Top 9 Classic War Movies to Watch on Southern Liberation Day, April 30th

The Saigon Guerillas, directed by Long Vân, is a four-episode film that portrays the heroic actions of the Saigon guerilla forces during the American War. Amidst the backdrop of bombings and chaos, the film weaves in touching love stories and profound themes, adding emotional depth to the narrative. Released in 1986, this film was a landmark achievement for Vietnamese cinema at the time. It not only broke box office records but also propelled actors like Quang Thái, Thúy An, Thương Tín, Hà Xuyên, Hai Nhất, and Thanh Loan into the limelight. Even after more than three decades, the film remains beloved and relevant to this day.

The film elevated its cast—Thanh Loan (as Ni cô Huyền Trang), Thương Tín (as Sáu Tâm), and Quang Thái (as Tư Chung)—to stardom. After 30 years of theatrical releases, multiple television airings, DVD releases, and online streaming, The Saigon Guerillas continues to draw large audiences, cementing its place as a timeless classic for April 30th in Vietnamese cinema.

Liberating Saigon is a film created to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Southern Liberation and the reunification of Vietnam. The characters in the film are based on real historical figures, such as General Secretary Lê Duẩn (portrayed by NSƯT Hà Văn Trọng), General Võ Nguyên Giáp (played by Khương Đức Thuận), Southern Central Committee Secretary Phạm Hùng (portrayed by NSƯT Hoàng Quân Tạo), and Politburo envoy Lê Đức Thọ (played by Dương Trọng Hiếu), among others.

This Vietnamese film, directed by Long Vân, was produced by the Sài Gòn Giải Phóng film company to mark the historic event of April 30th, 1975. It is based on the work 'Saigon - A Heroic Anthem' by writer Hoàng Hà, with some scenes omitted for brevity. The film, with a production budget of 12.5 billion VND, took an astonishing 13 years to complete. It focuses on the key events leading up to the entry of the Liberation Army into Saigon, vividly depicting the bombings and chaos of the time without the use of special effects. Directed by Long Vân, Liberating Saigon is a powerful and heroic portrayal of Vietnam's monumental victory.

Don't Burn (English title: Don't Burn) is a historical drama film directed and written by Đặng Nhật Minh, released in 2009. Based on the famous diary of female doctor and martyr Đặng Thùy Trâm, the film made a significant impact upon its release. It delves deeply into the emotional and psychological life of Dr. Đặng Thùy Trâm (played by Minh Hương), highlighting her compassion and the spirit of the Vietnamese youth during wartime. The film also showcases the forgiveness and resilience of the Vietnamese people, demonstrating how love can heal the scars of history. Don't Burn is a film that, though simple in its approach, carries a powerful national spirit and profound message.

The film premiered at the 19th Fukuoka International Film Festival in Japan, where it won the Audience Award. It was released in Vietnam in late April 2009 and was later screened at the ASEM International Film Festival in Hanoi in May 2009. Don't Burn won the Golden Lotus Award at the 16th Vietnam Film Festival in 2009 and claimed six prizes at the 2010 Golden Kite Awards, including Best Feature Film, Best Actress (Minh Hương), Best Director (People's Artist Đặng Nhật Minh), Best Cinematographer (People's Artist Phạm Thanh Hà), Best Sound (People's Artist Bành Bắc Hải), and Audience Favorite Film. The film was also selected for submission to the Academy Awards.

The Smell of Burning Grass is a Vietnamese war drama film, set during the intense summer of 1972 and the Battle of Quảng Trị. The film focuses on four students from Hanoi University—Hoàng, Thành, Thăng, and Long—who, following a national call for military enlistment in 1971, undergo rapid training and are sent to fight in the battle at Quảng Trị in 1972. During the fierce fighting, Thành, Thăng, and Long lose their lives, while Hoàng miraculously survives. The film recounts the story from Hoàng's perspective as he revisits the old battlefield many years later.

The Smell of Burning Grass was produced by the Vietnam Feature Film Studio, with a screenplay adapted by poet Hoàng Nhuận Cầm, inspired by the memoir 'Forever Twenty' by martyr Nguyễn Văn Thạc. Filming began in December 2010, and the film was granted special admission to the 17th Vietnam Film Festival in Tuy Hòa, Phú Yên, where it was officially premiered at the opening ceremony and won the Silver Lotus Award. On March 17, 2012, it won four Golden Kite Awards, including Best Feature Film, Best Music (composer Đỗ Hồng Quân), Best Screenplay (Hoàng Nhuận Cầm), and Best Cinematography (People's Artist Phạm Thanh Hà). The film was selected by the Cinema Department to open the April-May 2012 celebration of major national holidays and was later screened during the commemoration of Vietnam's War Invalids and Martyrs Day in July 2012.

While the film faced challenges in recreating the historical context, it was highly praised for its deep humanity, effectively conveying the aspirations, emotions, and sacrifices of the young soldiers during the resistance period.

The Legend Makers (English title: The Legend Makers) is an action-war film directed by Bùi Tuấn Dũng, released in 2013. Set during the Vietnam War in the 1960s, the film tells the story of the construction of a fuel pipeline running from the northern border to the southeastern region of Vietnam, led by General Dinh (played by NSƯT Hoàng Hải), based on the real-life General Đinh Đức Thiện.

The film focuses on the soldiers of Brigade 556 who risk their lives transporting fuel through the treacherous tropical forests littered with landmines, while under constant attack from bombers. The soldiers face countless losses and unexpected deaths as they deliver fuel to the battlefield, paying with the blood and sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Against the backdrop of perilous jungles, the film highlights the unwavering courage and relentless spirit of the soldiers. It impresses viewers with breathtaking natural landscapes and romantic scenes of love, which add emotional depth to the narrative.

The Ten Thousand Day War (Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War) is one of the most notable and early documentaries created to provide a multifaceted view of the Vietnam War. Directed by Michael Maclear, with a script written by Peter Arnett, a journalist for the Associated Press in Vietnam from 1962 to 1975, the film won an award from the National Education Association of the United States and was first broadcast by VTV1 in 2005.

In its twelfth episode, titled 'Surrender,' the film highlights key moments such as the resignation of President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu just days before the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, and the Huế-Da Nang Campaign, one of the major operations during the Spring Offensive of 1975 led by the Vietnam People's Army. The documentary also includes interviews with Nguyễn Văn Thiệu and Nguyễn Cao Kỳ, the former Prime Minister of South Vietnam, offering viewers an in-depth perspective on the events surrounding the fall of Saigon on April 30th.

The Rising Wind, directed by Huy Thành, is based on the play of the same name by author Đào Hồng Cẩm. It is the first Vietnamese revolutionary film to depict the Vietnam War, focusing on the Southern region. During the time of the American invasion of Vietnam, Phương's family is torn apart—her sister, Vân, joins the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, while Phương serves as a lieutenant in the South Vietnamese army. After several years apart, the two sisters reunite, but joy quickly turns to conflict. Upon learning that Phương is a lieutenant in the South Vietnamese army, Vân forces her to leave. This sparks a tragic chain of events.

Vân and her son are captured and sent to a concentration camp, where she becomes involved in resistance activities. After being imprisoned, Vân’s son is killed by the enemy, and she is left devastated. Mistaken for being mentally unstable, Vân's condition allows her to continue her resistance work inside the camp. Upon release, she uses reason, action, and emotional appeal to convince her brother, Phương, and several other South Vietnamese soldiers to join the Liberation Front, fighting for the cause by destroying strategic hamlets and eliminating American advisers. The film ends with Lieutenant Phương kneeling by a river, washing her face in the sunlight, while the people cheer and her sister smiles warmly at her.

The film, which has deeply moved audiences across generations, is considered an inspiring and emotional portrayal of the spirit of national liberation, which culminated in the 1975 victory. The Rising Wind won the Golden Lotus Award for Best Feature Film at the first Vietnamese Film Festival.

The Wild Fields is a Vietnamese film directed by Nguyễn Hồng Sến that explores the Vietnam War. Set in the Đồng Tháp Mười region during the war, the story follows a family—Ba Đô, his wife, and their young child—living in a small hut amidst the waters. Their task is to maintain a communication line for the Vietnamese Liberation forces. The film emphasizes their everyday life, including tasks like farming, raising their child, and hunting snakes and fish. However, these peaceful moments are interrupted by the constant threat of American Huey helicopters patrolling the area in search of guerilla forces. When Ba Đô is struck by enemy fire, his wife seeks revenge by shooting down a helicopter.

The film ends with an image of a photograph of the American pilot's family, found after the pilot's death. This controversial scene, which was initially considered for removal, highlights a crucial point: American soldiers, too, are human, with families waiting for them back home. They are not so different from Ba Đô. Director Hồng Sến used cinematic contrasts to convey deep humanistic values.

With the skilled direction of Hồng Sến, a captivating script by Nguyễn Quang Sáng, and a memorable performance by actress Thúy An, The Wild Fields is a true artistic masterpiece.

The Turned Card is a black-and-white, eight-episode film about espionage, produced by the Ho Chi Minh City Film Enterprise (now the Saigon Giai Phong Film Studio) between 1982 and 1987. The film dramatizes the real-life activities of the Vietnamese Labour Party’s spies during the resistance against the United States, with a particular focus on intelligence officer Phạm Ngọc Thảo. Written by Nguyễn Trương Thiên Lý (Trần Bạch Đằng) and directed by Khôi Nguyên (Lê Hoàng Hoa), the film features performances by Nguyễn Chánh Tín (as Nguyễn Thành Luân), singer Thanh Lan, and Thúy An (as Thùy Dung, a female spy and the wife of Nguyễn Thành Luân).

Set in the tumultuous backdrop of Saigon during the war, with a tightly woven plot and stellar performances, The Turned Card is hailed as a landmark in Vietnamese cinema. The film won the Special Award at the 6th Vietnam Film Festival in 1983, the Silver Lotus Award at the 7th Vietnam Film Festival in 1985, and the Best Actor award for Nguyễn Chánh Tín’s portrayal of Colonel Nguyễn Thành Luân at the 8th Vietnam Film Festival in 1985. His performance remains one of the defining moments of his career.