The last 48 hours of the Vietnam War

Saigon in the last hours of the war encompasses an atmosphere "both peaceful and fearful" when thousands of people seek to leave the city, but in other places, daily life continues.

On April 28, 1975, Saigon was placed under a curfew when the liberation troops advanced closer to the city.Time magazine's reporter notes, covering all is a "just peaceful and scared" feeling.

Washington is aggressively conducting a helicopter evacuation campaign.In the photo, some Saigonese are lining up a CIA helicopter parked on the top of Gia Long's roof to get to the US, just before the end of the Vietnam War.

The helicopter sent American marines to Tan Son Nhat airport to protect and block important areas to evacuate the last Americans from Saigon.

Officials working for US agencies and relatives wait in front of the US Embassy's gate.

US Marine Corps helicopter evacuation helicopter.

The last US citizen, including journalists, was about to evacuate Saigon at noon.

A woman and three children waited on the US Marine Marines helicopter.

People go to the embassy right after the American security forces leave. Although the 24-hour curfew was issued, thousands of people still poured into the street.
Many streets are blocked by bicycles, cyclos and trucks leaving Saigon.However, in other corners, life continues as usual.

A few women carried boxes of furniture they had taken after American troops withdrew.

The American Marines lay on the deck of the USS Blue Ridge to avoid metal fragments from a helicopter as it landed and collided with another helicopter.
This helicopter filled with women and children almost fell into the sea but was eventually rescued and no one was injured.

US naval soldiers on the USS Blue Ridge ship pushed a helicopter into the sea to make room for other evacuation flights from Saigon.

The American pilot took a baby to a safe haven on the USS Blue Ridge after the helicopter hit me and many others collided while landing on the deck.

Saigon river banks in the last days of April 1975 filled with people waiting for evacuation on ships.

Liberation army tanks entered Saigon, heading towards the Independence Palace.

Tanks of the Vietnam People's Army knocked down the gate of the Independence Palace, headed straight for lunch on April 30, 1975, signaling the end of the Saigon government, ending the two-decade-long war.

General Duong Van Minh (who sat on the right) was about to read the statement of unconditional surrender at Saigon Radio.