Fifty years after the historic victory, the nation has entered a new era — building a bright and glorious future for the people. To mark this special anniversary, VietNamNet presents a series titled “April 30 – A New Era.”
Experts, military strategists, and eyewitnesses to history share their memories, lessons, and experiences from the victory of the resistance war against America.

VietNamNet invites readers to "visit" political strongholds — underground bases behind enemy lines such as the Cu Chi Tunnels, Rung Sac Guerrilla Base, Vuon Thom Base, Ban Co Labor Zone, and hidden commando shelters in downtown Saigon — and to "witness" once again the heroic moments that have become part of history.

In late April 1975, as the Ho Chi Minh Campaign was reaching its climax on land, another silent battlefield unfolded at sea. The swift liberation of the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands, described by General Vo Nguyen Giap as "an extraordinary event outside the initial strategic plan," marked a historic and daring chapter of Vietnam’s victory.

Truong Sa: A strategic frontier

Spanning over 100 islands and reefs, Truong Sa holds immense strategic significance. At the end of the resistance war against America, only 11 islands were inhabited: Taiwan (China) occupied Ba Binh; the Philippines held Thi Tu, Vinh Vien, Ben Lac, Nam Con, and Song Tu Dong; and the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam regime) controlled Nam Yet, Truong Sa, Son Ca, Sinh Ton, and Song Tu Tay, with Nam Yet hosting the central command.

Foreseeing the potential risks, General Giap emphasized: "Because Truong Sa belongs to Vietnam and holds strategic importance, we must liberate it promptly. Delays could allow foreign forces to occupy the islands, creating complex challenges... Surveys suggest the area may hold vast oil reserves, and seas and oceans will become the primary resource centers for humanity in the 21st century."

Thus, despite not being part of the original campaign, the liberation of Truong Sa was urgently orchestrated.

A race against time across the waves

Under the direction of the Central Military Commission, the Fifth Military Region Command, and the Naval Command, the plan was swiftly executed. On April 4, 1975, General Giap issued coded message 990B, urging the operation to be conducted with "secrecy, speed, audacity, and certainty of victory."

Military transport ships 673, 674, and 675, disguised as foreign fishing vessels, quietly set sail from Da Nang, carrying nearly 300 soldiers - special forces, infantry, and artillery - forming Group C75 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Mai Nang.

Despite encounters with enemy reconnaissance aircraft, the disguised ships evaded detection.

The silent assault on Song Tu Tay

At 1:00 AM on April 14, 1975, soldiers aboard inflatable boats made their way toward Song Tu Tay. Five kilometers from shore, they abandoned their boats and swam, pulling deflated crafts loaded with sealed weapons behind them.

Facing icy waters and pounding waves, they timed their approach perfectly with the high tide, knowing a mistake of a few hours could mean being swept away by powerful currents. After nearly three hours battling the elements, the assault forces successfully reached the island.

At precisely 4:30 AM, amid thick morning mist, two B-41 rockets shattered the island’s silence. Within 30 minutes, Vietnamese forces seized complete control, capturing all enemy troops and raising the flag of the National Liberation Front proudly over the island.

"Even an hour late, and we could have lost the islands"

The loss of Song Tu Tay spurred the South Vietnamese Navy to dispatch ships HQ16 and HQ402 from Vung Tau to counterattack. However, with the collapse of their inland defenses and plunging morale, they turned back, abandoning efforts to recapture the island.

Following this success, Vietnamese forces launched rapid, successive assaults, liberating Son Ca, Nam Yet, Sinh Ton, and Truong Sa islands - all within just 15 days.

General Giap had earlier issued a clear instruction to Lieutenant General Chu Huy Man: "If foreign forces seize the islands first, we must reclaim them." A short command, yet it encapsulated Vietnam’s unwavering resolve to defend its sovereignty.

On April 29, as predicted, foreign vessels approached the islands, but upon seeing the Liberation Front's flag, they quickly retreated.

By 11:30 AM on April 30, 1975, the Ho Chi Minh Campaign secured final victory, reuniting Vietnam as one nation.

A race against fate

Major General, Hero of the People's Armed Forces, and former Commander of the Special Forces Mai Nang, who led the operation, later recalled: "Had we delayed even by hours, while South Vietnamese forces were in disarray, foreign powers could have seized Truong Sa. General Giap's visionary leadership gave us the crucial edge."

Today, Truong Sa stands not only as sacred Vietnamese territory but also as a testament to courage, intelligence, and the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people - written in saltwater and blood.

Thanh Hue