Comrades of Department of Operation were working on a map to consider battlefield situation in 1975.

A group of comrades was on duty at the headquarters of Department of Operation to get ready for the Hồ Chí Minh campaign.

Comrades of Department of Operation held a meeting in the Headquarters of the General Staff to exchange information of the happenings on battlefield in 1975.

Hồ Chí Minh campaign Command stationed at Tà Thiết base – Lộc Ninh in April 1975

Missile launcher trucks driven by Liberation Army moved into Sài Gòn on April 30th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

The soldiers of the 32nd Division (a special elite soldier group) bravely attacked and occupied the Rạch bridge at Biên Hòa highway, coordinating in time with the great army from the East to Sài Gòn.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Liberation Army advanced into Bảy Hiền intersection, Sài Gòn on April 30th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Liberation Army advanced into Bạch Đằng port on April 30th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Tanks of Liberation Army crashed through the steel gate of the Independence palace, on April 30th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

4 fighters of Hương Giang army corps placed liberation flag on the roof-top of the Independence palace, April 30th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Forces of Liberation army attacked and occupied Tân Sơn Nhất airport, on April 30th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Liberation Army took control of Đô Chính building in Saigon.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

General Võ Nguyên Giáp read the news of the victory, April 30th, 1975.

Operations watch officers listened to intelligence information of the victory being broadcasted on the radio, 10:00 a.m, April 30th, 1975.

General Quarters of Vietnamese People’s Army on the day of complete victory, April 30th, 1975.

General Võ Nguyên Giáp and officers of Ministry of National Defense of Vietnamese People’s Army stood together to have a memorial photo taken in front of the office of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People’s army (House D67), April 30th, 1975.

The meeting ratified a two-year 1975 – 1976 at the Headquarters (House D67) strategic plan which emphasized that the year of 1975 would be an opportunity to seize, and that the liberation of South Vietnam should be made in 1975 whenever chance came.

The Central Military Commission held a meeting and decided to launch a general offensive campaign to liberate the South in a shortest period of time. The best time would be in April 1975. “Activeness, Bravery, Unpredictability, and Victory” was adopted as the slogan on March 31th, 1975.

General Võ Nguyên Giáp at the Headquaters issued confidential telegram No. 1574 to order all units at the front lines: “Be more and more active. Be braver and Braver. Try to get to the front in a shortest time and liberate the South. Be determined to fight for winning the victory.” on April 7th, 1975.

At the Headquaters (House D67), General Võ Nguyên Giáp monitored the General Offensive campaign in the South, April 1975.

The meeting on the Sài Gòn – Gia Định campaign on April 8th, 1975. Source: The Southeastern Armed Forces museum

At the Headquaters (House D67), the Politburo decided to change the name of the Sài Gòn – Gia Định campaign into the Hồ Chí Minh campaign. Attended were comrades Lê Duẩn, Trường Chinh, Lê Hữu Đức, Võ Nguyên Giáp,… onApril 14th, 1975.

The troops of the 4th Legion expressed their determination over the Hồ Chí Minh campaign, April 24th , 1975. Source: The Southeastern Armed Forces museum

The map illustrating the Hồ Chí Minh campaign all units of the Vietnam People’s Liberation army opened fire on Sài Gòn from five directions on April 26th, 1975.

Units of Brigade 232 were passing through Vàm Cỏ river on their way to Sài Gòn.

People’s Artist Kim Cúc - A newscaster, read the victory news on April 30th, 1975:

I still clearly remember the moment when I read that news. It was around 11:45 a.m on April 30th, 1975 when Mr. Trủy came into and gave us a newscast. He said in a voice choked with emotion “victory, victory!”. That day, Mrs. Túy (a newscaster) and I worked on the same shift. The newscast consisted of 45 words and each reading lasted for 30 seconds; however, it was informative and concise enough to make the whole nation burst with joy...

People’s Artist Kim Cúc - A newscaster, read the victory news on April 30th, 1975

After reading the April 30th victory newscaster, when I walked out to the office gate, I saw a lot of people pouring out into the streets and shouting: “Victory, unity”. During the break after lunch, together with everyone else, Mrs. Túy and I also went to Hoàn Kiếm lake to celebrate the victory. The streets of Hà Nội were crowded with people, everyone had a happy smile on their faces. At that moment, Mrs. Túy and I held hands. Not long ago, she and I also held hands to read the victory news. Mrs. Túy said in emotion: “Hey Cúc, the country has been unified, so I can go home to see my mother”. Source: tienphong.vn

Pupils of Ngô Sĩ Liên Secondary School were so excited after listening to the news of liberation of Saigon, May, 1975
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Capital people gathered around a loudspeaker to listen to the news of liberated Saigon, April 30th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

After learning that the South had completely been liberated, tens of thousands of Capital people went out to the streets, cheering and marching to celebrate the great victory of the nation.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Doctor. Nguyễn Văn Sơn - Chairman of Hà Nội History Association, former student of Hanoi University (now Vietnam National University, Hanoi)

In the early morning of April 30th, after learning that the campaign had ended in a complete victory, everyone was so excited. That afternoon, everyone went straight to Hoàn Kiếm lake. My friends and I also went from Dormitory in Mễ Trì to Hoàn Kiếm lake by train, however we were stuck on Ô Chợ Dừa street due to traffic jam. So, we got off the train and walked to Hoàn Kiếm lake...

Doctor. Nguyễn Văn Sơn - Chairman of Hà Nội History Association, former student of Hanoi University (now Vietnam National University, Hanoi)

...When the official information of the victory was announced, everyone went out into the streets and paraded past Hoàn Kiếm lake, Hà Nội Opera house, flower gardens and the central streets. The people gathered in streets shouting loud “Victory, Independence”, and sang: “There has never been a great day like today”. Families hung national flags outside the houses, students holding national flags running around. That was such a wonderful scene that was filled with the overwhelming joy. In the evening, the torch ceremony took place until 2 - 3 a.m.

Students of Hanoi University merrily celebrated the victory of liberated Saigon, May, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Youth Union of Hai Bà Trưng street participated in the torch ceremony to celebrate the great victory of the nation.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

After listening to the news of the victory of Saigon, Several tens of thousands of young people of the Capital came out on the streets in crowds to celebrate the victory of the nation, April 30th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Journalist Nguyễn Khắc Hiển - Head of Representative Office of Newspaper Office of North Central Journalism and Public Opinion:

The national flags appeared from all sides. Flags were also hastily hung on the balconies of families and on the offices. Flags were held in the hands by so many people who were flocking to Hoàn Kiếm lake. The singings and firecrackers all over the streets made a joyous sound. The expressions of each of people were lit up by feelings of victory...

Journalist Nguyễn Khắc Hiển - Head of Representative Office of Newspaper Office of North Central Journalism and Public Opinion:

...It did not matter if everyone knew each other or not, or what was their skin color and language, they embraced each other tightly, and gave each other kisses and cried happily. Passing house No. 58, Quán Sứ street, I was startled at a very loud shout: “Vi Va Việt Nam. Vi Va Việt Nam!”. It turned out to be the shouts from the staff of the Cuban Embassy. Then they got out into the streets, waving Vietnamese flags, Cuban flags, shouting so loud: “Long live Vietnam” in both Cuban and Vietnamese that they almost lost their voices.

After listening to the news of the liberation of Saigon, several hundreds of thousands of young people were present on streets parading and shouting to celebrate the national victory, April 30th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Cuban workers working in Vietnam shared joy with Capital people.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Ngọc Sơn temple on the victory day.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Journalist Nguyễn Văn Vinh - Reporter of Vietnam Television (VTV):

In 1975, I was working as a cameraman for VietnamTelevision. Our mission was to follow the armies and to report news on the South liberation campaigns. On the morning of April 30th, the agency convened an urgent meeting at 9 o’clock, the Editor-in-chief informed us of the situation in Sài Gòn...

Journalist Nguyễn Văn Vinh - Reporter of Vietnam Television (VTV):

...Mr. Trần Đức and I were assigned to gather news, so we went to the Vietnam News Agency, the atmosphere here was very lively. Some members had prepared a blue cloth on which the Vietnamese map was drawn and completely colored red. As we walked down the street, we heard a shout “liberated, liberated”. The members the Vietnam News Agency stood on the balcony of the second floor unwinding the map. Then everyone set off firecrackers to celebrate the victory. We also knew for sure that the liberation army had already arrived in Sài Gòn

After Sài Gòn was liberated, the Hà Nội Information officials coloured the rest of the map red.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Officers and capital people gathered in great number at Vietnam Press Agency listening to the news of the celebration of liberated Saigon, April 30th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

After learning that Sài Gòn had been liberated, many Vietnamese and foreign journalists met and interviewed many people.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

People’s Artist Như Quỳnh:

That day, I was an actress of the Golden Bell Cải lương troup (now Hanoi Cải lương theater), which is an art troupe managed by the Hà Nội Department of Culture and Information. Assigned to prepare for the anniversary of the country’s complete liberation, we prepared Áo dài, flowers, flags and slogans to rehearse for the parade. On May 1, we paraded around Hoàn Kiếm lake and passed the old quarters in Hà Nội. From early morning we were at the Department of Culture to prepare everything for the parade...

People’s Artist Như Quỳnh:

The whole city spent a sleepless night, Hà Nội was covered with the red colour of national flags. The flags were not only hung on the doors of houses in the streets, but also on balconies, and on lanterns in alleys.
We paraded around Hoàn Kiếm lake shouting slogans. The citizens who followed us also shared the common joy of the nation by shouting those slogans, so they almost lost their voice.

Lion dance on Nam Bộ street (now Lê Duẩn street), Hà Nội to celebrate the great victory of the nation.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Students of cutural and artistic shools marched and gave a performance in front of the rostrum, Hanoi, May 15th, 1975
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Students of cutural and arts schools paraded to celebrate the great victory
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Mrs. Văn Minh Tâm - daughter of General Văn Tiến Dũng:

We did not have much time together. I still remember the day when he came home from Sài Gòn after the liberation. At that time, when he got back, my children and I came to see him immediately. What makes us the most happy is that he completed his assignment and returned home safely...

Mrs. Văn Minh Tâm - daughter of General Văn Tiến Dũng:

...At that time, he told us that: when they were informed that Saigon was liberated, everyone in the headquarters of the campaign jumped up with joy, shouting “victory, victory”. Then he asked us what we would have to do to preserve the independence of the nation.

The red Vietnam map, published in the People’s Army Newspaper on May 15th, 1975, referred to the nation’s unity Source: People’s Army Newspaper

More than 30,000 people living in Ba Đình street, Hà Nội, gathered at the square of Hanoi Opera house celebrating the great victory of the nation, on May 15th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

General Văn Tiến Dũng and Headquaters of Hồ Chí Minh campaign gave an order for an attack on Sài Gòn to be launched, April 26th, 1975. Source: Museum of Southeastern Armed Forces

Musician Phạm Tuyên, author of the song “As if Uncle Hồ were with us on Victory Day”:

During my career as a musician, the song “As if Uncle Hồ were with us on Victory Day” was the most widely popular song. On the evening of April 28th, news of a plane obtained from the enemy that bombed Tân Sơn Nhất airport was broadcast. That night I was at the dormitory, when I heard the news, I was very happy and suddenly I had a premonition that the liberation day was coming. My room was very small, so that night I stood on the stairs writing down my feelings on paper...

Musician Phạm Tuyên, author of the song “As if Uncle Hồ were with us on Victory Day”:

...The next morning, I reported to everyone at the Radio. April 29th, my song was sung for the first time and received compliments, but people said it was too early to broadcast my song because at that time the country had not been liberated. At noon on April 30th, the General Director called to tell me to meet. He asked if any of us had composed any songs for the liberation day? I said I’ve already written but just a piece. I stood at the stairs singing to him. After listening, he said that there was no need for more than that short piece, and that by afternoon everyone of Radio the Voice of Vietnam would record the short piece because that night it would be posted to break the news on our victory to people all over the world.

The song “As if Uncle Hồ were with us on Victory Day” composed by composer Phạm Tuyên was broadcast on April 30th, 1975.

Students and pupils in Saigon participated in the meeting to welcome the Military Administrative Committee, May 7th, 1975
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Students and pupils in Saigon participated in the meeting to welcome the Military Administrative Committee, May 7th, 1975
Source: Vietnam News Agency

An article to celebrate the liberation of Sài Gòn, published on the People’s Army Newspaper on May 1, 1975. Source: People’s Army Newspaper

An article Great joy on the streets of the capital published in the Pepole’s Army Newspaper on May 1, 1975. Source: People’s Army Newspaper

An article to celebrate the liberation of Sài Gòn, published on the People’s Army Newspaper on May 2, 1975. Source: People’s Army Newspaper

An article about Hà Nội during the great victory, published in the People’s Army Newspaper in 1975. Source: People’s Army Newspaper

Comrade Lê Duẩn and leaders of the Party and the State waved to the masses marching past the rostrum, Hanoi, May 15th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

A panorama of the ceremony to celebrate the victory, Hanoi, May 15th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

A panorama of the ceremony to celebrate the victory, Hanoi, May 15th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Group dance was performed by young men and women in the capital to celebrate the great victory of the nation at the square of the Hà Nội Opera house, on the night of May 16th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

A performance to celebrate the great victory of the nation, Hanoi, in the evening of May 16th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

A gala evening held in Sword Lake to celebrate the great victory, May 16th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Artist Nguyễn Mạnh Đức - a war veteran participating in Hồ Chí Minh campaign:

When my unit reached Bình Triệu bridge (today in Thủ Đức district), we got the news that the liberation army had occupied the Radio and the headquarters of General Staff. We all jumped out of the car, shouting with joy. The people living along the the road also came out to celebrate the victory. Although some of them still felt nervous, most of the people were very happy. We embraced the people, and shared the joys with them. We had a happy party on the edge of the road in the shade of nipa trees...

Artist Nguyễn Mạnh Đức - a war veteran participating in Hồ Chí Minh campaign:

...All were happy. That feeling was indescribable.When my unit reached Bình Triệu bridge (today in Thủ Đức district), we got the news that the liberation army had occupied the Radio and the headquarters of General Staff. We all jumped out of the car, shouting with joy. The people living along the the road also came out to celebrate the victory. Although some of them still felt nervous, most of the people were very happy. We embraced the people, and shared the joys with them. We had a happy party on the edge of the road in the shade of nipa trees. All were happy. That feeling was indescribable.

Many young men enthusiastically joined the army.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Saigon people welcomed Liberation Army, April 30th, 1975
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Saigon people welcomed Liberation Army, April 30th, 1975
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Lieutenant General Nguyễn Huy Hiệu Former Member of the Party Central Committee, Former Deputy Minister of National Defense; Commander of regiment 27th, division 320B, 1st Corps to attack General Staff of Puppet Government in 1975:

On the morning of April 30th, when we launched an attack on Lái Thiêu and then liberated the land, the people greeted us with flags and flowers. We did not know where they took the flag; however, everyone had flags, and the flags were also hung at the front door of their houses...

Lieutenant General Nguyễn Huy Hiệu Former Member of the Party Central Committee, Former Deputy Minister of National Defense; Commander of regiment 27th, division 320B, 1st Corps to attack General Staff of Puppet Government in 1975:

...Especially, when we went further into the inner city to launch an attack on the General Staff, we found that the surrounding area was sparsely populated. By the time we occupied this place, people of different classes flocked into the streets, screaming with joy. Sài Gòn was covered with flags and flowers. Traditional songs were sung everywhere.When the soldiers of the liberation army sang, the people sang along.

Saigon people came out on the streets to welcome liberation fighters, April 30th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Saigon people flocked into the streets to welcome the liberation army who had taken over the presidential palace of the Puppet government, the afternoon on April 30th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Saigon people flocked into the presidential palace of the Puppet government to welcome the liberation army.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Major General Trần Quang Tùy and Mrs. Lê Thị Lụa - who took part in the Hồ Chí Minh campaign, division 320B to attack General Staff of Puppet Government in 1975

People of Sài Gòn flocked to the Presidential palace to welcome Liberation Army on April 30th, 1975
Source: Vietnam News Agency

People crowded highways in Saigon and Bien Hoa to welcoming liberation fighters, April 30th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Journalist Nguyễn Văn Vinh - Reporter of Vietnam Television (VTV)

During my career as a journalist, I had an amazing luck, which was when I had a chance to witness the exciting atmosphere when people in Hanoi celebrated the victory of the nation. That is not to mention the very next day when I was present in Sài Gòn and watched the Liberation army enter the city after 24 hours. In the heart of Sài Gòn, we got around and filmed the city, so we could see the development of Sài Gòn at that time. Unlike what we had imagined, all we could see was a peaceful atmosphere in which people walked out onto the streets without fear and gunshots. On May 7th, the Military Administrative Committee met the public for the first time, at that time General Trần Văn Trà was elected as the Chairman of the Military Administrative Committee. On May 15th, the ceremony to celebrate the victory that was attended by Mr. Tôn, Lê Duẩn, Phạm Văn Đồng, Phạm Hùng, Lê Đức Thọ,... was solemnly held at the Independence palace. We were very happy that the independence of the nation, especially of Sài Gòn and the South began from that moment on.

Chairman Nguyễn Hữu Thọ welcomed President Tôn Đức Thắng at Tân Sơn Nhất airport coming to celebrate the victory, May 13th, 1975
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Students in Saigon propagated the policy of the revolutionary government through loudspeakers.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Colonel Nguyễn Công Định and his wife - Ms. Nguyễn Thị Óng, Division 320B to attack General Staff of Puppet Government in 1975

Colonel Nguyễn Công Định’s letter to his wife, written at the General Staff of the Republic of Việt Nam, on May 7th, 1975.

The tank of the Liberation army attacked the General Staff of the Puppet Government.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

The attack on the Presidential palace of Puppet Government.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Colonel Nguyễn Công Định and his wife - Ms. Nguyễn Thị Óng, Division 320B to attack General Staff of Puppet Government in 1975

Colonel Nguyễn Công Định’s letter to his wife, written in Sài Gòn, on May 7th, 1975.

A panorama of the meeting to welcome the Military Administrative Committee, May 7th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

More than 500 thousand people in Sài Gòn - Gia Định held a meeting to celebrate the liberation of the City and to welcome the presence of the Military Administrative Committee, May 7th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Saigon people participated in the meeting to welcome the Military Administrative Committee, May 7th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

In a letter from Colonel Nguyễn Công Định to his wife, he told about the victory celebration in Sài Gòn, May 15th, 1975.

Saigon People of all classes participated in the meeting and paraded through the rostrum and streets to celebrate the victory, May 15th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Chairman Nguyễn H ữu Thọ, Senior Lieutenant - General Trần Văn Trà and Comrade Phạm Hùng stood on the rostrum expressing their deep happiness at the victory, Saigon, May 15th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Saigon People of all classes participated in the meeting and marched past the rostrum and along streets to celebrate the victory, May 15th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Units of militia and guerillas who had fought and liberated South Vietnam participated in the meeting and parade, Saigon, May 15th, 1975
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Cultural and artistic troupes participated in the meeting and parade on the streets in Saigon, May 15th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Units of mechanized soldiers in the parade, Saigon, May 15th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Artillery Units and missile men in the parade, Saigon, May 15th, 1975.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Tank units in the parade, Saigon, May 15th, 1975
Source: Vietnam News Agency