Publisher's Note

Vietnam 35 Years After the Fall of Saigon was released in September 2014, so it is a new release and currently relevant. As the 40th Anniversary of the end of the War is upon is, it is important to note that this book is not five years old; it is actually only a few months old. The book documents the country and US-Vietnam relations (including MIA recovery operations in an 10-page spread) at a specific time in history—35 years after the end of the war. If we did a book documenting the country 40 years after, it couldn’t possibly come out in 2015 as a study of the country 40 years after 1975 could only begin to be assembled, with a full study and analysis of the country and events, after December 31, 2015, meaning writing, editing, and production in 2016/2017. Regarding any changes between 2010 and 2015, the “Publisher’s Note” at the beginning of the book (page ix) addresses this as follows:

....All the images and supporting text reflect the country in 2010—35 years after the fall of Saigon. As this book’s release is a few years beyond that date, it is incumbent upon us to note that the findings, data, and images here remain relevant. Few changes have occurred since 2010, and the overall path of reconciliation and diplomatic relations is maintained, Vietnamese relics and monuments relating to the war remain, and the cities and land remain relatively unchanged. The few changes since 2010 are continuations of the themes seen in this book, rather than any new or radical departures: A new US Ambassador to Vietnam, David Shear, has been appointed, replacing Michael W. Michalak who is depicted in this book. The tallest building in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), the Bitexco Financial Tower, shown in this volume under construction, is now open and with tenants. And given the nature of Vietnam’s strong economic growth, three buildings that exceed Bitexco’s height are now either open or under construction, and interestingly, all of these are in Hanoi. And the absence of McDonalds, a major American symbol, is no longer the case as the company recently opened its first restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City. The ever-popular KFC, with restaurants in cities throughout the country, is depicted in this volume. And, of course, traffic congestion continues to worsen as in many countries experiencing a long run of solid economic growth.

The book provides a unique perspective into Vietnam 35 years after the fall of Saigon, documenting the country at a specific moment in history, long enough for a historical perspective to emerge on the physical reconstruction of the country; the development of a new peacetime economy and society; and renewed diplomatic, military, economic, and social ties between Vietnam and the United States.