Saigon, 1975–2025: A Half-Century Later, the Wounds and Warnings Endure

A CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter operated by the U.S. Marine Corps lifted off from the rooftop of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon on April 30, 1975, at exactly 7:53 a.m. It carried the last Marine security personnel, including Master Sergeant Juan Valdez—the final Marine to step aboard. Valdez had served in Vietnam for an entire decade, from 1965 to 1975.

Just a couple of hours later, by 10:00 a.m., Saigon had fallen to the North Vietnamese communist forces. This happened merely two years after the Paris Peace Accords, which had marked the withdrawal of American military forces from South Vietnam.

Operation Frequent Wind: A Massive Evacuation Effort

This final flight was part of Operation Frequent Wind, considered the largest helicopter evacuation ever undertaken. Over the course of April 29 and 30, 1975, the U.S. managed to evacuate 1,373 American citizens along with 5,595 Vietnamese and people from other countries.

This operation represented the last official U.S. exit from Vietnam—two decades after sending its first advisors and nearly three years after the last American combat units had left. Despite its logistical success, the evacuation reflected a painful defeat for the U.S., which had never before suffered a loss in war.

Focus of the Article

The article dives into the broader history of the Vietnam War. It discusses how the conflict shattered America’s global image of military dominance, caused immense suffering, and draws connections to current global conflicts, such as those in Ukraine, Gaza, and various parts of Africa.

A Journalist’s Take

Loren Jenkins, a former Newsweek reporter who later worked with NPR, was present in Saigon during the collapse. In a recent interview with NPR, he said: “It was a ignorant war. Never should have been waged. It was vicious, nasty to everybody—to the Americans who were sent to fight it and to the poor Vietnamese who were bombed.”

A War Without a Winner

Jenkins’ words reflect the belief that the war was both unnecessary and tragic. It left a lasting blemish on America’s reputation. Even though the U.S. succeeded in getting thousands out during Operation Frequent Wind, the whole situation was chaotic and disorganized—similar to the Kabul airport scenes during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. In both cases, many people eligible for evacuation were left behind. The main takeaway remains clear: the U.S. should never have entered the Vietnam conflict in the first place.

Commemorations in Vietnam

On April 30 this year, Vietnam marked the 50th anniversary of what it calls the end of the “American War.” In Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), the government held a huge celebration that included military parades, traditional dances, and political speeches hailing the end of foreign occupation as “the triumph of justice.”

How Allies Became Enemies

After World War II, many Vietnamese had looked up to the U.S. for helping to push back against the Japanese. Even Ho Chi Minh, the leader of North Vietnam, initially viewed America positively. But over time—and through the administrations of five different U.S. presidents—relations between the two countries broke down, eventually turning into full-blown war.

What Led to the War?

Vietnam is located thousands of miles away from the U.S., and most Americans back then couldn’t even point to it on a map. However, the American government feared that communism would spread across Asia. In 1947, President Harry Truman promised to support any nation threatened by communism. Soon after, he approved aid to Vietnam, including military advisors, vehicles, and supplies. This marked the beginning of deep U.S. involvement in the region.

The War Breaks Out

In 1954, the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu and gave up their colonial rule. Although President Eisenhower was cautious, especially after the Korean War, he still backed South Vietnam’s leader, Ngo Dinh Diem, based on the belief in the “domino theory”—that if one country fell to communism, others would follow.

Vietnam was divided into two: Ho Chi Minh ruled the communist North, and Diem, with U.S. support, controlled the South. Both sides used brutal methods, including torture and assassinations. Open conflict soon followed, drawing the U.S. deeper into war.

U.S. Involvement Grows

Until John F. Kennedy was assassinated, the American role remained somewhat limited. But after the Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964, Congress gave President Lyndon B. Johnson full authority to expand the war.

Johnson sent thousands of troops and began Operation Rolling Thunder, a major bombing campaign that lasted for years. By 1967, half a million American soldiers were in Vietnam, and anti-war demonstrations had spread throughout the U.S.

A Lingering National Pain

Though many Americans remember the fall of Saigon with sadness, most agree that staying longer wouldn’t have changed the result. The war dragged on for almost 15 years, cost $140 billion, and killed 58,220 American soldiers—ending in a defeat. As The New York Times wrote on the 50th anniversary, “The Vietnam War became a stubborn wound in American life.”

Vietnam’s Transformation

While the war still haunts American memory, Vietnam has moved on. Despite losing more than three million people, the country has become economically strong. With an annual growth rate of 6 percent and a per capita income close to $5,000, Vietnam is now one of the U.S.’s top trading partners—with a total trade volume of $49 billion (although the U.S. has a $23 billion trade deficit with Vietnam).

Even though Vietnam remains a one-party communist state, it is thriving. Interestingly, both the U.S. and China are now trying to build strong ties with the country. But Vietnam is balancing both—it cannot pick just one ally.

Lessons Still Unlearned

War has been a constant in human history, but it brings enormous pain—mostly to ordinary people. Every year, Vietnam honors its fallen and remembers how it overcame the French, the Americans, and the South Vietnamese regime.

For the U.S., the fall of Saigon sparked deep self-examination about its role in global politics. Yet that didn’t stop America from getting involved in more wars—some public, others secret.

The consequences of the Vietnam War still influence global affairs today. And despite all the hard lessons, violent conflicts continue around the world. Most of these wars are unnecessary. While governments and armies may have their reasons, the only real winners are arms manufacturers. Humanity pays the true cost. The time has come to choose peace over violence and harmony over destruction.