Vietnam Peace Day

Lasting nearly 5 years, with 201 public sessions, 45 high-level private meetings, 500 press conferences, 1,000 interviews, the peace negotiation process that led to the signing of the Paris Agreement on January 27, 1973 was a one of the longest negotiations in the history of world diplomacy. 1973 Paris Agreement - Ending the war, restoring peace in Vietnam. And January 27 every year is called Vietnam Peace Day, is the anniversary of the Paris Agreement signed between the Government of the United States, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the Republic of South Vietnam and the Republic of Vietnam.

The Paris Agreement consists of 9 chapters (8 main chapters and 1 sub-chapter) and 23 articles. The content of the Agreement requires countries to respect the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Vietnam as recognized by the 1954 Geneva Agreement on Vietnam. The US Army and its allies withdrew their troops from Vietnam. The parties commit to respect the right of self-determination of the people of South Vietnam. The people of the South have the right to determine their political future through free and democratic general elections with international supervision. After that, the reunification of Vietnam will be carried out step by step by peaceful method on the basis of consultation and agreement between the North and the South of Vietnam, neither side coercing nor annexing the other and without any interference of foreign intervention.

US President Richard Nixon appeared on television, announcing 'peace with honor' in Vietnam.

The statement, issued simultaneously in Washington and Hanoi, confirmed the peace agreement signed in Paris at 1230 local time, which led to the end of the longest US war.

The ceasefire began at midnight Hanoi time, Saturday, January 27, and was overseen by an international force of troops from Canada, Poland, Hungary and Indonesia.

President Nixon's speech was made from the Oval Office in the White House, and was broadcast nationwide on radio and television.

"Through years of negotiations, we have achieved peace with honor," he said.

"In the agreement now agreed by [the parties], all the conditions I put forward have been met."

Under the conditions outlined, there is a requirement to release prisoners of war within 60 days, and all U.S. forces to withdraw from Vietnam within the same period.

American forces had been involved in the conflict in Vietnam for more than a decade by then.

In 1967, half a million American troops were deployed in Vietnam.

To the people of South Vietnam, the president of the United States gave the message: "With your courage and sacrifice, you have won the precious right to decide your own future, and you had the power to defend that right."

To the North Vietnamese leadership, he said: "Since we ended the war through negotiation, let's build peace, reconciliation."

To this day, there are still many soldiers who fought in the Vietnam battlefield who remember the date of signing this Paris peace agreement. They still remember the days of fighting in Vietnam. And peace is what everyone longs for because war has taken away many things.

How to observe Vietnam Peace Day

To commemorate and celebrate Vietnam Peace Day, bring your family and loved ones to the memorial to learn more about this day. Or you should study more about the Paris peace agreement of 1973 in terms of content and terms. In addition, you can also learn more about the history of the war in Vietnam to know more about the meaning of this Vietnam Peace Day.