From the archive: The Last President's Driver

This man, Cu Thach Banh, was the driver for South Vietnam's last President, Duong Van Minh. I met him by chance in 2014 in Minh's old Saigon compound where his former driver still lives. He's seen here holding one of the many old photos he keeps of Minh. Duong Van Minh was the man who handed power to Communist forces on 30 April 1975 - 44 years ago - at what is now the Reunification Palace. He was only in power for 2 days and it was hoped he might be able to negotiate a settlement with approaching Communist forces. He was an advocate for a "third way" accommodation between the warring parties that had been roundly rejected by both the US and Minh's predecessor Nguyen Van Thieu. With Communist tanks rolling through the city, it was too late for an accommodation. He had nothing to negotiate. 30 years of war that had caused untold suffering for Vietnam and millions of deaths, came to an end. Duong Van Minh was also the lead conspirator in the 1963 coup that resulted in the execution of President Ngo Dinh Diem. Minh died in the US in 2001. Mr Banh was witness to those incredible, historic times. For more, check the blog piece below.