H1: The Fall of Saigon: Personal Insights and the Aftermath

H2: No Confiscation for Ordinary Vietnamese

One of my classmate from Hue stayed in his home where his family has lived since 196x. One of my neighbors, an ex-RVN captain, stayed for almost 5 years in re-education camps and eventually returned to the house he inherited from his parents. This experience highlights that confiscation of possessions and re-education camps were not commonplace for ordinary South Vietnamese citizens who did not have affiliations with the U.S. or the South Vietnamese Army (RVNAF).

H2: Forced Immigration to New Economic Zones

It is true that people with means were considered bourgeois and were persecuted, with their possessions being confiscated. My family had a car, which they abandoned on the street, and items like a telephone were dumped into the river at night due to fear of being labeled as bourgeois. My grandparents had hidden their money and gold to avoid detection.

However, the forced immigration cases to ‘new economic’ zones were not a universal norm. These zones were not only for South Vietnamese (SVNs) but also for North Vietnamese (N VN) families from the far northern zones. This practice started in North Vietnam since 1961, primarily for the lowest-income families in South Vietnam and was entirely voluntary for North Vietnamese families. The goal was to redistribute resources and alleviate poverty.

H2: The Impact on Education and Living Conditions

My parents, both teachers, were sent to the ‘New Economic Zone,’ which were essentially undeveloped jungle areas. Parents like them were often chosen due to their professional skills, which were needed by the government. Initially, we faced immense poverty living in a simple mud hut with a leaf roof. We dug a well for our water, and there was no electricity. My mother taught at a local elementary school with similar humble conditions, while my father headed to a high school in Go Vap district, a still-rural area of Saigon, as a physics teacher and vice principal. Due to the limited education of the previous principal and his co-vice principals, who were former North Vietnamese Army (NVA) officers, the government needed someone capable to run the school. As a result, my father had to commute 25-30km each way by bike, a journey that involved considerable hardship.

After about 3-4 years, my father's school provided us with a tiny room, solving the commute issue. Despite the hardships, I could still go to kindergarten there, as no kindergarten existed in the New Economic Zone at the time. Additionally, my mother continued commuting for 25-30km to her school. The sacrifices and adjustments we made were grueling, but we managed to overcome them.

H2: The Role of Religious Institutions

It is reported that some Christian priests were perceived as dangerous by the new regime and were sent to re-education camps. Similarly, the Christian Church organization itself was seen as a threat. This highlights the political climate during the transition and the challenges faced by various groups, including religious leaders.

H2: Conclusion

The fall of Saigon and the subsequent years brought significant changes and challenges for the people of Vietnam. While some faced confiscation of possessions and re-education, efforts were also made to redistribute resources and provide opportunities through the establishment of New Economic Zones. Despite the hardships, many Vietnamese remained resilient and adapted to the new circumstances.