Nearly fifty years after the end of the Vietnam War, the reverberations continue to shape global politics, international relations, and the personal lives of millions. Last week, I journeyed to Lubbock, Texas, to attend a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy of this conflict. The unexpected sight of snow dusting the landscape near Denver during my flight served as an unsettling premonition, mirroring the jarring juxtaposition of the seemingly incongruous – a white Christmas song playing on Saigon radio on April 29th, 1975, as the city braced for the end of an era. The chilling irony of "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" playing amidst the tropical heat and burgeoning anxieties of Saigon remains a powerful image, a stark contrast to the reality unfolding on the ground. The following day, the sounds of exodus – the chaotic scramble for escape – overwhelmed the melancholic melody, a symphony of human desperation echoing across the waves.
This conference, "1975: The End of the Vietnam War," held at Texas Tech University from April 10th to 13th, 2025, delved into the multifaceted aftermath of April 30th, 1975, exploring its impact on Vietnam and the world. The dominant narrative of "liberation," "homeland reunification," and the "expulsion of American invaders" is a simplified, and often misleading, portrayal of a far more complex reality. The conference sought to unpack this narrative, offering diverse perspectives from scholars, veterans, journalists, and community members from both sides of the Pacific.
Perspectives from the Battlefield and Beyond: American and Vietnamese Experiences
The conference featured over thirty panels, showcasing a wide range of experiences and perspectives. American perspectives were significantly represented, offering insights into the experiences of American soldiers in combat zones like Cu Chi (Paloma Guerra's presentation), the plight of American prisoners of war (Brian Washam), and the logistical challenges of the evacuation (John F. Burn's discussion of Operation Frequent Wind). Oscar Coles provided a fascinating account of the equipment and materials brought into South Vietnam by American soldiers, including the often-overlooked role of the Truong Son Newspaper in shaping perceptions and disseminating information. Uyen Nguyen countered with a Vietnamese perspective, detailing the crucial role played by the local forces of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN). George "Jay" Veith offered a retrospective analysis of Hanoi's military campaign in the crucial months leading up to the fall of Saigon.
The human cost of the war extended far beyond the battlefield. Miguel Lechuga's presentation addressed the successes and failures of Operation Babylift, a harrowing attempt to evacuate orphaned and vulnerable children from Vietnam. The immediate aftermath saw the establishment of refugee camps, with the United States ultimately accepting over 120,000 Vietnamese refugees, forever altering the demographic landscape of the American South and Midwest. Cao Hai, Steve Potts, and Nghia M. Vo provided moving accounts of the challenges and triumphs of resettlement, charting the journeys of refugees from California to Georgia and Minnesota.
The Enduring Legacy: Post-War Vietnam and US-Vietnam Relations
The conference also explored the long-term consequences of the war. Amanda C. Demmer, author of After Saigon's Fall: A 50-Year Retrospection, presented a comprehensive overview of the complexities in US-Vietnam relations, spanning from the POW/MIA issue and the re-education camps to the human rights situation, the boat people crisis, and the lingering effects of Agent Orange. Andrew Wells-Dang, a senior expert on Southeast Asia formerly with the United States Institute of Peace, highlighted the impact of political shifts on US aid to Vietnam, arguing that cuts to programs like VOA's Vietnamese language broadcasts and Radio Free Asia could severely undermine American influence in the region. His commentary highlighted the precarious nature of international relations and the enduring political tensions between the two nations.
Alex-Thoi Dinh Vo's presentation delved into the repressive policies of post-war Vietnam, while Alec Holcombe provided historical context by analyzing Article 4 of the Vietnamese Constitution. Cody J. Billock offered a poignant account of Hue in the days following its "liberation," focusing on the silencing of prominent figures such as Nha Ca, Trinh Cong Son, Phan Nhat Nam, Bishop Nguyen Kim Dien, and Father Nguyen Van Ly, highlighting the suppression of intellectual and religious dissent. Tuong Vu explored Hanoi's policies of political repression, citing specific cases such as Vinh Son and Dong Cong, while Tuan Hoang analyzed the evolving role of the Catholic Church under communist rule. Trinh Luu's contribution focused on the systematic dismantling of Southern culture in the years following the war. The devastating consequences of the war were further explored through presentations on the enduring impacts of Agent Orange (Diane Fox) and the physical and psychological scars left on those who endured re-education camps (Michael Peavey).
The plight of the Binh An People's Cemetery (formerly the Bien Hoa military cemetery) was examined by a team of three researchers – Tran Nguyen Phuong Thao and Ta Bao Long from Fulbright Vietnam University and Tiana Duong from Dartmouth University – who highlighted the difficulties in accessing and researching this significant site. Their work underscored the ongoing challenges in documenting and preserving the memories of the war.
The Vietnamese-American Experience: Community Building and Political Identity
The conference also shed light on the experiences of the Vietnamese-American community. Nguyen's research explored the development of conservative and anti-communist sentiments within this community, while Erica Allen-Kim investigated the formation of Little Saigon. These presentations illustrated the community’s evolution, challenges, and its lasting influence on American society.
Cultural and Artistic Expressions: A Mirror to the Past and Present
The cultural and artistic landscape of Vietnam before and after 1975 formed the basis of several presentations. Jason Nguyen compared Southern music before and after the fall of Saigon, while Phu Vu analyzed the interplay between Northern and Southern musical traditions. Tran explored post-war literature, offering valuable insights into how creative expression served as a means of processing trauma and resistance.
Human Rights and the Pursuit of Justice
In a particularly moving session on human rights, I presented research on prisoners of conscience in Vietnam over the past five decades, highlighting the cases of Tu Nha Ca, Doan Quoc Sy, Nguyen Chi Thien, Nguyen Dan Que, Doan Thanh Liem, Doan Viet Hoat, Le Quoc Quan, Pham Doan Trang, Huy Duc, and Nguyen Son Lo. The session also included presentations from Huynh Luong Thien on the use of media to expose human rights abuses and Nguyen Minh Huy, a musician who, along with Le Diem Chi Hue and the Hung Ca movement, used music as a powerful tool to advocate for human rights in Vietnam.
Intergenerational Dialogue: Bridging the Gap Between Past and Present
Many younger Vietnamese-Americans of the 1.5th and 2nd generations attended the conference, demonstrating a keen interest in understanding their heritage and the Vietnamese-American community. Their involvement highlighted a renewed interest in the Vietnam War amongst a generation removed from the conflict. The conference provided a unique platform for intergenerational dialogue, with several presentations reflecting the differing perspectives between parents who escaped Vietnam in 1975 and their children who have only recently begun exploring their family histories. Nghia M. Vo and Christina Vo provided a powerful example of this dynamic, with Christina’s work, My Vietnam, Your Vietnam, offering a counterpoint to her father’s account of his experiences as a boat person and survivor of re-education camps.
Controversy and Confrontation: Reckoning with the Past
A particularly intense moment occurred during a dinner featuring Le Ly Hayslip, author of When Heaven and Earth Changed Places. Hayslip's presentation, focusing on themes of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation, prompted a walkout by approximately twenty Vietnamese attendees who felt that her narrative neglected the experiences of boat people and those who suffered in re-education camps. This event highlighted the enduring pain and divisions stemming from the war. A similar point of tension arose during a discussion featuring Andrew Lam and two other speakers who discussed their relatives who were generals in the RVN.
The Vietnam Center Archives: A Repository of Memory
The Vietnam Center at Texas Tech University, established over thirty years ago by former US Navy officer James Reckner, serves as a vital repository of documents and artifacts related to the Vietnam War and the Vietnamese experience. The archive houses over thirty million pages of documents and thousands of artifacts, including many collected by the scholar Douglas Pike. A visit to the archives revealed the rich collection of documents and artifacts, including the diary of Dang Thuy Tram and materials related to the H.O., donated by Ms. Khuc Minh Tho. The archive's role in preserving the memory of the war, ensuring future generations have access to these invaluable materials, was reinforced by Ms. Sheon Montgomery’s emphasis on the importance of preserving family heritage.
Looking Ahead: The Pursuit of Academic Freedom in Vietnam
The conference concluded with Professor Stephen Maxner announcing plans to hold the seminar in Vietnam in June of the following year. However, the possibility of holding such an open and uncensored academic event in Vietnam remains a question, given ongoing concerns about academic freedom. A recent meeting between a member of the Politburo and some intellectuals in Saigon, which touched on university autonomy, offered a glimmer of hope for future change.
The conference ultimately underscored the ongoing importance of understanding the Vietnam War's legacy, both in Vietnam and abroad. While the war ended fifty years ago, its echoes continue to resonate in international relations, human rights struggles, and personal memories. The hope remains that future discussions will foster greater understanding, reconciliation, and the pursuit of justice for all those affected by this pivotal moment in history.