March 29, 1975: Liberation of Da Nang city

On March 28, 1975, the Liberation Army's artillery fiercely bombarded the Da Nang military airport. Photo: VNA

On Route 1, the 18th Regiment of the 325th Division, riding on cars led by 6 tanks of the 4th Company, attacked the defense line of the 258th Marine Brigade on Hai Van Pass. Surprised and frightened by our fighting style, the enemy troops here abandoned their positions and fled into the forest. At 8 o'clock, when the leading force of the 18th Regiment of the 325th Division got near the foot of Hai Van Pass, they encountered the enemy troops marching by motorized vehicles to support their comrades. In an overwhelming situation, our troops quickly destroyed this army, then developed an attack to capture the Lien Chieu fuel depot.

At 10:00 a.m. the same day, the 325th Division's marching formation reached the center of Da Nang city, continuing to cross Trinh Minh The bridge to attack the enemy. By 11:30 a.m., our troops had completely occupied the port area, captured more than 100 enemy ships and boats, and blocked the enemy's escape route. After that, our troops attacked and completely occupied the radar telecommunications area, the complex warehouse area, and the operational support command of the puppet 1st Corps.

By 3:00 p.m. on March 29, 1975, our troops occupied the entire Da Nang joint base, Son Tra peninsula, and by 5:00 p.m., they had completely liberated Da Nang city. In the photo: Liberation Army marching across Nguyen Tri Phuong bridge to enter Da Nang, March 29, 1975. Photo: VNA archive

At the same time, in other directions, the 304th Division of the 2nd Corps and forces of Military Region 5 also launched fierce attacks and achieved many victories.

- In the Northwest direction, at 12:30 on March 29, 1975, Regiment 9, Division 304, Corps 2 and the reinforced force marched along Highway 14, broke the blockade line of the puppet Division 3, crossed Phuoc Tuong mountain, Hoa Khanh, the headquarters of the puppet Division 3, and occupied the city hall. From here, Regiment 9 sent a unit to occupy the city center.

The Liberation Army entered Da Nang city amid a joyful welcome from all walks of life. Photo: Quang Thanh/VNA

- In the southwest direction, at 12:30 p.m. the same day, the 66th and 24th Regiments, 304th Division, 2nd Corps defeated the enemy forces blocking Ai Nghia and together with the forces of Military Region 5 occupied the Hoa Cam training center, Da Nang airport, the administrative building and several other important targets.

- In the South and East, also in the morning of the same day, the forces of Military Region 5 ignored the external targets and quickly developed into the city to capture Da Nang airport, Nuoc Man airport and other important targets.

The Liberation Army took control of the Saigon puppet I Corps Command Headquarters in Da Nang. Photo: VNA Document

In close coordination with the main force, the special forces and secret militia of Da Nang and the people attacked and occupied the police station. The Quang Da provincial army also quickly occupied Hoi An town, Hoa Da area 5, Non Nuoc area, Nuoc Man airport, An Don warehouse system and developed a meeting point with the main force of the Huong Giang Corps to attack Son Tra peninsula.

By 1:30 p.m., Regiment 18 controlled Son Tra peninsula, completing the deep penetration mission of the campaign.

By 3 p.m., our troops had taken control of the entire Da Nang-Son Tra Peninsula military base. The “Determined to Fight, Determined to Win” flag of our army and people flew on the roof of the City Hall and the headquarters of the Saigon puppet Army Corps 1, marking a major historical event: Da Nang City was completely liberated.

In just a short time, we destroyed many main enemy divisions, winning the entire campaign. In the photo: The Liberation Army took control of puppet government agencies in Da Nang city. Photo: Hoang Giang/VNA

Thus, the enemy's last line of defense in the Central region was defeated, the remaining puppet forces fell into chaos, no longer able to organize resistance. Tens of thousands of puppet soldiers surrendered, we captured a large amount of weapons, tanks, aircraft and many other military equipment. The Hue-Da Nang Campaign (March 21-29, 1975) ended in victory, contributing to changing the situation and strength on the battlefield, creating a leap in the war situation completely in our favor, creating favorable conditions and opportunities for us to push forward the final strategic general offensive at the enemy's lair in Saigon.

On the night of March 29, 1975, when Da Nang was just liberated, Western news agencies commented: "The collapse of the Saigon regime is only a matter of days and hours."

* In Binh Dinh, on March 29, 1975, the enemy troops in Go Boi retreated, the people of the communes in the East of Tuy Phuoc district rose up to liberate their homeland. The enemy's defensive line in the North of Quy Nhon was broken. The 2nd and 141st Regiments of the 3rd Division attacked the enemy in Lai Nghi, blocking the Thu Thien Ha bridge, cutting off the escape route of the puppet 22nd Division.

Liberation Army armored vehicles on the way to Quy Nhon (Binh Dinh). Photo: Vu Tao/VNA

Meanwhile, soldiers of Regiment 19, Division 968 and Regiment 95A advanced to join Division 3 of Military Region 5. Under the direct command of the Military Region 5 Command, Division 968 and Division 3 attacked the enemy in the areas of Thu Thien, Lai Nghi, Phu Phong, Binh Khe, effectively supporting the people's uprising to gain control.

* At 4:30 p.m. on March 29, 1975, the Politburo sent a telegram to comrade Pham Hung with the directive: "The situation is changing rapidly. The revolution in the South is entering a period of leapfrogging development"... "At this time, we need to act promptly, resolutely and boldly"... "While urgently promoting the implementation of the established strategic determination", it is necessary to "emphasize an urgent point that must be done immediately, which is to boldly increase the force to carry out the strategic division and siege of the West of Saigon, in the My Tho and Tan An areas" and "In fact, it can be considered that the campaign to liberate Saigon has begun from here".

At the North Tay Ninh base, thoroughly grasping the guiding ideology of the Politburo and the Central Military Commission, the Standing Committee of the Central Office for Southern Vietnam held a plenary session to issue Resolution No. 15-TUC stating: "Concentrate all our spiritual strength and forces, promote to the highest extent the combined strength of three prongs, three types of troops, three regions, rise up in a general attack, general uprising, quickly collapse all puppet troops and puppet authorities, regain all government into the hands of the people with a fierce, rapid, bold attack spirit and determination to win total victory, liberate our communes, districts, provinces and the entire South. From this moment, the final strategic decisive battle of our army and people has begun".

[Source: VNA; Historical Moments: Ho Chi Minh Campaign 1975, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2005; Campaigns that were decisive for victory in the Great Spring Victory of 1975, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2010; Historical Events and Figures, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2015; Historical Decisions, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2015; Ministry of National Defense - Vietnam Military History Institute: Vietnam Military History, Volume 11, National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2019; General Van Tien Dung: Great Spring Victory, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2024; From the Battle of Phai Khat, Na Ngan to the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2024].

Hoang Yen/Vietnam News Agency (synthesis)

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/nhan-vat-su-kien/ngay-2931975-giai-phong-thanh-pho-da-nang-20250329061915932.htm