Huế–Đà Nẵng campaign opens

People’s Army of Vietnam forces captured Phước Long city. The Republic of Vietnam’s defeat there, without a U.S. military response, informed strategic calculations on both sides before the final...

The campaign opened in the Central Highlands, where Vietnamese forces sought to break the Republic of Vietnam’s defensive position. The campaign rapidly became a turning point, setting off military...

The attack began a rapid series of military reversals for South Vietnam; the town fell on March 11. President Thiệu’s withdrawal decisions and command breakdown accelerated the collapse of...

The attack on Buôn Ma Thuột dealt a major blow to South Vietnamese defenses. The rapid changes in control brought intense fighting and the displacement of civilians, including highland communities...

President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu ordered a withdrawal from the Central Highlands. The retreat, undertaken on difficult routes, became disorganized and contributed to mass civilian flight and the collapse of...

South Vietnamese defenses collapsed and Huế came under the control of revolutionary forces. The rapid loss of the city accelerated the crisis facing the Saigon government and displaced civilians...

Huế was captured after the collapse of Republic of Vietnam defenses. The change in control was part of the fast-moving spring offensive; accounts that call it “liberation” and accounts that call it...

Revolutionary forces took Đà Nẵng after a rapid collapse of South Vietnamese defenses and a chaotic evacuation. Large numbers of civilians and soldiers were trapped or displaced. The loss opened the...

People’s Army of Vietnam and local forces entered Đà Nẵng as Republic of Vietnam defenses collapsed. The city’s capture ended organized resistance in much of central Vietnam, amid a chaotic...

The U.S.-organized airlift began evacuating children from Saigon for adoption abroad. The first flight crashed shortly after takeoff, killing many passengers. The operation raised questions about...