March 27, 1975: 'Quickly destroy all enemy forces in Da Nang'

On March 27, 1975, the Politburo sent a telegram to comrades Vo Chi Cong and Chu Huy Man praising the victories of the army and people of Zone 5 and instructing: "... must concentrate forces from two sides, from Thua Thien - Hue to attack in and from Nam Ngai to attack out, quickly destroy all enemy forces in Da Nang, not allowing them to retreat to regroup and defend Saigon", "must act extremely boldly and unexpectedly so that the enemy cannot react in time", "must quickly mobilize the armed masses to rise up, smash the repressive forces,... establish a revolutionary government... mobilize enemy soldiers to lay down their guns and surrender, disintegrate puppet army units".

Liberation Army tanks entered to liberate Da Nang . Photo: Hoang Giang/VNA

On the same day, March 27, 1975, the General Command instructed the 2nd Corps and Military Region 5: "The situation in Da Nang is very urgent. Special measures are needed to quickly attack the enemy, bypassing targets along the way, and strike straight into Da Nang as quickly, promptly, and boldly as possible with the forces that can arrive the soonest."

Carrying out the mission of opening the way to attack Da Nang, on March 27, 1975, Regiment 18, Division 325 continued to attack the enemy's temporary defense line in the Phu Gia Pass area. At the same time, the soldiers of the 84th Artillery Regiment, who had just come down from the mountain, promptly used enemy artillery in Phu Loc and Phuoc Tuong to support the 18th Regiment in fighting. The enemy resisted fiercely, enemy planes from Da Nang airport continuously took off, enemy artillery from Lang Co and Hai Van fired continuously to Phu Gia to support the infantry "defending to the death". With strong fighting spirit, our army quickly poured through Phu Gia Pass and then took advantage of the victory to liberate Son Hai.

In the afternoon of the same day, Battalion 8 led the southern wing to attack the Lang Co area (at the foot of Hai Van Pass). The fighting at the foot of the pass was fierce. By 8:00 p.m., Regiment 18 controlled the Lang Co area, opening the way to break through to Hai Van Pass to attack Da Nang from the north.

On the night of March 27, the campaign artillery force organized a position of four 130-caliber guns; the 2nd Corps artillery deployed at Mui Trau Pass and Lang Co with 14 guns (including 6 130-caliber guns); in the south, the 5th Military Region Command sent two companies (4 130-caliber guns) to position in Son Khanh.

On the enemy side, on March 27, more than 2,000 puppet soldiers at the Hoa Cam Training Center mutinied and deserted. All three brigades of the Marine Division abandoned their positions. Ngo Quang Truong, Commander of the puppet 1st Corps and 1st Military Region, fled to the Son Tra Peninsula, then escaped to an American ship at sea.

In Quang Nam , following the order of the Military Region, the province was assigned to quickly march to Moc Bai and Phu Phong to block the enemy's retreat route to Da Nang. At 10:00 a.m. on March 27, Battalion 72 arrived in Phu Phong, setting up a blockade on Highway 1 at Cong Ba. Battalion 70 attacked the enemy and controlled the Moc Bai area, gradually developing towards Huong An Bridge. Highway 1 was cut off, the enemy used artillery and aircraft to attack and clear the way. At 5:00 p.m. on March 27, the enemy troops in Ha Lam and Nui Que fled to Da Nang, were fiercely blocked and attacked by us, had to abandon their vehicles and artillery, go west of Highway 1, cross the fields, cross the Ba Ren River to Duy Xuyen.

On March 29, 1975, Da Nang was completely liberated. Photo: VNA

On March 27, implementing Decision No. 54/QP-QD of the Minister of National Defense, at the Central Highlands campaign headquarters in Thuan Man, General Van Tien Dung announced the decision to establish the Central Highlands Army Corps. On the same day, the Politburo issued a decision to establish the Party Committee of the Central Highlands Army Corps under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in all aspects.

Developing the battle in the Central Highlands, on March 27, 2025, we liberated De Duc and Bong Son. Developing the battle on Highway 20, Division 7 captured Dac Oai area and then followed Highway 20 to capture Ba Co Pass and Dai Lao Bridge (Lam Dong).

On March 27, 1975, in the telegram sent by the Politburo to comrades Vo Chi Cong and Chu Huy Man, it emphasized: "At this moment, time is power. We must act extremely boldly and unexpectedly, making it impossible for the enemy to react." Following this directive, almost the entire front, every unit, took advantage of the time and found every way to move troops to attack directly into Da Nang.

Thu Hanh (Vietnam News Agency)

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/nhan-vat-su-kien/ngay-2731975-nhanh-chong-tieu-diet-toan-bo-sinh-luc-dich-oa-nang-20250327061756536.htm