US EditionErie veteran recalls Vietnam War on 50th anniversary of fall of Saigon
- On Wednesday, a group of Vietnamese Americans came together at a senior center in Norcross to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Saigon’s fall on April 30, 1975, marking the conclusion of the Vietnam War.
- The gathering stemmed from the mass evacuation and diaspora following North Vietnamese troops capturing Saigon, which unified Vietnam under socialist rule and prompted many to flee by dangerous means such as overloaded fishing boats.
- Among those recalling the event was Von Tran, who left Vietnam in 1983 at age nine on a fishing boat with her parents and five siblings and who now leads a senior center food pantry focusing on helping elderly Vietnamese Americans.
- Tran and others remembered that thousands died or were imprisoned after 1975, and that relief efforts like Operation Frequent Wind airlifted nearly 3,000 children, while mass evacuations such as Operation New Life moved over 130,000 refugees to safety.
- The event highlighted the enduring impact of the war on the Vietnamese American community, emphasizing resilience, cultural preservation, and the complex legacy shaping U.S.-Vietnam relations fifty years later.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Georgia Public Broadcasting
Vietnamese Americans gather at Georgia senior center to mark 50th anniversary of fall of Saigon
Dozens of Vietnamese Americans gathered at a senior center in Norcross on Wednesday to mark the 50th anniversary of what Von Tran called a dark day in history.
Erie veteran recalls Vietnam War on 50th anniversary of fall of Saigon
Wednesday marked 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War with the fall of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam. It signified the end of decades of conflict between the North and South Vietnamese governments. I-79 dual bridges to be rehabilitated by PennDOT in 2026 For many, the fall of Saigon is remembered by some unforgettable images from the final days of combat depicting the evacuation of thousands of people. A local veteran said he l…
Remembering the Fall of Saigon Fifty Years Later
Experts reflect on the symbolism of Saigon’s fall, its strategic legacy, U.S.–Vietnam reconciliation, and parallels with Afghanistan—highlighting the enduring lessons of humility, adaptation, and strategic endurance.
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. This journalist was there
Loren Jenkins never intended to cover war, but in April 1975, he witnessed the fall of Saigon. From shredded files to hidden codes, he recalls the chaos they led up to the war's end. (Image credit: AFP via Getty Images)
"A great silence fell down in the city": fifty years later, the fall of Saigon told by Vietnamese from both sides
REPORT - On the eve of the celebrations, the Secretary General of the Communist Party reached out to his southern compatriots in a rare statement calling for "national reconciliation".
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
Ownership
To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage
