The Fall of Saigon: The Vietnam War 50 Years in Review

On April 30, 1975, the Communist capture of the city of Saigon brought an end to more than 20 years of war in Vietnam. The end of the war reunified a divided nation—and changed the course of global politics, military strategy, and international relations for decades to come.

In the six lectures of The Fall of Saigon: The Vietnam War 50 Years in Review, historian Edward G. Lengel takes you back to the final years of the long and complex conflict that ravaged the small Southeast Asian nation of Vietnam and bled disastrously into surrounding countries, altering the region forever. Debates over the war and its aftermath still rage on half a century beyond the tragic moments of its end. As Dr. Lengel reflects on an array of topics—from foreign and domestic policy in the Nixon administration to North Vietnamese negotiating tactics to the evacuation of Saigon and the personal experiences of Vietnamese refugees. In this course, you’ll gain new insight into the factors that have shaped our perceptions of the conflict in Vietnam. You’ll also see how these perceptions still color current debates on everything from freedom of the press and immigration to the limits and extent of presidential power.

As we look back into the past, there are certain moments that stand out clearly as turning points in the course of history. As you trace the events leading up to the dramatic final days of the Vietnam War, The Fall of Saigon will immerse you in one such defining moment of the 20th century—a moment that has left an indelible imprint on our collective memory.

©2025 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2025 Audible Originals, LLC

Well presented history.

Good telling of the end of the Vietnam conflict. Hits the main points in an organized fashion. I learned a lot.

Excellent balanced look at the Vietnam war

Short book that tells the history of the Vietnam War in 6 essays. Very balanced account - no political bias or blame aside from what the author (also the narrator) reported from other sources. The accounts of the finals days before Saigon fell are gripping and it’s noteworthy to hear the mood of politicians and the American public at the time about the plight of those refugees who escaped. Anyone interested in the Vietnam war should give this a listen. It may not be heavy on details but the balance it has is its best feature.

Compelling look at the end of the war

I listened to this all in one sitting, on a long road trip. It was that good! Although I thought I was fairly familiar with the events of the Vietnam War, this framed this aspect of the war in a compelling and sad way. It sparked conversation with my son over the parallels to our departure from Afghanistan. And honestly it reframed some of my thinking from the orthodoxy I grew up with that our involvement in southeast Asia was entirely mistaken.

I think this could be useful to a motivated homeschooler when paired with other materials.

The author's balanced approach to a controversial topic and time period

I wish he would have made more applications to the modern lessons we should learn in 2025.

Much more detail

I just missed the draft for Nam so lived the whole thing. I have visions of the helicopters leaving the embassy roof and being pushed overboard from the ships. This lecture series provides much more information about the end of South Viet Nam.