{"id":1202,"date":"2025-04-30T12:17:34","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T12:17:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/?p=1202"},"modified":"2025-04-30T12:17:34","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T12:17:34","slug":"with-a-focus-on-unity-vietnam-celebrates-50-years-since-wars-end-npr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/?p=1202","title":{"rendered":"With a focus on unity, Vietnam celebrates 50 years since war\u2019s end : NPR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-63484\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 6000;&#10;        --source-height: 4000;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fae%2F11aa6b0b4989b9eff222624aefd2%2Fhochiminhcity-getty.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fae%2F11aa6b0b4989b9eff222624aefd2%2Fhochiminhcity-getty.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fae%2F11aa6b0b4989b9eff222624aefd2%2Fhochiminhcity-getty.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fae%2F11aa6b0b4989b9eff222624aefd2%2Fhochiminhcity-getty.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fae%2F11aa6b0b4989b9eff222624aefd2%2Fhochiminhcity-getty.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fae%2F11aa6b0b4989b9eff222624aefd2%2Fhochiminhcity-getty.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fae%2F11aa6b0b4989b9eff222624aefd2%2Fhochiminhcity-getty.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fae%2F11aa6b0b4989b9eff222624aefd2%2Fhochiminhcity-getty.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fae%2F11aa6b0b4989b9eff222624aefd2%2Fhochiminhcity-getty.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fae%2F11aa6b0b4989b9eff222624aefd2%2Fhochiminhcity-getty.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fae%2F11aa6b0b4989b9eff222624aefd2%2Fhochiminhcity-getty.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fae%2F11aa6b0b4989b9eff222624aefd2%2Fhochiminhcity-getty.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fae%2F11aa6b0b4989b9eff222624aefd2%2Fhochiminhcity-getty.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fae%2F11aa6b0b4989b9eff222624aefd2%2Fhochiminhcity-getty.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fae%2F11aa6b0b4989b9eff222624aefd2%2Fhochiminhcity-getty.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2Fae%2F11aa6b0b4989b9eff222624aefd2%2Fhochiminhcity-getty.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Spectators cheer as Chinese soldiers march during a parade marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War in Ho Chi Minh City on April 30, 2025.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Manan Vatsyayana\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Manan Vatsyayana\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam \u2014 The leader of Vietnam&#8217;s ruling Communist Party called Wednesday for reconciliation and national unity during celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the private sector should be the leading force for Vietnam&#8217;s economy, said To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. His speech marked a noticeable shift from the previous prioritization of central planning and state businesses. as well as to rally support for the party&#8217;s economic policies<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are on the threshold of a new historic era,&#8221; said Lam, &#8220;We need to eradicate all obstacles, tap into all potentials in order to rapidly develop the economy and the society.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-backstage-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap backstage\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;All of us are Vietnamese,&#8221; he told the attending crowds, &#8220;we all have the right and the responsibility to contribute and build our motherland.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In advance of Wednesday&#8217;s celebrations, U.S. diplomats in Vietnam were reportedly told by the Trump administration <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/04\/29\/g-s1-63164\/despite-improving-relations-u-s-will-be-absent-from-vietnams-war-anniversary-parade\" target=\"_blank\"><u>not to attend the parade<\/u><\/a>, but the restriction appeared to be eased at the last minute. Susan Burns, the U.S. consul general in Ho Chi Minh City, attended the event, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi said.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5382153-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5354968\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/04\/29\/nx-s1-5354968\/the-vietnam-war-tore-her-family-apart-shes-bringing-people-together\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/29\\\/nx-s1-5354968\\\/the-vietnam-war-tore-her-family-apart-shes-bringing-people-together&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/500x500+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F85%2F8f9b04084b11b97ed6525c1b3289%2Fphilippa-hughes-el-paso-looking-for-america.jpeg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/500x500+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F85%2F8f9b04084b11b97ed6525c1b3289%2Fphilippa-hughes-el-paso-looking-for-america.jpeg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/500x500+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F85%2F8f9b04084b11b97ed6525c1b3289%2Fphilippa-hughes-el-paso-looking-for-america.jpeg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/500x500+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F85%2F8f9b04084b11b97ed6525c1b3289%2Fphilippa-hughes-el-paso-looking-for-america.jpeg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/500x500+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F85%2F8f9b04084b11b97ed6525c1b3289%2Fphilippa-hughes-el-paso-looking-for-america.jpeg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/500x500+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F85%2F8f9b04084b11b97ed6525c1b3289%2Fphilippa-hughes-el-paso-looking-for-america.jpeg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/500x500+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F85%2F8f9b04084b11b97ed6525c1b3289%2Fphilippa-hughes-el-paso-looking-for-america.jpeg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/500x500+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F85%2F8f9b04084b11b97ed6525c1b3289%2Fphilippa-hughes-el-paso-looking-for-america.jpeg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"The Vietnam War tore her family apart. She's bringing people together.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5382153-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Vietnam and the United States normalized relations in 1995 and in 2023, former U.S. President Joe Biden <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2023\/09\/08\/1198373641\/biden-will-visit-hanoi-to-sign-a-deal-bringing-the-2-ex-enemies-closer-together\" target=\"_blank\"><u>deepened the ties<\/u><\/a> during a visit to Hanoi.<\/p>\n<p>Wednesday&#8217;s events marked a war commemoration unlike any before in this Southeast Asian country.<\/p>\n<p>Month-long preparations for the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war culminated on Wednesday, April 30, the date in 1975 that communist North Vietnam took over Saigon, then-capital of South Vietnam and renamed to Ho Chi Minh City.<\/p>\n<p>Thousands of troops from multiple branches of the military rehearsed for weeks under the adoring eyes and feverish applause from the local people.<\/p>\n<p>Girls equipped with selfie sticks and live-streaming smartphones swooned and screamed hysterically at the sight of shy young soldiers as if they were K-pop idols. In today&#8217;s Vietnam, there are internet forums dedicated to good-looking servicemen and servicewomen, and the military-style crew cut has become one of the most popular haircuts in Vietnamese barber shops.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-secondary-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap secondary\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>The carnival-like excitement, amplified by social media, reflected a respect for the army and a growing sense of modern national pride that the ruling Communist Party has been eager to foster.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-63485\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 6117;&#10;        --source-height: 4078;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6117x4078+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F17%2F79%2Ff132405b48fe927d700756865e59%2Fhochiminh-parade-getty.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6117x4078+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F17%2F79%2Ff132405b48fe927d700756865e59%2Fhochiminh-parade-getty.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6117x4078+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F17%2F79%2Ff132405b48fe927d700756865e59%2Fhochiminh-parade-getty.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6117x4078+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F17%2F79%2Ff132405b48fe927d700756865e59%2Fhochiminh-parade-getty.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6117x4078+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F17%2F79%2Ff132405b48fe927d700756865e59%2Fhochiminh-parade-getty.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6117x4078+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F17%2F79%2Ff132405b48fe927d700756865e59%2Fhochiminh-parade-getty.jpg 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900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6117x4078+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F17%2F79%2Ff132405b48fe927d700756865e59%2Fhochiminh-parade-getty.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6117x4078+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F17%2F79%2Ff132405b48fe927d700756865e59%2Fhochiminh-parade-getty.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6117x4078+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F17%2F79%2Ff132405b48fe927d700756865e59%2Fhochiminh-parade-getty.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6117x4078+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F17%2F79%2Ff132405b48fe927d700756865e59%2Fhochiminh-parade-getty.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6117x4078+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F17%2F79%2Ff132405b48fe927d700756865e59%2Fhochiminh-parade-getty.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6117x4078+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F17%2F79%2Ff132405b48fe927d700756865e59%2Fhochiminh-parade-getty.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Participants perform during a parade marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War in Ho Chi Minh City on April 30, 2025.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Participants perform during a parade marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War in Ho Chi Minh City on April 30, 2025.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Nhac Nguyen\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Nhac Nguyen\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Sea of red<\/h3>\n<p>Large, cheerful crowds of flag-waving people had been gathering in central Ho Chi Minh City since early Wednesday morning, many of them having camped here overnight.<\/p>\n<p>The city became a sea of red \u2013 the color of Vietnam&#8217;s national flag.<\/p>\n<p>After an official ceremony attended by the country&#8217;s top leaders and international guests, came the most anticipated event \u2013 the military parade.<\/p>\n<p>For more than an hour, soldiers carrying modern military equipment \u2013 domestically made assault rifles have replaced Russian Kalashnikovs \u2013 marched in perfect formations as loudspeakers blasted out revolutionary songs.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5382153-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImage1247777257\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/04\/29\/1247777257\/seeking-closure-50-years-after-the-end-of-the-vietnam-war\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/29\\\/1247777257\\\/seeking-closure-50-years-after-the-end-of-the-vietnam-war&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2025\/04\/29\/img_2120_sq-c27f2ddaa74c40f5675e198de775a4c8441c21a4.jpeg?s=100&amp;c=85&amp;f=jpeg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2025\/04\/29\/img_2120_sq-c27f2ddaa74c40f5675e198de775a4c8441c21a4.jpeg?s=100&amp;c=100&amp;f=jpeg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2025\/04\/29\/img_2120_sq-c27f2ddaa74c40f5675e198de775a4c8441c21a4.jpeg?s={width}&amp;c={quality}&amp;f={format}\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2025\/04\/29\/img_2120_sq-c27f2ddaa74c40f5675e198de775a4c8441c21a4.jpeg?s=100&amp;c=85&amp;f=jpeg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2025\/04\/29\/img_2120_sq-c27f2ddaa74c40f5675e198de775a4c8441c21a4.jpeg?s=100&amp;c=100&amp;f=jpeg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2025\/04\/29\/img_2120_sq-c27f2ddaa74c40f5675e198de775a4c8441c21a4.jpeg?s={width}&amp;c={quality}&amp;f={format}\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2025\/04\/29\/img_2120_sq-c27f2ddaa74c40f5675e198de775a4c8441c21a4.jpeg?s=100&amp;c=100&amp;f=jpeg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2025\/04\/29\/img_2120_sq-c27f2ddaa74c40f5675e198de775a4c8441c21a4.jpeg?s={width}&amp;c={quality}&amp;f={format}\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Seeking Closure 50 Years After the End of the Vietnam War\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5382153-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Above in the sky, detachments of helicopters and Sukhoi fighter jets conducted flyover exercises.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a grand celebration and I see in the Vietnamese a tremendous pride. They are proud to have defeated the French, the Americans and the Chinese,&#8221; said Jim Laurie, a veteran American journalist, who witnessed the fall of Saigon and who has returned to Vietnam many times over the years.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;All of this is a show of strength that they can do it,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-63487\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 3026;&#10;        --source-height: 2017;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3026x2017+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F5b%2F775cacc14af3974023cbdc82efce%2Ftolam-getty.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, delivers a speech during celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City on April 30, 2025. Vietnam held its biggest celebration of the fall of Saigon on its 50th anniversary on April 30, including Chinese troops for the first time after Xi Jinping visited to portray Beijing as a more reliable partner than Washington. (Photo by Tran Thi Minh Ha \/ AFP) (Photo by TRAN THI MINH HA\/AFP via Getty Images)\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, delivers a speech during celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City on April 30, 2025.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Tran Thi Minh Ha\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Tran Thi Minh Ha\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Party&#8217;s legitimacy<\/h3>\n<p>Laurie noted that &#8220;there&#8217;s no real sense of history in what&#8217;s going on today.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>There has been very little talk about the former South Vietnamese government, as it remains one of the subjects deemed &#8220;sensitive.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a celebration of what they, the Vietnamese, have become and not what they were,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Vietnam has come a long way since the end of the war 50 years ago. Now a middle-income country, To Lam says he aims for Vietnam to be a fully developed one by 2045. In order to achieve such ambitious goals, To Lam has said the country needs to attain a high economic growth rate: 8% or more for 2025.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-third-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap third\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Communist Party General Secretary To Lam, who took office last August, has previously emphasized that the party&#8217;s &#8220;biggest, most important, and most urgent goal at this time&#8221; is to develop the economy.<\/p>\n<p>But Vietnam, being heavily reliant on exports, faces serious challenges as the global trade war escalates and tension rises between Hanoi&#8217;s two biggest trade partners \u2013 China and the United States.<\/p>\n<p>The party, with a decades-long experience in public mobilization, is striving once again to rally the people&#8217;s support for its causes through occasions like this 50th war anniversary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/04\/30\/nx-s1-5382153\/vietnam-war-anniversary\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spectators cheer as Chinese soldiers march during a parade marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War in Ho Chi Minh City on April 30, 2025. Manan Vatsyayana\/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Manan Vatsyayana\/AFP via Getty Images HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam \u2014 The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1203,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1202","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1202"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1202\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}