Listen to special news on April 30, 1975

Tanks of the 203rd Armored Brigade, 304th Division, 2nd Corps enter the Independence Palace at noon on April 30, 1975. Photo: Document/ VNA

At noon on April 30, 1975, two tanks numbered 843 and 390 led the liberation army's tank formation into the Independence Palace - the final headquarters of the Saigon government.

Tank 843 was the first to crash into the right side gate of the Independence Palace. Immediately after, Tank 390 broke through the main gate and entered the front yard of the palace, marking the end of the unjust war that divided the Vietnamese people for 20 years.

At 11:30, Lieutenant Bui Quang Than lowered the flag of the Republic of Vietnam on the roof of the Independence Palace and raised the flag of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam.

Afterwards, the liberation army soldiers escorted the President and Prime Minister of the Saigon government - Duong Van Minh and Vu Van Mau - to Saigon Radio to read the surrender statement, in order to avoid unnecessary casualties.

President Duong Van Minh and his cabinet appeared before Saigon Radio to announce unconditional surrender, ending the Vietnam War, at noon on April 30, 1975. Photo: Archive/ VNA

At the Saigon Radio studio, at 2:30 p.m. on April 30, 1975, President Duong Van Minh, on behalf of the entire cabinet of the Saigon government, read the declaration of unconditional surrender: "I, General Duong Van Minh, President of the Saigon government, call on the Republic of Vietnam armed forces to lay down their weapons and unconditionally surrender to the Liberation Army of South Vietnam. I declare that the Saigon government from the central to local levels must be completely dissolved, handing over the entire government from the central to local levels to the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam."

Then, the Prime Minister of the Saigon government, Vu Van Mau, spoke live on the radio: “In the spirit of national reconciliation and harmony, I, Professor Vu Van Mau, the Prime Minister, call on all classes of people to happily celebrate the day of national peace and return to normal activities. Specialists of administrative agencies return to their old positions under the guidance of the revolutionary government.”

Finally, on behalf of the liberation army units that captured the Independence Palace, Lieutenant Colonel - Political Commissar Bui Van Tung read the surrender acceptance statement: "We, representing the liberation army of South Vietnam, solemnly declare that Saigon city has been completely liberated, accepting the unconditional surrender of General Duong Van Minh, President of the Saigon government."

Victory news broadcast on Voice of Vietnam Radio on April 30, 1975

On April 30, 1975, Voice of Vietnam broadcast the "Victory News", creating a strong effect on the public and becoming a meaningful historical milestone.

Currently, the recording of "Victory News" is kept at the Station's Program Production and Archive Center.

The tape preserves the "Victory News" of the Voice of Vietnam. Photo: Voice of Vietnam

According to the recording, “Victory News” opens with the announcement by announcer Tuyet Mai: “Invite compatriots and soldiers nationwide to hear the news that the Ho Chi Minh Campaign has been completely victorious. Saigon City is completely liberated. The flag of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam has flown over the roof of the Presidential Palace of the puppet government .”

Unfortunately, over time, the quality of this recording of the announcement is no longer as intact as the rest of the “Victory Newsletter”.

Dr. Nguyen Nha recorded the entire Saigon Radio program, including President Duong Van Minh's surrender declaration:

Following the introduction, reporter Nguyen Tho read the content: “ According to the Liberation News Agency… At exactly 11:30 a.m. on April 30, 1975, the flag of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam flew on the roof of the puppet government’s Presidential Palace and throughout the city. The city of Saigon, named after the great President Ho Chi Minh, was completely liberated .”

After reporter Nguyen Tho finished reading the news for the first time, reporter Tuyet Mai continued to say: "Now we will read it again", then read the announcement and the news content again.

Below is the content of "Victory News" according to the tape archived at the Program Production and Archive Center - Voice of Vietnam Radio:

"The Ho Chi Minh Campaign was completely victorious, Saigon city was completely liberated, the flag of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam flew on the roof of the puppet government's Presidential Palace.

According to the Liberation News Agency, following the extremely great victories of strategic significance, from the beginning of March 1975, our army and people in the South stepped up the General Offensive and Uprising to smash the puppet regime of the US, liberate Saigon city and the provinces in the Mekong Delta. This historic campaign was named the Ho Chi Minh Campaign.

At exactly 5:00 p.m. on April 26, 1975, the campaign began. With many combined arms battles, closely combining attacks with uprisings, and operations with military propaganda, our army and people crushed the enemy's eastern defense group in Xuan Loc, Long Thanh, Bien Hoa; the enemy's southern defense line in Tan An, Binh Chanh; the enemy's northern and northwestern defense lines in Tan Uyen, Dong Du, Cu Chi; forming a completely isolated encirclement of the enemy in Saigon city.

Our army and people destroyed and disintegrated all puppet divisions 5, 18, 25, many brigades of paratroopers, marines, armored cavalry, commandos, and destroyed and disintegrated the puppet 3rd Corps.

Taking advantage of the victory, on the night of April 29 to April 30, 1975, the main army corps of the liberation army and local armed forces from many directions directly attacked the enemy's military base in Saigon city, capturing Tan Son Nhat airport, the puppet General Staff, Phu Lam Information Center and other military targets.

In close coordination with the military offensive, people inside and outside Saigon rose up to smash the enemy's repressive apparatus and gain control of many important areas.

Faced with the overwhelming attack and uprising of our army and people, the enemy was forced to lay down their weapons and surrender unconditionally. The liberation army quickly occupied command posts, military bases, offices and important positions in the city.

At exactly 11:30 a.m. on April 30, 1975, the flag of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam flew over the roof of the puppet government's Presidential Palace and throughout the city. The city of Saigon, named after the great President Ho Chi Minh, was completely liberated."

VN (according to Vietnamnet)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/nghe-ban-tin-dac-biet-ngay-30-4-1975-410573.html