SBS Vietnamese recently posed a thought-provoking question to several young individuals residing in Northern Vietnam, who were born after the historical event that took place on April 30th, 1975: “What do you think about April 30th? Is it a day of reunification and worth celebrating?”
All six respondents have grown up and been educated under the Vietnamese Communist regime, without any Western influence. So, what did they have to say about the Fall of Saigon?
Mr D., a young man living in Hanoi, expressed his sentiment that the day, which some refer to as “Liberation Day,” has brought much sadness to many people. He raised a concern about the lack of effort towards reconciling and uniting the entire Vietnamese community around the world.
The Vietnamese Communist party seems to be more focused on portraying their victory as a triumph rather than acknowledging the deep sadness that many people, including overseas Vietnamese and those within the country, feel about the Fall of Saigon.Mr D., a Hanoi resident.
“Instead of glossing over these emotions, there should be efforts to reconcile and unite the Vietnamese community worldwide.”
Mr T., who grew up in a family of Communist Party members, noted that the people’s awareness of April 30th has changed in the digital age. The atmosphere leading up to the day is often tense, especially in North Vietnam, which is commonly referred to as “the winning side”. However, with access to social media and the truth about history, more and more people expressing a deep sadness and sharing previously hidden stories.
SBS Vietnamese has also spoken to Mr B., a hardworking young man who holds multiple jobs. He believes that the Vietnamese Communist Party twisted the facts and deliberately manipulated history to deceive the masses.
“In times gone by, we were taught that April 30th marked our nation’s Liberation Day. But as I grew older, I came to understand the truth of our history.
For the Vietnamese people, April 30th was a day of great sadness and mourning, a day when our beloved homeland was marred with the blood of our own people. It’s no wonder why some refer to it as ‘Black April’.
“This was the day when the Communist forces from North Vietnam and their allies took over Saigon, marking the end of the Vietnam War. But this so-called ‘liberation’ was nothing more than a ploy to benefit Communist China and the Soviet Union.”
For Mr. K, a young man who grew up and received his education entirely within the Vietnamese Communist society, April 30th is a painful day, and if it did not happen, life in Vietnam would have been much better.
“I lost members of my extended family. Public executions were carried out without any regard for due process, causing immense pain and suffering. Looking back, I can’t help but think that it would have been better if that day had never occurred.”
Ms. T, a protester who took to the streets to condemn China’s invasion of Vietnam’s Paracel Islands (Hoang Sa Islands), expressed her desire for true freedom in her country.
She stated, “My biggest dream is for true freedom in my country, not just the illusion of it in a big prison. Over forty years have passed, and it’s been too long for everyone in the world to witness the inhumanity and injustice of the ruling regime. The current system is nothing but propaganda and deceit, offering false hope.
“People have come to realise this, but the government rules with an iron fist, oppressing and imprisoning those who challenge their power. Given the daily struggle to make ends meet, many people shy away from political issues. But when they do realise the false hope they’ve been fed, they risk being imprisoned. My dream is for genuine freedom, not just on paper or through agreements with other nations to benefit those in power.”
And finally, Mr D., a young man from Hanoi, said that his family no longer celebrated April 30th.
“In the past, our household, as well as many households in the North, had a long-standing practice of commemorating the reunification day of our nation on April 30th. However, on April 30th, 2012, one year after I participated in a protest, I triggered an intense argument about this day within my household.
Nowadays, my family is split into two camps: one still supports and fears the Communist regime, while the other recognises the nature of the regime and believes that change is necessary. They have a very different view on April 30th.”
To quote Vo Van Kiet, who served as the Prime Minister of Vietnam from 1991 to 1997, on this day, “a million people feel happy, but another million feel miserable.” The Fall of Saigon remains a divisive topic in Vietnam, with differing perspectives among the younger generation. However, it is clear that the event of April 30th, 1975, have had a significant impact on the country and its people.
