, a 23-year-old soldier when the war ended.
"Things were tough after the war, but I think my son will have a brighter
future than me," Kien said of 6-year-old Hien, who won a student drawing
contest held in conjunction with the anniversary.
"I believe he will enjoy a life of peace, not like me, who experienced the
destruction and misery of war," he said.
Witnesses said the mood
was festive in the provincial capital of Daklak as more than 10,000 people
lined the streets in bright sunshine to watch two hours of parades that included
elephants pulling artillery pieces. State television showed colourful floats
decked out with Communist Party insignias and busts and pictures of a smiling
Ho Chi Minh, the country's late revolutionary leader. Some elephants even
carried people draped in costumes who resembled legendary Vietnamese warriors
who had fought a succession of invading Chinese armies over the past 2,000
years, a reminder that Vietnam is no stranger to battle.
"Buon Ma Thuot was a very
strategic location," Ybloc Eban, an 80-year-old veteran who fought for the
Viet Cong in the central highlands, told Reuters Television.