Review of Last Days in Vietnam (2014) by Chris H — 10 Jan 2017

In terms of style and presentation, this is a fairly standard documentary told via archive footage and on-camera accounts from witnesses and participants. What makes this documentary worth viewing is the extraordinary story it tells of how the US forces evacuated Saigon during the final days of the Vietnam War.

With the city surrounded by communist forces, the civilian population became increasingly panicked and desperate to escape. While the Ford administration tried and failed to secure extra funding from Congress the US Army began covert operations, not even known to the US ambassador, to get people out of the country and to safety.

As the political and military situation became more precarious, options for evacuating the thousands of civilian, political and military refugees became increasingly risky. When the situation became hopeless, the US had no option but to start airlifting thousands of people who were taking refuge in the grounds of the embassy to naval vessels waiting offshore.

While this was going on, the Vietnamese Navy was leading a ramshackle flotilla of vessels, crammed with people along the Saigon river in order to escape. It is very easy to look back at the events of the Vietnam conflict and cast the USA in a less than favourable light.

There's no denying, that terrible things were done in the region by a political and military machine that at times seemed to defy reason. However, this documentary does show that amid this madness, the individual soldiers were trying their best to do the right thing and at times, shows tremendous heroism.

The stories of just how far some of the marines, pilots and other military personnel went to try to ensure as many people got out of the country to safety is moving and fascinating. There are accounts of staggering bravery and humanitarianism on the part of both the US and South Vietnamese personnel in what must have been a confusing and dangerous time.

The regret that some of them still live with that they were not able to help absolutely everyone and indeed, had to abandon some in their hour of need is painful and very clear to see. This documentary shows that during humanity's darkest times, people can still do good things.