On April 17, 1975, US Ambassador to the Republic of Vietnam Graham A. Martin still believed that if Thieu left, he could negotiate with the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam to find a better solution for the Republic of Vietnam. At 7:30 p.m. on April 21, 1975, in the stateroom of the Independence Palace, in front of a number of politicians of the Republic of Vietnam, Nguyen Van Thieu read his resignation speech, handing over power to Vice President Tran Van Huong according to the regulations and provisions of the Constitution.
At 4:45 p.m. on April 28, 1975, at the Independence Palace, the handover ceremony took place between President Tran Van Huong and new President Duong Van Minh. At 8:00 a.m. on April 30, 1975, at the Prime Minister’s Office, in front of the government members, Duong Van Minh announced that he would hand over power to the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam.
President Duong Van Minh issued a call to lay down arms on Saigon Radio at 9:30 a.m. on April 30, 1975: “I urge all soldiers of the Republic of Vietnam to maintain composure, refrain from engaging in combat, and remain in their current positions. We are present here, patiently awaiting a meeting with the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam, in order to collaborate effectively. Let us engage in a peaceful and organized discussion regarding the government handover ceremony, ensuring the avoidance of any unnecessary harm to our fellow citizens.β. Following President Duong Van Minh’s call, Brigadier General Nguyen Huu Hanh said: “I, acting on behalf of the Chief of General Staff of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, hereby command all soldiers at every rank to diligently adhere to the President’s directive to cease hostilities.”.
Duong Van Minh was taken from the Prime Minister’s Palace to the Independence Palace. At this time, at the Independence Palace, cabinet representative Nguyen Ba Can, former Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Hao, along with a number of Cabinet members and Congressman Vu Van Mau, are present to hand over and present the new cabinet on October 10 morning as planned.
It was on April 30, 1975, when the Liberation Army’s first tank made its way into the Independence Palace, marking a significant moment in history.
Most of the individuals present at the Independence Palace were filled with stress and anxiety. Along Thong Nhat Avenue, a procession of tanks made its way towards the palace. Leading the formation was tank number 843 from Tank Brigade 203, Army Corps 2, as it approached the fence and forcefully rammed into the left side gate, causing it to tilt. Company commander Bui Quang Than, who was in charge of vehicle 843, swiftly grabbed the liberation flag, exited the vehicle, and hurried inside. Meanwhile, tank 390, under the command of Lieutenant and Commissar Vu Dang Toan, arrived and accelerated straight ahead. As a result, one door collapsed while the other swung open from its hinges and tilted. The vehicle crashed onto the lawn in front of the palace. Vu Dang Toan instructed the driver and a gunner to remain on guard duty while he went to assist his comrade Bui Quang Than. Several soldiers from the Liberation Army rushed into the palace, some escorting Duong Van Minh, Vu Van Mau, and the Cabinet members into the meeting room. At precisely 11:30 a.m. on April 30, 1975, Bui Quang Than hoisted the green, red, and yellow star flag of the Liberation Army on the roof of the Independence Palace.
Below in the courtyard, the tanks continued to enter, and the Liberation Army grew in numbers. Duong Van Minh and Vu Van Mau were transported in a Jeep to Saigon Radio Station to record their surrender announcement.
Around 1:30 p.m. on April 30, 1975, Duong Van Minh’s surrender declaration was broadcast on the radio: “I, General Duong Van Minh, President of the Saigon government, hereby call upon the republican army to lay down their weapons and surrender unconditionally to the Liberation Army of South Vietnam. I declare that the Saigon government, from the central to local levels, must be completely dissolved, with the entire government authority handed over to the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam.” Political Commissar Bui Van Tung, representing the Liberation Army, read a statement accepting the surrender of the President of the Republic of Vietnam, Duong Van Minh. The liberation of Saigon – Gia Dinh through the Ho Chi Minh campaign was a resounding success.
Β At noon on April 30, 1975, the initial tank of the Liberation Army arrived at the Independence Palace
(Source:Β Francoise Demulder, stored at The Unification Hall)
Tanks of the Liberation Army arrived at the Independence Palace at noon on April 30, 1975
(Source: Borries Gallasch, stored at The Unification Hall)
President Duong Van Minh and Prime Minister Vu Van Mau left the Independence Palace to head to the Radio Station to announce the surrender declaration on the afternoon of April 30, 1975
(Source: Ngα»c ΔαΊ£n – Vietnam News Agency)
