In the fifties and sixties of the last century, due to the continuous development of the Cold War, the world political pattern presented a situation of dualism. The two camps of the United States and the Soviet Union are engaged in fierce ideological and military wrestling on a global scale. Vietnam, located on the Southeast Asian Peninsula, has naturally become the front line of this global game. After the War of Resistance Against France, Vietnam was divided into two regimes, North Vietnam was controlled by the communist regime led by Ho Chi Minh, and South Vietnam was formed with a non-communist government supported by the West according to the Geneva Accords of 1954. This situation of division between the North and the South laid the groundwork for the large-scale US intervention in the Vietnam War.
On a sunny morning in 1961, South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem was discussing security with his military advisers at the presidential palace in Saigon. From time to time, the noise coming from outside the window interrupted their conversation.
"Mr. President, U.S. President John F. Kennedy has promised us more military support. An American adviser said in a firm tone.
"But what about our people? They need more than just weapons and soldiers. What we need is stability and peace. Ngo Dinh Yen sighed, his eyes revealing deep worry.
Over time, North Vietnamese guerrillas, under Ho Chi Minh's leadership, increasingly infiltrated the South Vietnamese countryside and jungles, and the United States became more and more involved, from military advisers to more and more regular troops. In the countryside of South Vietnam, one firefight after another has become almost a daily routine.
In 1972, in a small village not far from Saigon, a young Viet Cong fighter, Nguyen Van Dao, and his comrades lurked in a rice paddy, preparing to launch an undulating attack on an American patrol.
"Today is the day of revenge for our brothers, they cannot die in vain!" Nguyen Van Dao whispered, his eyes shining with determination.
With a low whistle, the ambush began. The sound of gunfire and explosions echoed across the quiet fields. Although the U.S. military is technologically advanced, they are at a loss in this strange land.
The brutality and ruthlessness of war is redefined in every firefight. The popular war against South Vietnam brought nothing but pain and division.
In 1973, with the signing of the Paris Peace Accords, the United States began to gradually withdraw its troops from Vietnam. This did not bring peace to Vietnam, and the contradictions and conflicts between the North and the South remained intense.
In the spring of 1975, the North Vietnamese army launched a general offensive, and this time, their goal was to put an end to the war that had lasted for more than two decades. On April 30, North Vietnamese troops entered Saigon, a day that came to be known as "Liberation Day".
In Saigon, the white gates of the South Vietnamese presidential palace were forced open as North Vietnamese tanks rolled through the streets. With the help of the U.S. Embassy, Ngo Dinh Diem fled the country in a hurry, leaving behind his regime and the fate of a country. Citizens were panicked or cheered, and various emotions were intertwined at this historic moment. The regime in South Vietnam collapsed like a house of cards, marking the end of the Vietnam War and the reunification of Vietnam.
The Vietnam War, a decades-long beacon, was actually a microcosm of the Cold War between the superpowers. It is not just a regional conflict, it is part of a global Cold War. Although the war brought suffering and destruction, it also demonstrated the resilience of the Vietnamese people and their desire for freedom and independence. The wheel of history is cruel, it does not change direction due to the will of a few people, but everyone involved in it is a promoter under the wheel of history. When we look back at the past, we should not only remember the cruelty of war, but also the ordinary people who fought for peace and justice. Their stories and sacrifices are the most sincere warning and inspiration for future generations.