Patty Vognild Visiting Vietnam during the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon was an emotional and unforgettable experience for my husband, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran, as it brought decades of military history and personal reflection into vivid focus.
My husband, Brian, was particularly eager to visit Vietnam during our cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas. As an Air Force retiree and longtime member of several veteran organizations, he’s spent years listening to stories from Vietnam veterans —accounts of the intense weather, grueling conditions, and the lasting effects of the war.
Brian didn’t serve in the Vietnam War himself, but the experience was deeply reflective and emotional. Having listened to the stories of many veterans who lived through the war, he carried a deep sense of empathy and mutual respect as he set foot in a country so profoundly shaped by its history and by the sacrifices of those who served.
For him, stepping foot in Vietnam wasn’t just a travel destination—it was a deeply historic military experience and one of the most meaningful moments of our 12-day cruise from Singapore to Tokyo.
On our flight to Singapore, Brian happened to read an article in his Legion magazine about the upcoming 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. He was stunned to realize we’d be visiting Vietnam during that exact month: April 2025. It was a complete coincidence, but one that added to his excitement and anticipation.
While Vietnam officially celebrates the date as Reunification Day, the moment when the North and South were unified under one government, Brian marked it as the conclusion of a brutal war that claimed the lives of over 58,000 American service members.
For him, it was a moment to reflect not just on history, but on the ongoing challenges Vietnam veterans face to this day.
Preparing for our visit to Vietnam
We booked a 10-hour highlights tour for our one-day visit to Ho Chi Minh City. Our guide, Minh, was incredibly knowledgeable and provided a balanced, fact-based overview of Vietnam’s history.
Interestingly, our dinner companions took a similar tour, but their guide openly shared his personal grief over losing his father in the war. Even though we visited the same sites, their emotional experience was completely different from ours. We felt fortunate that our guide remained neutral, allowing us to process the history on our own terms.
Securing a visa to enter Vietnam wasn’t simple. Although the online e-visa process typically costs $25, we ended up paying $200 each through Royal Caribbean’s third-party service. Other cruisers reported similar issues.
We had to show proof of our Vietnam visas before boarding the ship, and on embarkation day, Royal Caribbean collected our passports and visas. The night before arrival, we received a Vietnam Landing Card, which we were required to carry throughout the day and surrender at the tour’s end.
From Phu My to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
We docked at Phu My port, located in an industrial area about 65 miles from Ho Chi Minh City. It took over two hours to reach the city due to heavy, chaotic traffic, especially from the seemingly endless stream of scooters weaving dangerously through traffic. Remarkably, our driver navigated it all without incident.
As we drove past the U.S. Consulate General, Brian asked if it was still in use. Our guide confirmed that it was. This building, along with the former CIA headquarters, was among the last places occupied by U.S. personnel in Saigon before the city fell in April 1975. It was sobering to pass by a site so closely tied to the war’s final moments.
At the city museum, we saw a special exhibit marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. Dozens of grainy black-and-white photos depicted scenes from the war, all captioned in Vietnamese.
Brian used his phone to translate the descriptions and appreciated the opportunity to view the events through a Vietnamese lens. One section showcased the military strategy of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, North Vietnam’s final offensive that led to Saigon’s capture.
Reunification Palace and Vietnam’s 50th anniversary celebration
Our final stop was the former Presidential Palace, now called the Reunification Hall. The grounds were bustling with preparations for a major parade on April 30.
Two North Vietnamese tanks, replicas of the ones that famously broke through the palace gates, stood proudly outside as symbols of reunification. Groups of veterans and students in red clothing with yellow-star flags gathered for photos, visibly proud of their national history.
The Reunification Hall is a large white building, constructed between 1962 and 1966, with expansive rooms and manicured grounds. One of the most memorable areas for us was the war command room, featuring color-coded phones and large strategic maps used by the South Vietnamese military until the city fell.
On the top floor, our guide showed us a theater and a rooftop helipad with a Huey helicopter once used by the South Vietnamese president. The aircraft still bore U.S. military markings, white stars on blue roundels, crossed out with a black “X.” Brian immediately noticed the symbol, which sparked strong emotions.
The “X” painted over the U.S. military insignia likely signifies that the helicopter is no longer in service—or perhaps symbolizes the fall of U.S.-backed South Vietnam. Either way, it stirred a complex mix of emotions, leaving us wondering about its true meaning.
Standing in the very place where the war came to an end, exactly 50 years later, was both sobering and one of the most powerful moments of the entire tour.
An emotional visit to Vietnam
This day in Vietnam was filled with emotional highs and lows.
Brian considered wearing an American flag T-shirt in honor of close friends who served in the war, but I gently discouraged it out of concern for how locals might perceive it. Instead, he wore a combat control hat as a tribute to his best friend, who served in special operations for 30 years.
Visiting Vietnam during such a historic month was something we never imagined. For Brian, it stirred feelings of gratitude, grief, and deep respect. The experience was complex but unforgettable.
While Vietnam has moved forward, the memories of those who served will never fade.
As we left, Brian reflected on the service and sacrifice of so many: “All gave some, but some gave all.”
Vietnam veterans deserve our deepest thanks.
