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Surviving the fall of Saigon

A Vietnamese veteran remembers the fall of south Vietnam, the 1990s electric car, up close with North Korea's Kim Il Sung and the businessman who tried to defy the Mafia.

When South Vietnam fell in 1975, most could not escape. In the last days, the US airlifted its remaining personnel and some high ranking Vietnamese officials - but millions were left behind to await their fate. Hear the account of one South Vietnamese veteran who remained in Saigon as North Vietnamese forces took the city. Also on the programme: the 1990s electric car that was taken out of production, we go up close with North Korea's Kim Il Sung, the Gdansk shipyard strike in Poland, and the Sicilian businessman who tried to defy the Mafia.

Photo: A South Vietnamese soldier helps his wounded friend during fighting with communist forces in Saigon, 28th April 1975 (Bettmann/Getty Images)

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50 minutes

Last on

Mon 6 Sep 2021 23:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 4 Sep 2021 13:06GMT
  • Mon 6 Sep 2021 23:06GMT

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