Today marks Vietnam’s Liberation Day, aka Reunification Day in recognition of the anniversary of 30 April 1975 – the date that marks the fall of the government of Saigon, which ultimately ended the Vietnam War and liberated the south of Vietnam.
Each year on the 30th April, the entire country comes together to celebrate the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, as it became known. The north and south of the country were once again reunited in 1975. Reunification Day is known locally as Ngày giải phóng.
Major town and cities, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Hue, deck streets and buildings with colourful banners, national flags and multi-coloured lights. Street parades, themed festivals and general merriment are to be expected within local communities. The timing of Reunification Day is such that it runs into the celebrations for International Labor Day, which falls each year on 1 May.
The image to the left shows the Statue of Victory at the Museum of Ho Chi Minh.
Both Reunification Day and Labor Day are official public holidays across Vietnam so banks, shops and services will be interrupted.
Image credit: HappyMidnight CC BY-SA 3.0
