Marking Half a Century: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War's Conclusion

On April 30, we marked 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War—a conflict that forever shaped families, nations, and history. My father, a diplomat and professor, longed for peace in our homeland. My mother was separated from her family for decades. Our prayers echoed the hope that the bombing would end.The war’s legacy is complex: some view April 30 as “mat nuoc” (loss of country), others as “giai phong” (liberation) or “ngay thong nhat” (reunification day).The cost was staggering—over 4 million Vietnamese, 58,000 Americans, and countless Cambodians and Laotians perished. The U.S. dropped more bombs on Vietnam than were dropped on Germany in WWII.We must remember, reflect, and strive to learn from the Vietnam War's enduring lessons.