Module 8: The Fall of Saigon

The Fall of Saigon

The final days of the Vietnam War were marked by the culmination of U.S. policy efforts under "Vietnamization," a strategy that aimed to shift the burden of combat to the South Vietnamese army (ARVN) while gradually withdrawing American troops. Under President Richard Nixon, this approach was intended to secure a "peace with honor," allowing the United States to exit the war without conceding defeat outright. However, the ARVN, despite extensive American support and training, struggled against the well-organized Viet Cong insurgents and the North Vietnamese Army (NVA). While the ARVN achieved some success initially, it could not sustain the pressure without continued U.S. involvement, leading to severe difficulties as the American withdrawal progressed.

Amid the drawdown, the U.S. military faced significant internal issues, including a breakdown of discipline within its ranks. Morale had plummeted among American troops who increasingly questioned the purpose of the conflict, often spurred by the growing anti-war movement back home. "Fragging," or the killing of unpopular officers by enlisted men, became an alarming phenomenon, reflecting the widespread disillusionment among soldiers. Reports of war crimes, such as the My Lai Massacre, further damaged the U.S. military’s reputation and fueled opposition to the war. As these incidents became public, support for the war eroded even further, making it increasingly difficult for the U.S. government to justify continued involvement in Vietnam.

The ultimate end came with the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, signaling the collapse of South Vietnam. As North Vietnamese forces advanced, ARVN troops were unable to mount an effective defense, leading to widespread panic and chaotic scenes of evacuation. American personnel and thousands of South Vietnamese allies were evacuated in a frantic airlift from the U.S. embassy and surrounding areas. With Saigon's fall, the Vietnam War ended in a decisive North Vietnamese victory, bringing about reunification under communist rule. The war's legacy left deep divisions in the United States, marked by a profound sense of disillusionment, questioning of foreign policy, and a reevaluation of American military involvement abroad.