Vietnam commemorates the 50th anniversary of war conclusion, emphasizing peace and harmony.
Festivities in Ho Chi Minh City Mark Vietnam's 50th Anniversary
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (our website) - This week, Vietnam celebrated a significant milestone: the 50th anniversary of the end of the war with the United States and the formation of its modern nation. The occasion was celebrated with a grand military parade and a strong focus on cultivating a peaceful future.
The fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, signified the end of a Vietnam divided into the communist North and U.S.-allied South. Addressing the gathered crowds, To Lam, the Vietnam Communist Party's general secretary, emphasized the increasing unity achieved over the past decades.
"We, the Vietnamese, are the descendants of this Nam Viet," Lam proclaimed. "We have the rights to live and work, to have freedom to pursue happiness and love in this country." He went on to declare, "In the spirit of putting the past behind us, respecting differences, and looking towards the future, the entire party, the people, and the army pledge to make Vietnam a country of peace, unity, prosperity, and development."
Thousands of citizens camped overnight on the streets of the former South Vietnamese capital, eager for a prime viewing spot for the parade. Many reveled in the afternoon, indulging in picnics while they awaited the evening's drone and fireworks displays.
The red and yellow of Vietnam's national flag was ubiquitous in the city—fluttering from buildings, painted on the faces of excited teenagers, and embellishing the T-shirts of tourists who had traveled from across the country.
"Now it's time for peace," voiced spectator Nguyen Thi Hue, a city resident. "Peace is the dream that everyone in the world wants."
One float displayed the mythical Lac bird, Vietnam's emblem, while another bore a portrait of Ho Chi Minh. Chinese, Laotian, and Cambodian troops marched alongside Vietnamese army formations, some wearing uniforms similar to those worn by northern Vietnamese troops during the war. Helicopters carrying the national flag and jets flew over the parade near Independence Palace, where a North Vietnamese tank had crashed through the gates on the final day of the war.
Crowds, mesmerized by the spectacle, congregated outside the barricades, and at some street corners where giant screens had been set up. People snapped photographs and cheered as marching soldiers passed by, while those at home gathered gathered around their television sets.
Notably, Cambodia's former leader Hun Sen and Laotian Communist Party General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith sat beside Vietnam's leader. To Lam underscored that, beyond a military victory over the U.S. and South Vietnam, the fall of Saigon represented a "glorious turning point" that signified the end of a 30-year-long struggle for independence, which commenced with the effort to expel French colonial forces.
Lam highlighted Vietnam's gratitude to the Soviet Union, China, and neighboring Laos and Cambodia for their support, as well as the international solidarity of "progressive" people worldwide, including Americans.
Changing Tides in Vietnam's International Relations
The emphasis on reconciliation rather than military victory reflected Vietnam's approach to the evolving global economy and geopolitics today, according to Nguyen Khac Giang, an analyst at Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. Giang noted that the Vietnam War remains central to the Communist Party's justification of its authority, not only as a military triumph but also as a symbol of national unity. However, To Lam's remarks underscored that the reconciliation process remains incomplete.
For Pham Ngoc Son, a veteran who fought for the communists, the passage of time has left ample space for peace and camaraderie between Vietnam and the United States. The 69-year-old, who during the war served as a truck driver transporting troops and supplies from the north to the south along the Ho Chi Minh Trail—the secret supply route used by North Vietnam—commented, "The war is over a long time ago."
A Decade of Diplomatic Advancements with the United States
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the U.S. In 2023, Vietnam upgraded its relations with the U.S. to that of a comprehensive strategic partner, the highest diplomatic status it gives to any country and the same level of relations as China and Russia.
However, the relationship has encountered some strain, with President Donald Trump's imposition of heavy tariffs and the cancellation of much foreign aid, which has affected war remediation efforts in Vietnam. The future of these projects is now at risk due to the Trump administration's broad cuts to USAID.
Moreover, Vietnam, with its export-dependent economy, is exposed in a fragile global market amid Trump's tariff plans.
Vietnam was slapped with reciprocal tariffs of 46%, one of the highest. This raises concerns about what the U.S. aims to achieve in Asia, according to Huong Le-Thu of the International Crisis Group think tank.
In the past, close ties with the U.S. have helped Vietnam balance its relations with its larger and more powerful neighbor China. Vietnam is one of the countries, along with the Philippines, that has been involved in direct confrontations with China over conflicting maritime claims in the South China Sea.
A focus on economic competition rather than strategic competition may mean that Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries become less significant for the U.S.
"It really will be shaping up how the new administration sees the strategic picture in the Indo-Pacific and where countries like Vietnam would fit in," Le-Thu said.
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce wouldn't comment on reports that the Trump administration discouraged diplomats from attending anniversary events. "I'm not going to discuss what has been suggested or not suggested," she said. The Embassy in Hanoi confirmed that U.S. consul general Susan Burns attended the event, while U.S. ambassador Marc E. Knapper did not.
- The changing tide in Vietnam's international relations is reflected in their approach to economic competition, a shift from the previous focus on strategic competition, according to Huong Le-Thu, a researcher at the International Crisis Group think tank.
- The emphasis on reconciliation, rather than military victory, seen in Vietnam's 50th anniversary celebrations, reflects the nation's evolving stance in the global economy and geopolitics, as pointed out by Nguyen Khac Giang, an analyst at Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.
- Vietnam's relationship with the United States has seen a decade of diplomatic advancements, reaching a high point in 2023 when Vietnam upgraded its relations with the U.S. to that of a comprehensive strategic partner, as noted in the changing tides in Vietnam's international relations.
- The media coverage of Vietnam's 50th anniversary celebrations, the grand military parade, and the focus on peace and unity was widespread, featuring in general news, world news, war-and-conflicts, politics, and travel sections across various media outlets.
