Editing Dương Văn Minh (section)

==Second presidency==
On 21 April 1975, Thiệu handed over power to Vice President [[Trần Văn Hương]] and fled to [[Taiwan]]. Hương prepared for peace talks with North Vietnam. However, after his overtures were rejected, he resigned.<ref>Willbanks, pp. 264–270</ref> As the main attack on Saigon developed on 27 April 1975, in a joint sitting of the bicameral National Assembly, the presidency was unanimously handed over to Minh, who was sworn in the following day. The French government thought that Minh could broker a cease-fire and had advocated his ascension to power.<ref name=indep/> There was also an assumption that, as Minh had a reputation for indecision, the various groups thought that they could manipulate him for their own ends relatively easily.<ref name=lat/> It was widely known that Minh<ref>Dougan and Fulghum, pp. 154–155</ref> had long-standing contacts with the communists,<ref name="lat" /> and it was assumed that he would be able to establish a cease-fire and re-open negotiations.<ref>Isaacs, pp. 439, 432–433</ref><ref>Dougan and Fulghum, pp. 102–103</ref><ref>Willbanks, pp. 273–274</ref> This expectation was totally unrealistic, as the North Vietnamese were in an overwhelmingly dominant position on the battlefield and final victory was within reach, so they saw no need for power-sharing, regardless of any political changes in Saigon.<ref>Dougan and Fulghum, pp. 142–143</ref>

On 28 April 1975, PAVN forces fought their way into the outskirts of the capital.<ref name=w273>Willbanks, p. 273</ref> Later that afternoon, as Minh finished his acceptance speech, in which he called for an immediate cease-fire and peace talks,<ref name=lat/> a formation of five [[Cessna A-37 Dragonfly|A-37]]s, captured from the [[Republic of Vietnam Air Force]], bombed Tan Son Nhut Air Base.<ref name=w274>Willbanks, p. 274</ref> As [[Biên Hòa]] fell, General [[Nguyễn Văn Toàn (general)|Nguyễn Văn Toàn]], the III Corps commander, fled to Saigon, saying that most of the top ARVN leadership had virtually resigned themselves to defeat.<ref name=w275>Willbanks, p. 275.</ref> The inauguration of Minh had served as a signal to South Vietnamese officers who would not compromise with the communists. They began to pack up and leave, or commit suicide to avoid capture.<ref>Vien, p. 146</ref>

PAVN columns advanced into the city center encountering very little resistance.<ref name=w276>Willbanks, p. 276</ref> Except in the Mekong Delta, where South Vietnamese military forces were still intact and aggressive,<ref>''Escape with Honor: My Last Hours in Vietnam'' by Francis Terry McNamara and Adrian Hill, p. 133</ref> the South Vietnamese military had virtually ceased to exist. Just before 05:00 on 30 April,<ref name=w276/> US Ambassador [[Graham Martin]] boarded a helicopter and departed and at 07:53 the last Marines were evacuated from the US Embassy's rooftop.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dunham|first=George R|title=U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Bitter End, 1973–1975 (Marine Corps Vietnam Operational Historical Series)|publisher=Marine Corps Association|year=1990|isbn=9780160264559|page=200}}</ref> At 10:24,<ref name=w276/> being advised by General [[Nguyễn Hữu Hạnh]], Minh went on [[Saigon Radio]] and ordered all South Vietnamese forces to cease fighting and later declared an unconditional surrender. He announced, "The Republic of Vietnam policy is the policy of peace and reconciliation, aimed at saving the blood of our people. We are here waiting for the Provisional Revolutionary Government to hand over the authority in order to stop useless bloodshed."<ref name=lat/> 

According to General Nguyen Huu Hanh's interview from BBC, Minh did not want to evacuate the Saigon government to the Mekong Delta to continue military resistance. Hanh also stated Minh planned a peace to end the war.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4491193.stm|title=The day the Vietnam War ended|date=28 April 2005|access-date=26 January 2020|language=en-GB}}</ref>

Around noon, a PAVN tank crashed through the gates of the [[Independence Palace]].<ref name=w276/><ref>Dougan and Fulghum, p. 175</ref> When the PAVN troops entered the Independence Palace they found Minh and his cabinet sitting around the big oval table in the cabinet room, waiting for them. As they entered, Minh said "The revolution is here. You are here."<ref name=lat/> He added, "We have been waiting for you so that we could turn over the government." The ranking North Vietnamese officer, Colonel [[Bùi Văn Tùng]] replied, "There is no question of your transferring power. Your power has crumbled. You cannot give up what you do not have."<ref name=nyt/> Later in the afternoon, he went on radio again and said, "I declare the Saigon government is completely dissolved at all levels."<ref name=lat/>

After his official surrender, he was summoned to report back. After a few days he was permitted to return to his villa, unlike almost all remaining military personnel and public servants,<ref name=indep/> who were sent to [[Re-education camp (Vietnam)|re-education camp]]s, often for over a decade in the case of senior officers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/18/world/ho-chi-minh-city-journal-re-educated-12-years-an-ex-general-reflects.html|title=Ho Chi Minh City Journal; 'Re-educated' 12 Years, An Ex-General Reflects|author=Crossette, Barbara|date=18 December 1987|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=14 July 2010}}</ref> He lived there in seclusion for eight years, where he continued to raise birds and grow exotic [[Orchidaceae|orchids]].<ref name=lat/> It was assumed that Hanoi had resolved that as Minh had not actively opposed them in the final years of the war, he would be allowed to live in peace as long as he remained quiet and did not engage in political activities.<ref name=indep/>