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Chronology of climax to Vietnam War BUON MA THUOT (AFP) Mar 10, 2005 Vietnam marks the 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War on April 30. The following is a chronology of the final offensive by North Vietnamese forces, which began in March 1975 with the battle of Buon Ma Thuot and culminated in the fall of Saigon.
Dec 18: The Vietnam Communist Party Politburo decides on a spring offensive against the South Vietnamese army. It would be the last major push of the Vietnam War.
March 10: North Vietnamese troups attack Buon Ma Thuot, the capital of the central highlands. Fighting continues until March 21st. March 11: South Vietnamese president Nguyen Van Thieu orders a "strategic retreat" of his army from the central highlands towards the coastline. The defeat becomes a rout. March 14: South Vietnamese troops retreat in disarray. Many soldiers prefer to desert rather than take any further part. March 26: The historic former imperial capital of Hue falls to North Vietnameses forces. Encouraged by their advance, the Party decides to step up the offensive. March 29: South Vietnamese army flees from the central city of Danang, where the first contingent of American GIs landed 10 years earlier in 1965. Communist troops seize control of the city the next day without a fight.
April 10: American President Gerald Ford asks Congress for a further 722 million dollars in emergency aid to help save Saigon. The request is rejected. April 21: Saigon is encircled by North Vietnamese forces. President Thieu resigns and is replaced by vice-president Tran Van Huong. April 25: Thieu flees Vietnam on board a Central Intelligence Agency plane. April 26: President Huong resigns. April 27: South Vietnamese army general, Duong Van Minh, alias "Big Minh", is appointed President. The North Vietnamese army tightens its grip around Saigon. April 29: The Americans begin to evacuate personnel by helicopter from their embassy in the centre of the city. Communist forces begin their final assault on Saigon. April 30: The American evacuation is completed at 5am local time. North Vietnamese forces advance into the city. At midday, general Minh surrenders. Saigon is renamed Ho Chi Minh City.
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