Reunification Day
| Reunification Day | |
|---|---|
|
Banner in Hanoi for Reunification Day | |
| Official name | Reunification Day (Ngày Thống nhất) |
| Also called |
Black April (Tháng Tư Đen) Liberation Day (Ngày Giải phóng) Victory Day (Ngày Chiến thắng) National Day of Shame (Ngày Quốc Nhục) National Day of Resentment (Ngày Quốc Hận) Fall of Saigon (Sài Gòn Thất thủ) |
| Observed by | Vietnamese |
| Type | National |
| Significance | Marks the North Vietnamese capture of Saigon |
| Observances | Overseas Vietnamese |
| Date | April 30 |
| Next time | 30 April 2016 |
| Frequency | annual |
| Related to | Fall of Saigon |
Reunification Day (Ngày Thống nhất), Victory Day (Ngày Chiến thắng) or Liberation Day (Ngày Giải phóng or Ngày Giải phóng miền Nam) is a public holiday in Vietnam that marks the event when Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops captured Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) on April 30, 1975. This signalled the end of the Vietnam War, known in Vietnamese as Chiến tranh Việt Nam (Vietnam War) or Kháng chiến chống Mỹ ("Resistance War Against America"). It was the start of the transition period toward reunification, which occurred July 2, 1976, when the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam and North Vietnam merged to form the modern-day Vietnam or the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
The anniversary is marked by several festivals around the date.
In the Overseas Vietnamese community, the day is remembered as the "Fall of Saigon", "Black April (Tháng Tư Đen)",[1][2][3][4][5][6] National Day of Shame (Ngày Quốc Nhục) or National Day of Resentment (Ngày Quốc Hận).[2][7][8][9][10] This is a commemorative day for exiled Vietnamese who served, were affected, and displaced in those overseas communities, and as such is a day of reflection.
Gallery
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The Statue of Victory 30-4-1975 at the Museum of Ho Chi Minh Campaign
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A street in Da Nang, Vietnam. Flags are being displayed on the occasion of Reunification Day, a national holiday.
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Vietnamese-American Heritage Flag (flag of the former Republic of Vietnam) lining El Cajon Blvd in San Diego, CA, leading up to Black April
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A sign in Hanoi, 2009, depicting the moment when NVA tank crashing into the Presidential Palace on April 30, 1975.
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_Democracy%2C_Human_Rights_Rally_63.jpg)
Black April pro-democracy and human rights protest, which almost always accompanies Black April commemorations. This one was in Canada
See also
- Public holidays in Vietnam
- Liberation Day in other countries
- Victory Day in other countries
References
- ↑ "Black April". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- 1 2 "Black April". UNAVSA Knowledge. UNAVSA. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- ↑ "Black April". VNAFMAMN. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- ↑ Secretary of State. "Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 220 CHAPTER 74 Relative to Black April Memorial Week.". LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST. CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- ↑ Kurhi, Eric. "Black April ceremony honors Vietnam War soldiers in San Jose". Mercury News. San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- ↑ BHARATH, DEEPA (April 29, 2011). "O.C. Black April events commemorate fall of Saigon". Orange County Register. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- ↑ Deepa Bharath (2008-04-25). "Black April events commemorate fall of Saigon". The Orange County Register. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
- ↑ "Audio Slideshow: Black April". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
- ↑ My-Thuan Tran (2009-04-30). "Orange County's Vietnamese immigrants reflect on historic moment". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
- ↑ Đỗ Dzũng (2009-04-30). "Tưởng niệm Tháng Tư Đen ở Quận Cam". Báo Người Việt. Retrieved 2009-05-28.