Beside the swimming pool of one of Hanoi’s oldest five-star hotels, a small staircase leads guests down into a hidden bomb shelter, buried deep beneath the ground.

When he wrote a letter using blood as ‘ink’ asking to join the army, Nguyen Duc Tho never imagined that he would become a naval commando, firing the first B40 shot in one of the final battles of the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign in 1975.

Nguyen The Long, once believed to have died in battle, has reunited with his family after 45 years of wandering, a reality even he cannot believe.

On April 30, 1975, architect Nguyen Huu Thai witnessed Vietnam’s Liberation Flag raised, Duong Van Minh’s surrender, and Trinh Cong Son’s historic performance.

In just 24 hours, a revolutionary lawyer turned police chief dismaned Saigon’s defenses and paved the way for peace.

Once on the opposing side, Tran Van On joined the Quyet Thang Squadron, delivering a critical strike on Tan Son Nhat Airport, contributing to the Ho Chi Minh Campaign’s victory in 1975.

As Vietnam marks 50 years of reunification, memories of the fierce battle that breached the “steel gate” at Xuan Loc and led to the final push into Saigon flood back like a vivid film in the mind of Major General Nguyen Ngoc Doanh.

The 104-year-old mother broke down when her son’s remains returned home after five decades. Her words touched the hearts of all who heard them.

A soldier shares his gripping account of the battle that led to the historic surrender on April 30.

This nationwide expression of gratitude will be disbursed on April 30, at the same time with the Reunification Day celebrations.

Fifty years after the historic aerial parade, former pilot Nguyen Van Nghia returned to Bien Hoa Air Base and recalled the moment he led a roaring squadron of MiG-21 jets over Ho Chi Minh City on the day of victory.

National defense diplomacy is a core element within the overall foreign policy strategy of the Party and State. It has accompanied the progress of Vietnam’s diplomacy and is closely tied to many of the nation’s most glorious historical milestones.

The war keepsakes not only hold historical value but also serve as evidence for post-war Vietnam-US friendship. They also embody compassion and hope for a closer future relationship between the two nations.

The Ho Chi Minh Campaign Museum honors the final days of the war with one of Vietnam’s rarest national treasures.

General Pham Xuan The recalls the historic moment he confronted President Duong Van Minh and demanded an unconditional surrender at the Independence Palace on April 30, 1975.

Exploring museums and historical sites tied to the Saigon Commandos is not only a journey into the past, but also a proud rediscovery of a defining chapter in Vietnam’s history.

Strategic aid from China played a crucial part in Vietnam’s resistance, reinforcing the war effort and post-war reconstruction.

Nguyen The Long, thought to have died in Cambodia, returns home in a moving reunion that left his village in tears.

Vietnam and the US held the 169th repatriation ceremony for American soldiers missing in action during the Vietnam War, highlighting decades of reconciliation efforts.

From July 1965, the Soviet government established a team of military experts and sent them to assist the Vietnam People's Army in two main areas: air defense and air force.