Alongside the Central Highlands Operation, on March 10, 1975, Division 2 of Military Region 5 liberated Tien Phuoc, Phuoc Lam and posed direct threat to the enemy in Tam Ky town, Quang Ngai. Later, our local forces attacked Tra Bong, Binh Son, Son Tinh and approached Quang Ngai town. On March 24, our forces liberated Tam Ky town and most of Quang Ngai province. After being defeated in the Central Highlands, Quang Tri and then Hue city, the remnants of the enemy’s local units as well as regular units of the Saigon Military’s I Corps Tactical Zone fled to Da Nang.
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Liberation Army's tanks entered and freed Da Nang on March 29, 1975. File photo |
At that time, Commanding General of the I Corps Tactical Zone Ngo Quang Truong still optimistically estimated that it would take one month for our forces to prepare and launch attack on Da Nang, and that it was enough time for their forces to consolidate their defensive fortifications and strongholds in the city. But on March 26, our forces, including regular and local forces, opened an offensive on Da Nang. After only three days, the entire enemy outer defensive line around Da Nang was broken down and our forces approached and besieged the city in three directions. In other words, all land routes between Da Nang and Saigon were blocked and controlled by the Liberation Army. The enemy in Da Nang could only connect with Saigon by sea and by air. As Da Nang was in danger, the U.S. Consulate General in the city had to conduct an airlift evacuation of its staff to Saigon. That made the enemy garrisons in Da Nang more horrible.
On the early morning of March 29, 30 large field artillery batteries of Army Corps 2 and Military Region 5 bombarded enemy military bases, including Hon Bang, Tra Kieu, Vinh Dien, Da Nang Airport, Nuoc Man Airport and Son Tra Seaport. After the heavy shelling, our tanks and infantry troops started to attack the enemy in Da Nang from various directions.
In the North, our forces moved along Highway 1 and took Lien Chieu Oil Depot. After that the Northern flank infiltrated into Da Nang downtown, maneuvered to Son Tra peninsula and controlled Son Tra Seaport at 1.30 p.m. on March 29. From the Northwest, our forces marched along Road 14, attacked and took control over Phuoc Tuong, Khanh Hoa and the Headquarters of the enemy’s 3rd Division. The Northwestern flank controlled the Radio Station and the Town Hall at 9.30 a.m. on March 29.
Meanwhile, our forces in the Southwest of Da Nang destroyed the enemy garrisons in Phu Huong and Dong Lam, and then raided the enemy fleeing to Ai Nghia. Our Southwestern contingent attacked and occupied the enemy Military Training Center of Hoa Cam and coordinated with friendly forces to assault Da Nang Airport.
Our contingent in the South of Da Nang eliminated enemy garrisons in Ba Ren, Duy Xuyen, Nam Phuoc, Vinh Dien and moved into Da Nang. The Southern contingent then attacked and took control over the Headquarters of the I Corps Tactical Zone, Headquarters of the 1st Air Division and Da Nang Airport at noon on March 29.
Our forces in the Southeast attacked the enemy in Hoi An town, Non Nuoc, a naval base and coordinated with friendly forces to fight the enemy in Nuoc Man Airport.
At 3 p.m. on March 29, 1975, our forces completely controlled Da Nang city and its neighborhoods.
After three days of fighting, our forces eliminated the enemy’s I Corps Tactical Zone and garrisoned units, put out of action 90,000 enemy troops, destroyed or seized 115 aircraft, 47 boats, 138 tanks and armored vehicles, 69,000 guns of various kinds and other military equipment.
The victory in Da Nang was a great source of encouragement for the revolutionary and people to continue attacking the enemy on the entire South battlefield and open the historical Ho Chi Minh Campaign, leading to the liberation of South Vietnam and reunification of the country on April 30, 1975.
Written by Manh Thang
Translated by Thu Nguyen