Though several hundred refugees remained, the Marines at the embassy departed at 7:53 a.m.

[31] Throughout April the speed of the evacuation increased, as the Defense Attaché Office (DAO) began to fly out nonessential personnel. [18] These predictions proved to be grievously in error. © 2020 A&E Television Networks, LLC. [citation needed]. [24] The North Vietnamese front line was now just 26 miles (42 km) from downtown Saigon. That same day, PAVN rockets began hitting Saigon. The rapid PAVN advances of March and early April led to increased concern in Saigon that the city, which had been fairly peaceful throughout the war and whose people had endured relatively little suffering, was soon to come under direct attack. Having failed, Martin was able to convince him to allow ships to remain offshore for several days as a haven for those who were fleeing. "[50] After one day of bombardment and general offensive, the PAVN were ready to make their final push into the city. The U.S. As these aircraft were unloaded, they were pushed overboard to make room for new arrivals.

Pham reportedly told Minh, "If Viet Cong tanks are entering Independence Palace we will come down there to rescue you, sir." The fall of Saigon ended the Vietnam war and signified a start of the Communist ruling in Vietnam. [49]:79, At dawn on 29 April the RVNAF began to haphazardly depart Tan Son Nhut Air Base as A-37s, F-5s, C-7s, C-119s and C-130s departed for Thailand while UH-1s took off in search of the ships of Task Force 76. Increasingly concerned about the safety of Saigon, President Gerald Ford ordered planning to commence for the evacuation of American personnel.

South Vietnamese defensive forces around Saigon totaled approximately 60,000 troops.

"Re-education classes" for former soldiers in the ARVN indicated that in order to regain full standing in society they would need to move from the city and take up farming. The Operation Frequent Wind flights met little opposition from PAVN forces. In the meantime, efforts would be made to remove as many friendly South Vietnamese refugees as possible. How did the fall of Saigon end an era? North Vietnamese and Viet Cong/PRG victory: The Fall of Saigon,[1][2] also known as the Liberation of Saigon,[3] was the capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and the Viet Cong on 30 April 1975. [40] This did little to reduce the opposition to Thiệu. Two months after the signing of the Vietnam peace agreement, the last U.S. combat troops leave South Vietnam as Hanoi frees the remaining American prisoners of war held in North Vietnam.