Parade Marks 40th Anniversary of Vietnam War's End

Vietnamese veterans gather for a parade celebrating the 40th anniversary of the

end of the Vietnam War which is also remembered as the fall of Saigon, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Thursday, April

30, 2015.

New words and expressions

parade n. – a public celebration of a special day or event, usually with bands in the streets and decorated vehicles

Ho Chi Minh City n.

Saigon n.

reenactment - n. an event or performance in which people attempt to recreate parts of a historical event

reunification – n. reuniting; bringing together again

barbarous – adj. violent or very dangerous

1. Vietnam has held a parade to celebrate the ______ anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War on ______ in the center of  ______. 

2. The event marked the end of the Vietnam war against colonial ruler,  ______, and then against  ______ supported South Vietnam.

3.  About ______ American soldiers died in the conflict. Up to  ______ Vietnamese were killed.

1. Vietnamese Prime Minister called on the Vietnamese people at home and overseas to support the sense of  ______, the tradition of  ______ ______ … to rise above past differences – to sincerely engage in national reconciliation.

2. Economic and ______ ties between Vietnam and the U.S. have improved. 

3. Thursday was the 20th

anniversary since the countries reestablished  ______.

1. Vietnam has held a parade to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War on Thursday in the center of Ho Chi Minh City. 

2. The event marked the end of the Vietnam war against colonial ruler, France, and then against U.S.-supported South Vietnam.

3.  About 58,000 American soldiers died in the conflict. Up to four million Vietnamese were killed.

1. Vietnamese Prime Minister called on the Vietnamese people at home and overseas to support the sense of patriotism, the tradition of humanity and tolerance … to rise above past differences – to sincerely engage in national reconciliation.

2. Economic and military ties between Vietnam and the U.S. have improved. 

3. Thursday was the 20th

anniversary since the countries reestablished diplomatic relations.

Tape script

Vietnam has held a parade to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. The victory of North Vietnamese forces brought the whole country under communist rule.

Thousands of flag-waving soldiers, former armed forces members and others took part in the parade Thursday. They marched toward the center of Ho Chi Minh City. Top government and communist party officials watched the event.

The parade was supposed to be a reenactment of the events of April 30, 1975. Forty years ago, North Vietnamese tanks entered the center of what was then the South Vietnamese capital, known as Saigon.

Tape script

The event marked the end of the Vietnamese communists’ war against colonial ruler, France, and then against U.S.-supported South Vietnam. About58,000 American soldiers died in the conflict. Up to four million Vietnamese were killed.

The United States supported South Vietnam against the North. U.S. officials saw the war as part of larger campaign to stop the spread of communism. Forty years ago, the U.S. government pulled its last embassy officials out of Saigon as North Vietnamese forces entered the city.

Tape script

During anniversary observation, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung praised the North Vietnamese victory as one of national reunification.

He said, “I call on the Vietnamese people at home and overseas to support the sense of patriotism, the tradition of humanity and tolerance … to rise above past differences – to sincerely engage in national reconciliation.”

Prime Minister Dung also criticized the United States for what he called its “countless barbarous crimes.” He said the U.S. had caused “immeasurable losses and pain to our people and country.” The French news agency reported his comments.

Tape script

No U.S. diplomats attended the parade. In recent years, economic and military ties between the two countries have improved. Thursday was the 20thanniversary since the countries reestablished diplomatic relations.

Vietnam now accepts some forms of capitalism. But it continues to have a one-party system of government and restricts free speech.