Vietnam: 30 years of the end of "American War"

Thousands of Vietnamese took to the streets of Ho Chi Minh city to celebrate 30 years since the communist victory that ended what is known as the " &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/mailbox/22/98/386/10400_Wars.html ' target=_blank>American War."

On April 30, 1975, North Vietnamese tanks rolled into what was then called Saigon -- the capital of U.S.-backed South Vietnam.

The American exit three decades ago -- when U.S. troops scrambled aboard helicopters from the roof of the &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/usa/2003/01/27/42608.html ' target=_blank>Saigon embassy -- became one of the most dramatic images of the 20th century.

The country on Saturday celebrated with a parade of soldiers, government workers and performers waving flags on the grand boulevard where communist tanks once rolled, informs CNN News.

Thirty years ago today, helicopters lifted the last Americans from the roof of the US embassy in Saigon as many scrambled to get out. In the now renamed Ho Chi Minh city fireworks marked the celebrations which have been more toned down than in recent years for fear of harming US relations.