Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 30, 1975, at 50:04)

(Wednesday, April 30, 1975, 10:24 a.m. ICT; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — South Vietnamese President Duong Van Minh announced today the unconditional surrender of the Saigon Government and its military forces to the Vietcong.

Just hours before (at 7:53 a.m.), the last Americans, ten Marines from the embassy, departed Saigon, concluding the United States presence in Vietnam. Total U.S. casualties for the war: 58,303 dead and 303,644 wounded.

Uninterested in receiving Minh’s surrender, General Van Tien Dung’s troops completed their conquest when tanks plowed through the gates of the Independence Palace and hoisted the North Vietnamese flag at 11:30 a.m.

Entering the palace, Colonel Bui Tin found Minh and his cabinet waiting. When Minh stated that he wished to transfer power, Tin replied, “There is no question of your transferring power. Your power has crumbled. You cannot give up what you do not have.”

Completely defeated, Minh announced 3:30 p.m. that the South Vietnamese government was fully dissolved. With this announcement, the Vietnam War effectively came to an end.

Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War 12of13 Surrender (Apr. 30, 1975, at 41:44)

Video: 'The Fall Of Saigon (Part 7)' (Apr. 30, 1975, at 8:31)

Video: 'The Fall Of Saigon (Part 8)' (Apr. 30, 1975)