Last U.S. Combat Troops Left Vietnam in 1973

The withdrawal marked the official end of America's direct role in the Vietnam War.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 11:49am

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On March 29, 1973, the last U.S. combat troops departed South Vietnam, two months after the signing of a peace deal that officially ended America's direct involvement in the Vietnam War. While many American prisoners of war were released, thousands of U.S. civilian workers remained behind to support the South Vietnamese government.

Why it matters

The withdrawal of U.S. combat troops in 1973 marked a major milestone in the Vietnam War, which had lasted nearly a decade and cost over 58,000 American lives. It signified the end of America's direct military role in the conflict, though the war would continue for two more years before the fall of Saigon.

The details

The last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam on March 29, 1973, two months after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords that established a ceasefire and allowed for the withdrawal of American forces. While many American prisoners of war were released as part of the agreement, thousands of U.S. civilian workers remained behind to provide support and assistance to the South Vietnamese government.

  • The Paris Peace Accords were signed on January 27, 1973.
  • The last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam on March 29, 1973.

The players

United States

The U.S. government and military were directly involved in the Vietnam War for nearly a decade, providing troops, funding, and support to the South Vietnamese government.

South Vietnam

The U.S. allied with the South Vietnamese government during the war, providing military and economic assistance in an effort to prevent the country from falling to communist North Vietnam.

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The takeaway

The withdrawal of U.S. combat troops in 1973 marked the official end of America's direct military involvement in the Vietnam War, though the conflict would continue for two more years before the fall of Saigon. The war had lasted nearly a decade and cost over 58,000 American lives, making it one of the most significant and divisive conflicts in U.S. history.