The Fall of Saigon (in Vietnamese: Sự kiện 30 tháng 4 - April 30 Incient; Giải phóng miền Nam - The Liberation of the South by supporters of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam; Ngày mất nước - The Day of losing the nation by supporters of the former Republic of Vietnam) was the capture of Saigon, the capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), on 30 April 1975. The event marked the end of the Vietnam War and the start of a transition period leading to the formal reunification of Vietnam under Communist rule.