Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

30 years on, US flights to Vietnam resume

Margie Mason
Friday 10 December 2004 20:00 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

An American passenger jet landed in Vietnam yesterday, the first since the Vietnam War ended nearly 30 years ago. United Airlines Flight 869 from San Francisco arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, at 3pm.

An American passenger jet landed in Vietnam yesterday, the first since the Vietnam War ended nearly 30 years ago. United Airlines Flight 869 from San Francisco arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, at 3pm.

The flight, carrying 260 people - including some Vietnamese who had fled their country after the war - was the first US commercial plane to touch down at Tan Son Nhat International airport since the wartime capital of former South Vietnam fell to the Communists in 1975.

Among the flight's passengers was a Vietnamese- American Bernard Lang, 62, who said that he left on the last military flight out of Saigon when it fell on 30 April, 1975. "I love it. I wanted to be on the first flight because of history," said Mr Lang.

Another passenger, Van Trinh, 48, one of the tens of thousands of Vietnamese who fled in boats after the war. "Thirty years is too long," she said.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in