April 21, 1975
Brief Presidency
Becomes president after Nguyen Van Thieu resigns
Database labels: Brief Presidency
Vietnam War authority guide
Fall of Saigon 1975: Final Offensive, Evacuation and Surrender
The fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975 marked the collapse of the Republic of Vietnam and the decisive military victory of North Vietnam. A rapid communist offensive had broken South Vietnamese defenses, forced President Nguyen Van Thieu to resign and brought North Vietnamese forces to the capital.
As the city was encircled, the United States conducted the final helicopter evacuation of American personnel and many Vietnamese during Operation Frequent Wind. President Duong Van Minh then ordered South Vietnamese forces to stop fighting and surrendered as communist troops entered the presidential palace.
14 matching database rows13 consolidated chronology entries1975Key people: Nguyen van Thieu, Duong Van Minh, Leonid Brezhnev, Charles McMahon
People in the records
Nguyen van Thieu, Duong Van Minh, Leonid Brezhnev, Charles McMahon, Darwin Judge, Gerald Ford, Bui Tin, Nguyen Van Thieu
Places in the records
Saigon, Tan Son Nhut, Moscow, Washington
How duplicates are handled
Near-identical rows with the same date and place are consolidated for this page. The underlying database records remain unchanged and searchable on the main Vietnam War page.
Consolidated database chronology
Timeline of related events
Chronology is ordered by year, month and day where those fields are present.
April 21, 1975
Resignation of Nguyen van Thieu
Nine days after Nguyen Van Thieus resignation, the Vietnam war ends with the fall of Saigon
Database labels: Resignation of Nguyen van Thieu
April 21, 1975
Resignation of Nguyen van Thieu
On TV & radio address, outgoing President Nguyen Van Thieu says his forces failed to stop the advance of the Vietcong because of lack of funds promised to him by the USA.
Database labels: Resignation of Nguyen van Thieu
April 21, 1975
Resignation of Nguyen van Thieu
Says US Secretary of State Kissinger had tricked him into signing the Paris Peace Agreement two years ago, promising military aid which failed to materialise.
Database labels: Resignation of Nguyen van Thieu
April 21, 1975
Resignation of Nguyen van Thieu
The President of South Vietnam is forced to resign accusing the United States of betrayal. The communist Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG) has said President Thieu must step down before any peace talks with Saigon could begin.
Database labels: Resignation of Nguyen van Thieu
April 21, 1975
Resignation of Nguyen Van Thieu
Resigns as South Vietnam collapses under the final offensive
Database labels: Resignation of Nguyen Van Thieu
April 29, 1975
Death of Charles McMahon
Killed in a rocket attack at Tan Son Nhut during the final evacuation period
Database labels: Death of Charles McMahon; Death of Darwin Judge · 2 related database rows consolidated
April 29, 1975
Siege of Saigon
Nine days after Nguyen Van Thieus resignation, the Vietnam war ends with the fall of Saigon
Database labels: Siege of Saigon
April 30, 1975
End of US Involvement
Faces the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War
Database labels: End of US Involvement
April 30, 1975
Fall of Saigon Response
Sees North Vietnam victory as a success for a Soviet backed ally
Database labels: Fall of Saigon Response
April 30, 1975
Surrender of Saigon
Orders South Vietnamese forces to surrender as Saigon falls
Database labels: Surrender of Saigon
April 30, 1975
Surrender of Saigon
Orders South Vietnamese forces to surrender
Database labels: Surrender of Saigon
April 30, 1975
Surrender Reception
Receives the surrender of Duong Van Minh at the presidential palace
Database labels: Surrender Reception
Sources and historical verification
This authority page consolidates World History Database records into a readable chronology. The database rows are research-index entries; important claims should be checked against primary documents and specialist histories.
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Provenance
Compiled and edited by the World History Database from structured historical records. This page consolidates 14 matching rows into 13 chronology entries to reduce duplicate and near-duplicate display. Last reviewed 2026-10-06.