May 27, 2026 • 27 mins
As Saigon collapses and the last helicopters lift off, Joseph risks everything to save his grand-daughter, Trinh. In a city on the edge, chaos erupts — and a family’s story reaches its final reckoning.
*
SAIGON is a production of Thoroughbred Studios, Goldhawk Productions and iHeart Podcasts starring Kelly Marie Tran & Rob Benedict
Based on the best-selling novel Saigon by Anthony Grey
Created for audio by: Greg Haddrick & Jeremy Fox
Written by: Greg Haddrick
Series Producer: Emma Hearn
Original music by: Sacha Puttnam
Directed by: John Scott Dryden
Cast:
Trinh (Narrator) - Kelly Marie Tran
Joseph Sherman - Rob Benedict
Lan - Léna Laprés
Kim - Lam Vissay
Paul Devraux - Philip Arditti
Jacques Devraux - Anton Lesser
Monsieur Hieu - Aaron Teoh
Madame Hieu - Tuyen Do
Tuyet - Karen Barredo
Child Tuyet - Vy Nguyen
Naomi - Kirsty Bushell
Gary Sherman - Christopher Ragland
Michael Tench - Ian Porter
Ho Chi Mien - Kwong Loke
Todd - Richard Southgate
Henderson - Kerry Shale
Phillipe - Philip Desmeules
French Pilot - Walles Hamonde
Supporting Cast:
Ho Quang Man, Si Rawlinson, Sotty Pong Dang, Antoine Herbez, Tony-Yen Huynh, Minh Quoc, Anthony Hoang, Pham Hoang Mien, Dinh Lan Anh, Phan A Dong & Doan Bao Thien Phuc
Production:
Script Consultants: Lucy Grey & Clarrisa Grey
Script Editor: Mike Walker
Script Supervision: Flynn Hallman
Editing & Sound Design: Eloise Whitmore
Additional Music: Ngo Minh Nghia & Le Thi Bich Trieu
Studio Engineers are: Paul Clark (UK) Vi Tran (Vietnam), Hoa Vu Ca Ca (Vietnam), Juan Martin Del Campo (USA) & Greg Rubin (USA)
Trailers: Jack Soper
Producer in Vietnam: Pham Hoang Mien
Executive Producers: Jeremy Fox, Greg Haddrick, John Scott Dryden, Howard Stringer & Jason English
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
My name is Trim, and this is Saigon, the story
of my family and of the country that shaped us.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
The United States will not stand by and allow any.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Power, however great ape over another time.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Or.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
That's brought all the news.
Speaker 5 (00:32):
And land a bat eighty batle eighty battle.
Speaker 6 (00:39):
That could be no peace without justice, and facn be.
Speaker 7 (00:42):
No justice without peace.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Chapter eight. By the time Joseph and Naomi reached Saigon,
the North Vietnamese Communist army all he had the city surrounded.
Speaker 8 (01:06):
Is this.
Speaker 9 (01:07):
Is this the house?
Speaker 10 (01:09):
Yes?
Speaker 9 (01:11):
I thought you said it was opulent, Well it was
once looks deserted.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Well, let's hope someone's still here. Will you wait?
Speaker 9 (01:26):
Yes, just wait, thanks, he won't be long.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
You Sin Chao.
Speaker 11 (01:37):
I'm looking for the Tran family.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
This is their home Earth, this used to be their
home American.
Speaker 6 (01:43):
Yes, I'm Joseph Sherman. I'm looking for my granddaughter. Her
name is Trin. I wondered if anyone here had any
news of her. Is there anyone here from the Tran
family who I.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Could talk to? No here now? No?
Speaker 3 (02:00):
No?
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Wait, wait wait wait, I have a photo? Yes, photo here,
there you go. See do you know this girl? No here? Yeah, yes,
but I thought someone might know something. No, but wait,
I'm the America. No good tire, no luck. No, I
(02:27):
don't think it's their house anymore. I can't believe what's
happened to it.
Speaker 9 (02:32):
Well, that isn't how you described it.
Speaker 6 (02:34):
Monsieur Hue turn in his grave and he saw it
like this, plaster crumbling and the garden overgrown. This used
to be one of the grandest villas in the district.
Speaker 9 (02:44):
Oh, they're getting closer. You go, yes, go hotel first,
then the palace.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
You mean the presidential palace.
Speaker 9 (02:57):
Yes, the Press of Auburn invited big men swearing in ceremony.
By six pm, he'll be the next president of South Vietnam.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
What's the point that gunfire? That's how close the North
Vietnamese forces are.
Speaker 9 (03:10):
I agree, it's deck chairs on the Titanic, but they
still want to keep up appearances. I just have to
swing by the caravel and pick up Philip Who manu, cameraman?
Speaker 4 (03:21):
What happened to Dar?
Speaker 9 (03:22):
He took a bullet in his arm while he was
embedded with the South viet Army. They flew him out.
It's like crop block British, I'm British, you spy no, no,
(03:43):
no with press. Look look my card foreign press. Naomi Howell,
British movie tone, Joseph Sherman, producer, Okay, thank you. Wow,
(04:03):
it's getting happier. Com Moon is so blow.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
That still sounds a fair way off.
Speaker 10 (04:08):
Not blow everyone fight them no good one second?
Speaker 9 (04:13):
Better you leave, go home after the palace, hotel, caravel,
then palace, then airport. Ten minutes then we'll be back. Okay, okay,
(04:36):
pack what you can, Joseph, I'll be I'll be down
in a set.
Speaker 11 (04:38):
Naomi, listen, I can't go tonight. Jer I came back
to find Trin.
Speaker 9 (04:43):
You've tried. No one could tell us which unit she's with.
None of her family is still here. Just just pack up.
Speaker 11 (04:53):
I have to go talk to the concierge.
Speaker 9 (04:55):
I'll be down in a minute. Ah, mister Trunk, good evening, Sherman.
Speaker 11 (05:02):
Good evening.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Are there any messages.
Speaker 9 (05:04):
But your granddaughter?
Speaker 11 (05:06):
Yes, I'm afraid not, Monsieur, nothing at all.
Speaker 9 (05:09):
Sadly, my usual sources cannot help.
Speaker 8 (05:12):
Whoever.
Speaker 10 (05:14):
Guyan Tuk the obaman on the terrace, he was looking
for you a little earlier.
Speaker 6 (05:19):
Why okay, thank you, Mercy.
Speaker 10 (05:27):
Duke Monsieur Joseph my best customer.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
My Tini later and no time.
Speaker 11 (05:35):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
Mister Trunk said you were looking for me?
Speaker 10 (05:38):
Yes, well he told me. You've been trying to find
your granddaughter te Trin.
Speaker 11 (05:43):
Yes, what do you know?
Speaker 10 (05:44):
Please, Well, some of my contacts are a little closer
to our comrades from the north than mister Trunk's contacts.
Speaker 11 (05:51):
So and what did they say?
Speaker 10 (05:57):
They said, first of all, asking questions about now is
a costly business?
Speaker 11 (06:02):
Yes, okay, how about you? Yes?
Speaker 10 (06:10):
Unfortunately things have become very expensive in Saigon.
Speaker 11 (06:15):
All right, all right, Ah, what did they say?
Speaker 10 (06:22):
They said, she is with the infiltration ninth Brigade, who
are advancing from the northwest. But she is in trouble.
Speaker 11 (06:32):
What sort of trouble?
Speaker 10 (06:34):
Well, the North Vietnamese Army were under orders to kill
any villagers who didn't join the Communist Party as they
moved south, but she refused to do that. Normally, refusing
a direct order would mean a death sentence for her too.
But then she's related to trans Van Kim and Comrade
trans Van Kim is one of the heroes of the
(06:54):
communist movement, so she's under arrest until they get to Saigon,
and Kim can decide what to do with her.
Speaker 11 (07:03):
Kim We Kim is still alive.
Speaker 10 (07:06):
That's what they say.
Speaker 11 (07:07):
Where is he?
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Is he still in prison at it? Did he escape?
Speaker 11 (07:11):
Did they get him out?
Speaker 10 (07:13):
It'll take a lot more than four hundred dollars to
find trans Van Kim, mister Sherman, of course.
Speaker 11 (07:21):
Well you've been very helpful. Thank you, Tuck. I hope
you'll be okay when Saigon.
Speaker 10 (07:25):
Falls luckily comunist. Enjoy a drink too, mister Sherman.
Speaker 11 (07:29):
Yeah, I'm coming.
Speaker 10 (07:30):
Someone will have to keep running the bar.
Speaker 6 (07:32):
Well, make sure it's you, my friend. You make the
best martinis in town.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Hi.
Speaker 9 (07:39):
Are you ready? This is Philip Hi Hi?
Speaker 11 (07:42):
Yeah, Naomi, Nomi.
Speaker 6 (07:45):
I just heard about trind She's been arrested what she
wouldn't follow orders, So they're going to hand her over
to Transvent Kim Ho Chi Minh's former deputy.
Speaker 11 (07:57):
Her fate is in his hands.
Speaker 9 (08:00):
Okay, okay, So where's Tranvan Kim?
Speaker 11 (08:02):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
I actually saw him. Yeah, back in sixty eight.
Speaker 6 (08:05):
He'd been captured by the American army, but they left
two years ago.
Speaker 9 (08:09):
Well, they probably gave him to the South Vietnamese Army
and all their top brass are going to be at
the palace. Oh, come on, come on, are you getting this, Philip.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Even with the South Vietnamese government on the brink of collapse,
a new president was being sworn in as though it
was still a proud democracy.
Speaker 8 (08:43):
In an acceptance speech of delusional Grandeur, General Min is
promising that as president he will be able to force
a negotiated ceasefire with an enemy who has in fact
already overtaken the entire country and is advancing through the
outskirts of Saigon block by block. Even as we speak,
the French and American diplomatic missions are about to pull out,
(09:05):
and the fate of the South Vietnamese people is in
the balance. Naomi Howell movie turn news.
Speaker 11 (09:14):
Cut, Well, perfect, let's pack up.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
How long should we give him?
Speaker 9 (09:21):
Do you think, big men? Six at most.
Speaker 10 (09:26):
Six months?
Speaker 9 (09:28):
No days, six days, Joseph, how'd you go?
Speaker 11 (09:33):
Well?
Speaker 6 (09:34):
I spoke to the chief of staff, but they've got
no idea, none at all.
Speaker 11 (09:37):
Where's Tran Van Kim?
Speaker 6 (09:39):
I asked, and he just shrugged and said they've completely
lost track of him. So he might have escaped, he
might have been freed, or he could to be locked
up somewhere. No one knows, so all we can do
is try the main garrison. Now what, No, we don't
have to the command barracks. Maybe someone down the line
knows more than the generals.
Speaker 9 (09:57):
If we knew where to go, that would be one thing.
But we can't just wander around and look. And I've
got to get Philip out. I don't want to get
another cameraman shot.
Speaker 10 (10:06):
Look.
Speaker 9 (10:08):
I gotta tell you what. Let's go to the airport first,
get Flip onto a plane with all the footage, and
then we'll we'll figure out what to do.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Minutes later, they were on their way to the airport,
but they'd barely driven a few miles when things started
to go wrong.
Speaker 9 (10:31):
The brows block.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
It's like they're checking every car.
Speaker 9 (10:37):
Is there any other way there? No press, foreign journalists.
We're going to the airport. An everyone go back. We
have to get to the airport. No more black shots. Close, Finny,
no plane.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
White hose?
Speaker 9 (10:58):
Alight, I don't draw.
Speaker 8 (11:02):
Where go?
Speaker 9 (11:04):
I don't know where? Where can we go to the hotel?
Speaker 12 (11:09):
No?
Speaker 5 (11:09):
Wait?
Speaker 6 (11:09):
Turn on the radio, Yes, find radio Vietnam.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
That was it? Did you hear that they're playing White Christmas.
Speaker 9 (11:23):
White's Christmas boy, it's the US Embassy's.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
It means an evacuation center. Way.
Speaker 6 (11:28):
Hey, we've got to get to the American embassy.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
How much further?
Speaker 9 (11:40):
God?
Speaker 6 (11:40):
What?
Speaker 9 (11:42):
Who are?
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Who is?
Speaker 9 (11:43):
People?
Speaker 13 (11:46):
I stopped you?
Speaker 9 (11:47):
No, no, don't. We'll give you ten thousand doll if
you get us to the embassy.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Look everything block I have, you'll walk legle home.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
No, wait, Naomi, it's hopeless.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
Leave our stuff in the car. Get to the embassy.
Speaker 9 (12:02):
Okay, Philip, Yes, got the footage, of course. Okay, come
on and bring the camera.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Come on, gotta hurry, come on.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
It took them another hour to get to the gates
of the embassy on foot. It seems like all of
Saigon was on the streets, desperate to get out before
the city fell to the advancing Communist forces.
Speaker 14 (12:27):
Said stay, sergeant, sergeant, tell you the press. Joseph Sherman
and Naomi Howe rinsed media. A cameraman the lad Yes, yes, from.
Speaker 11 (12:41):
The Okay, inside, you're presuering shuttle flights to an offshore
carrier lines over there.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Yeah, got it, thank you. I'm going to get these
on the field.
Speaker 9 (12:52):
I'll joge camera, Josie, where you going?
Speaker 4 (12:55):
Go ahead? With your peace. I'll be back.
Speaker 6 (12:57):
I need to find someone who Mike Cia guy, he'll
definitely be here.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
Everything's gotta go, like everything everything said to k Files
you got it?
Speaker 6 (13:12):
Got it?
Speaker 4 (13:12):
Mike? Is this what sure?
Speaker 15 (13:16):
Joseph Sherman, Good lord?
Speaker 4 (13:18):
When did you get back a few days ago? What
the hell for my granddaughter? She asked me to come
get her and I don't know where she is.
Speaker 15 (13:26):
Well you won't find her. Now, get back out there
and get on one of the choppers.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
She may be with Kim wherever he is. Do you
know where Kim is? Kim tran fan Ki, Yes.
Speaker 11 (13:38):
Yes, the man in the White Room.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
You asked me to talk to him, remember, yeah, I remember?
Where is he?
Speaker 15 (13:44):
I don't know. We handed him over to the administration
when the army pulled out two years ago. They let
him go, is what I heard?
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Let him go? Yeah?
Speaker 15 (13:53):
His guards were either bought off or they've been double
agents all along, who knows. Anyway, they just unlocked the
door and he walked.
Speaker 11 (14:00):
Out and went where.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
I don't know.
Speaker 15 (14:02):
Bullshit, I don't. Actually, there's been a bit going on.
In case you haven't realized.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
Your CIA, Mike. You get reports from all over the place.
Speaker 15 (14:10):
I can't read them all.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Well, do you file them?
Speaker 15 (14:13):
The files are being shredded.
Speaker 7 (14:14):
That's what we're doing.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
Now, what's trans ven Kim filed under t for tren.
Speaker 15 (14:20):
Okay, hang on, given ten years of my life to
this shithole.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
It's all up in smoke.
Speaker 10 (14:27):
I'm a mess.
Speaker 11 (14:29):
I know, Mike, all.
Speaker 15 (14:31):
Right, if you really want to risk your life. It's unsubstantiated.
But there's talk of a safe house just across the
Newport Bridge. He might be using that as a base. Thanks, Mike, Yeah,
good luck, buddy.
Speaker 6 (14:50):
Joseph Naomi, he's at Newport Bridge, I have to that's
where they'll be taking Trend.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
You stay here, Joseph.
Speaker 9 (14:58):
This is insane. You don't know that.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
Hey, I'll see you.
Speaker 6 (15:03):
I'll see you back at the Foreign Correspondence Bar in London.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
Have that Martini waiting?
Speaker 6 (15:09):
Then?
Speaker 4 (15:11):
Can you open the gate? Corporal? Are you sure he
opened the gate? The last chopper flight goes in three hours. Yes,
there'll be no one here after that, I know.
Speaker 10 (15:19):
Okay, everyone excuse me?
Speaker 6 (15:47):
Oh stop, no, no, no weapons. I'm a journalist, you american, American? Yes,
I'm a friend, not uh not army. Yes, yes, yes,
there's someone I need to see a comrade.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
I want to get to Newport Bridge.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
What comrade?
Speaker 6 (16:06):
His name is tran Van Kim, Comrade Kim.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
I need to meet him. It's important that I see him.
I just, I just, I just want to get to
Newport Bridge.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Why that bridge?
Speaker 4 (16:16):
Because that's where, because that's where he'll be. Can I
just keep walking? Why don't follow me? If you want to,
I don't care. Just let me go right listen American.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Joseph didn't know how long he was unconscious for, but
when he awoke, he was blindfolded and his hands were
tied behind his back.
Speaker 7 (16:46):
Way name you American? Come now?
Speaker 4 (16:51):
Now, come.
Speaker 9 (16:55):
Night?
Speaker 2 (17:01):
So American?
Speaker 11 (17:04):
Where am I.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
Now?
Speaker 2 (17:10):
We shoot you?
Speaker 11 (17:12):
No?
Speaker 4 (17:12):
No, no, no, no, don't.
Speaker 11 (17:15):
No.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
How does it feel thinking you could die in the
next few seconds? Him and tie him? Good Joseph, Hello Joseph,
it's been a while.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
I'm so glad to see you, and the feeling is
mutual one of me. In fact, your timing is excellent.
I think you should come with me, please.
Speaker 7 (17:56):
Hob in.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Where are we going through the Presidential Palace?
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Most of our brigades are matching there and now they're
facing almost no resistance. I'd be watching there, but I'm
not as fit as I used to be. Eight years
of captivity will do that to you.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
Where is she king? You must know I am here.
Can you at least tell me she's safe?
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Do you know what I miss most about those youthful
days of being fit, Joseph.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Not my balls, no, or the girls. I missed tennis.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
I loved that game, but I never played again after
be that Frenchman in the Sagon Championship.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
It was a great match, Yes, it was something.
Speaker 6 (19:15):
The one time I met Trim years ago now, I
told her about that game and how wonderfully you play well.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Some days stay with us forever. That was one such day,
and this will be another. You're a reporter, Joseph and
(19:50):
a famous prize winning author. I'm told you should witness this.
It will be in his zoric moment. Trust me.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
Inside, Comrade Kim was greeted by a large gathering of
North Vietnamese Army.
Speaker 9 (20:12):
Commanders dun da but no.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Together they all headed to the main hall where President
big Men was holding his first cabinet meeting, which he
now knew would also be his last.
Speaker 7 (20:32):
Ah Sagan, the revolution has arrived. Welcome, gentlemen, We have
been waiting for you to transfer power into your hands.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
I'm afraid there's no question of you transferring power. General mean, you.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
Cannot give up what you do not have. Your power
is completely dissolved. You can only hand over your unconditional surrender.
The Communist Party of North Vietnam is now the government
of all Vietnam. General Ming, we have prepared a speech
for you to read on national radio.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Yes, of course, arrest them all. What don't lie, heck
Ming to the radio station. Some things really are worth
(21:40):
a lifetime of struggle. I do not, Joseph.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
And as for you, this is for forty years, this
is for our friendship, This is for my sister Lane.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
What do you mean lorgji.
Speaker 7 (21:55):
Han Lo Chifang dong da America?
Speaker 4 (22:00):
What wait?
Speaker 5 (22:00):
What?
Speaker 11 (22:00):
What's what's going on?
Speaker 7 (22:03):
Joe?
Speaker 2 (22:03):
With the comrades.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
They will take you to your granddaughter and get you
to the American embassy in time for the last helicopter.
Speaker 11 (22:11):
Thank you, Kim. I don't know how to think, Joe.
Speaker 8 (22:18):
Now go.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Joseph and don't come back.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
Boy Kin Wing sa I you know. General Yuanan, President
of the Slagon Administration, appeal to the armed forces of
the Republic of Vietnam, lay down their arms, you know,
(22:50):
surrender unconditionally, beautifulces.
Speaker 4 (22:54):
Of the Liberation.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
On the thirtieth of April nineteen seventy five, after decades
of pain and misery, Vietnam was finally free and Joseph
and me were on that last flight out. I finally
reached American territory and my grandfather had returned home. He
died fifteen years later holding my hand.
Speaker 8 (23:37):
Now, wake up, San Francisco.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
It took years for Vietnam to change, but it is
now a peaceful and prosperous country. I returned for the
first time at the age of sixty seven. My children
took me back in their own kids, my grandchildren.
Speaker 13 (24:03):
And this is the Gucci comes like turnal system. Lady
and gentlemen used by the underground become fighters. If they
need to escape, they could jump down here and see sy.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
Look the whole right there.
Speaker 13 (24:17):
It's a way down there, that's over here. Let's move on,
Lady and gentlemen.
Speaker 9 (24:21):
Right here.
Speaker 13 (24:23):
The American had a special cop of men. They got that.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
Okay, Mom, I'm okay. I still feel young, but I
guess I'm not anymore.
Speaker 9 (24:36):
Mom, Okay, just remembering just Remember.
Speaker 12 (25:00):
Your Clothes Captain fiber One Alpa post.
Speaker 10 (25:05):
Copy by by One Alpha All Claire.
Speaker 11 (25:10):
Are you happy, Trin?
Speaker 6 (25:14):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (25:16):
Mecho.
Speaker 12 (25:27):
Saigon is a production of Thoroughbred Studios, gold Hog Productions
and iHeart Podcasts starring Kelly Marie Trann and Rob Benedict.
Based on the best selling novel Cigon by Anthony Gray.
It is created for audio by Greg Hadrick and Jeremy Fox,
written by Greg Hadrick and directed by John Scott Dryden.
Original music is by Sasha Putnam, with additional performances by
(25:51):
Normgnir and Lettipic Cheer. Editing and sound design is by
Elouise Whitmore. The series producer is Emma Herdon. In Saigon,
the narrator Trin is played by Cali Marie Trann, Joseph
Sherman by Rob Benedict, Lan Lenne, La Pray, gim Lam Visay,
(26:12):
Paul Devereux, Philip Arditti, Jacques Devaux, Anton Lesser, missr, Hugh Arranteo,
Madame Hugh Tiundu, Touit, Karon Barreto, Child to Wit v Yuen, Naomi,
Kirsty Bushel, Gary Sherman, Christopher Raglund, Michael tensch Ian Porter
(26:37):
Ho Chi Minh Kuang, Lock Todd, Richard Southgate, Henderson, Kerrie Schale,
Philippe Philip de Mill, and the French pilot by Wallace Hammond.
All other parts performed by Hou Kuonmann, Ci Rawlingson, Sotti,
Pong Dang, Wallace Hammond, Antoine Urbez, Tony Yen, Nuin Mi Guo,
(27:05):
Dan Baudienfuk, Fat Mang Mien, Ein lan Ang Fan A Dung,
and Anthony Huang. The script consultants are Lucy Gray and
Clarissa Gray. The script editor is Mike Walker, with script
supervision by Flynn Holman. The producer in Vietnam is Fat
Mang Mien. The studio engineers are Paul Clark, Vi Chan
(27:29):
Jua Vu Kaka, Juan Martin del Campo, and Greg Rubin.
The trailer's producer is Jack Soper. The executive producers are
Jeremy Fox, Greg Hadrick, John Scott Dryden, Howard Stringer and
Jason English
My name is Trim, and this is Saigon, the story
of my family and of the country that shaped us.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
The United States will not stand by and allow any.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Power, however great ape over another time.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Or.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
That's brought all the news.
Speaker 5 (00:32):
And land a bat eighty batle eighty battle.
Speaker 6 (00:39):
That could be no peace without justice, and facn be.
Speaker 7 (00:42):
No justice without peace.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Chapter eight. By the time Joseph and Naomi reached Saigon,
the North Vietnamese Communist army all he had the city surrounded.
Speaker 8 (01:06):
Is this.
Speaker 9 (01:07):
Is this the house?
Speaker 10 (01:09):
Yes?
Speaker 9 (01:11):
I thought you said it was opulent, Well it was
once looks deserted.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Well, let's hope someone's still here. Will you wait?
Speaker 9 (01:26):
Yes, just wait, thanks, he won't be long.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
You Sin Chao.
Speaker 11 (01:37):
I'm looking for the Tran family.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
This is their home Earth, this used to be their
home American.
Speaker 6 (01:43):
Yes, I'm Joseph Sherman. I'm looking for my granddaughter. Her
name is Trin. I wondered if anyone here had any
news of her. Is there anyone here from the Tran
family who I.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Could talk to? No here now? No?
Speaker 3 (02:00):
No?
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Wait, wait wait wait, I have a photo? Yes, photo here,
there you go. See do you know this girl? No here? Yeah, yes,
but I thought someone might know something. No, but wait,
I'm the America. No good tire, no luck. No, I
(02:27):
don't think it's their house anymore. I can't believe what's
happened to it.
Speaker 9 (02:32):
Well, that isn't how you described it.
Speaker 6 (02:34):
Monsieur Hue turn in his grave and he saw it
like this, plaster crumbling and the garden overgrown. This used
to be one of the grandest villas in the district.
Speaker 9 (02:44):
Oh, they're getting closer. You go, yes, go hotel first,
then the palace.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
You mean the presidential palace.
Speaker 9 (02:57):
Yes, the Press of Auburn invited big men swearing in ceremony.
By six pm, he'll be the next president of South Vietnam.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
What's the point that gunfire? That's how close the North
Vietnamese forces are.
Speaker 9 (03:10):
I agree, it's deck chairs on the Titanic, but they
still want to keep up appearances. I just have to
swing by the caravel and pick up Philip Who manu, cameraman?
Speaker 4 (03:21):
What happened to Dar?
Speaker 9 (03:22):
He took a bullet in his arm while he was
embedded with the South viet Army. They flew him out.
It's like crop block British, I'm British, you spy no, no,
(03:43):
no with press. Look look my card foreign press. Naomi Howell,
British movie tone, Joseph Sherman, producer, Okay, thank you. Wow,
(04:03):
it's getting happier. Com Moon is so blow.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
That still sounds a fair way off.
Speaker 10 (04:08):
Not blow everyone fight them no good one second?
Speaker 9 (04:13):
Better you leave, go home after the palace, hotel, caravel,
then palace, then airport. Ten minutes then we'll be back. Okay, okay,
(04:36):
pack what you can, Joseph, I'll be I'll be down
in a set.
Speaker 11 (04:38):
Naomi, listen, I can't go tonight. Jer I came back
to find Trin.
Speaker 9 (04:43):
You've tried. No one could tell us which unit she's with.
None of her family is still here. Just just pack up.
Speaker 11 (04:53):
I have to go talk to the concierge.
Speaker 9 (04:55):
I'll be down in a minute. Ah, mister Trunk, good evening, Sherman.
Speaker 11 (05:02):
Good evening.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Are there any messages.
Speaker 9 (05:04):
But your granddaughter?
Speaker 11 (05:06):
Yes, I'm afraid not, Monsieur, nothing at all.
Speaker 9 (05:09):
Sadly, my usual sources cannot help.
Speaker 8 (05:12):
Whoever.
Speaker 10 (05:14):
Guyan Tuk the obaman on the terrace, he was looking
for you a little earlier.
Speaker 6 (05:19):
Why okay, thank you, Mercy.
Speaker 10 (05:27):
Duke Monsieur Joseph my best customer.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
My Tini later and no time.
Speaker 11 (05:35):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
Mister Trunk said you were looking for me?
Speaker 10 (05:38):
Yes, well he told me. You've been trying to find
your granddaughter te Trin.
Speaker 11 (05:43):
Yes, what do you know?
Speaker 10 (05:44):
Please, Well, some of my contacts are a little closer
to our comrades from the north than mister Trunk's contacts.
Speaker 11 (05:51):
So and what did they say?
Speaker 10 (05:57):
They said, first of all, asking questions about now is
a costly business?
Speaker 11 (06:02):
Yes, okay, how about you? Yes?
Speaker 10 (06:10):
Unfortunately things have become very expensive in Saigon.
Speaker 11 (06:15):
All right, all right, Ah, what did they say?
Speaker 10 (06:22):
They said, she is with the infiltration ninth Brigade, who
are advancing from the northwest. But she is in trouble.
Speaker 11 (06:32):
What sort of trouble?
Speaker 10 (06:34):
Well, the North Vietnamese Army were under orders to kill
any villagers who didn't join the Communist Party as they
moved south, but she refused to do that. Normally, refusing
a direct order would mean a death sentence for her too.
But then she's related to trans Van Kim and Comrade
trans Van Kim is one of the heroes of the
(06:54):
communist movement, so she's under arrest until they get to Saigon,
and Kim can decide what to do with her.
Speaker 11 (07:03):
Kim We Kim is still alive.
Speaker 10 (07:06):
That's what they say.
Speaker 11 (07:07):
Where is he?
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Is he still in prison at it? Did he escape?
Speaker 11 (07:11):
Did they get him out?
Speaker 10 (07:13):
It'll take a lot more than four hundred dollars to
find trans Van Kim, mister Sherman, of course.
Speaker 11 (07:21):
Well you've been very helpful. Thank you, Tuck. I hope
you'll be okay when Saigon.
Speaker 10 (07:25):
Falls luckily comunist. Enjoy a drink too, mister Sherman.
Speaker 11 (07:29):
Yeah, I'm coming.
Speaker 10 (07:30):
Someone will have to keep running the bar.
Speaker 6 (07:32):
Well, make sure it's you, my friend. You make the
best martinis in town.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Hi.
Speaker 9 (07:39):
Are you ready? This is Philip Hi Hi?
Speaker 11 (07:42):
Yeah, Naomi, Nomi.
Speaker 6 (07:45):
I just heard about trind She's been arrested what she
wouldn't follow orders, So they're going to hand her over
to Transvent Kim Ho Chi Minh's former deputy.
Speaker 11 (07:57):
Her fate is in his hands.
Speaker 9 (08:00):
Okay, okay, So where's Tranvan Kim?
Speaker 11 (08:02):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
I actually saw him. Yeah, back in sixty eight.
Speaker 6 (08:05):
He'd been captured by the American army, but they left
two years ago.
Speaker 9 (08:09):
Well, they probably gave him to the South Vietnamese Army
and all their top brass are going to be at
the palace. Oh, come on, come on, are you getting this, Philip.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Even with the South Vietnamese government on the brink of collapse,
a new president was being sworn in as though it
was still a proud democracy.
Speaker 8 (08:43):
In an acceptance speech of delusional Grandeur, General Min is
promising that as president he will be able to force
a negotiated ceasefire with an enemy who has in fact
already overtaken the entire country and is advancing through the
outskirts of Saigon block by block. Even as we speak,
the French and American diplomatic missions are about to pull out,
(09:05):
and the fate of the South Vietnamese people is in
the balance. Naomi Howell movie turn news.
Speaker 11 (09:14):
Cut, Well, perfect, let's pack up.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
How long should we give him?
Speaker 9 (09:21):
Do you think, big men? Six at most.
Speaker 10 (09:26):
Six months?
Speaker 9 (09:28):
No days, six days, Joseph, how'd you go?
Speaker 11 (09:33):
Well?
Speaker 6 (09:34):
I spoke to the chief of staff, but they've got
no idea, none at all.
Speaker 11 (09:37):
Where's Tran Van Kim?
Speaker 6 (09:39):
I asked, and he just shrugged and said they've completely
lost track of him. So he might have escaped, he
might have been freed, or he could to be locked
up somewhere. No one knows, so all we can do
is try the main garrison. Now what, No, we don't
have to the command barracks. Maybe someone down the line
knows more than the generals.
Speaker 9 (09:57):
If we knew where to go, that would be one thing.
But we can't just wander around and look. And I've
got to get Philip out. I don't want to get
another cameraman shot.
Speaker 10 (10:06):
Look.
Speaker 9 (10:08):
I gotta tell you what. Let's go to the airport first,
get Flip onto a plane with all the footage, and
then we'll we'll figure out what to do.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Minutes later, they were on their way to the airport,
but they'd barely driven a few miles when things started
to go wrong.
Speaker 9 (10:31):
The brows block.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
It's like they're checking every car.
Speaker 9 (10:37):
Is there any other way there? No press, foreign journalists.
We're going to the airport. An everyone go back. We
have to get to the airport. No more black shots. Close, Finny,
no plane.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
White hose?
Speaker 9 (10:58):
Alight, I don't draw.
Speaker 8 (11:02):
Where go?
Speaker 9 (11:04):
I don't know where? Where can we go to the hotel?
Speaker 12 (11:09):
No?
Speaker 5 (11:09):
Wait?
Speaker 6 (11:09):
Turn on the radio, Yes, find radio Vietnam.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
That was it? Did you hear that they're playing White Christmas.
Speaker 9 (11:23):
White's Christmas boy, it's the US Embassy's.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
It means an evacuation center. Way.
Speaker 6 (11:28):
Hey, we've got to get to the American embassy.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
How much further?
Speaker 9 (11:40):
God?
Speaker 6 (11:40):
What?
Speaker 9 (11:42):
Who are?
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Who is?
Speaker 9 (11:43):
People?
Speaker 13 (11:46):
I stopped you?
Speaker 9 (11:47):
No, no, don't. We'll give you ten thousand doll if
you get us to the embassy.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Look everything block I have, you'll walk legle home.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
No, wait, Naomi, it's hopeless.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
Leave our stuff in the car. Get to the embassy.
Speaker 9 (12:02):
Okay, Philip, Yes, got the footage, of course. Okay, come
on and bring the camera.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Come on, gotta hurry, come on.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
It took them another hour to get to the gates
of the embassy on foot. It seems like all of
Saigon was on the streets, desperate to get out before
the city fell to the advancing Communist forces.
Speaker 14 (12:27):
Said stay, sergeant, sergeant, tell you the press. Joseph Sherman
and Naomi Howe rinsed media. A cameraman the lad Yes, yes, from.
Speaker 11 (12:41):
The Okay, inside, you're presuering shuttle flights to an offshore
carrier lines over there.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Yeah, got it, thank you. I'm going to get these
on the field.
Speaker 9 (12:52):
I'll joge camera, Josie, where you going?
Speaker 4 (12:55):
Go ahead? With your peace. I'll be back.
Speaker 6 (12:57):
I need to find someone who Mike Cia guy, he'll
definitely be here.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
Everything's gotta go, like everything everything said to k Files
you got it?
Speaker 6 (13:12):
Got it?
Speaker 4 (13:12):
Mike? Is this what sure?
Speaker 15 (13:16):
Joseph Sherman, Good lord?
Speaker 4 (13:18):
When did you get back a few days ago? What
the hell for my granddaughter? She asked me to come
get her and I don't know where she is.
Speaker 15 (13:26):
Well you won't find her. Now, get back out there
and get on one of the choppers.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
She may be with Kim wherever he is. Do you
know where Kim is? Kim tran fan Ki, Yes.
Speaker 11 (13:38):
Yes, the man in the White Room.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
You asked me to talk to him, remember, yeah, I remember?
Where is he?
Speaker 15 (13:44):
I don't know. We handed him over to the administration
when the army pulled out two years ago. They let
him go, is what I heard?
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Let him go? Yeah?
Speaker 15 (13:53):
His guards were either bought off or they've been double
agents all along, who knows. Anyway, they just unlocked the
door and he walked.
Speaker 11 (14:00):
Out and went where.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
I don't know.
Speaker 15 (14:02):
Bullshit, I don't. Actually, there's been a bit going on.
In case you haven't realized.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
Your CIA, Mike. You get reports from all over the place.
Speaker 15 (14:10):
I can't read them all.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Well, do you file them?
Speaker 15 (14:13):
The files are being shredded.
Speaker 7 (14:14):
That's what we're doing.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
Now, what's trans ven Kim filed under t for tren.
Speaker 15 (14:20):
Okay, hang on, given ten years of my life to
this shithole.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
It's all up in smoke.
Speaker 10 (14:27):
I'm a mess.
Speaker 11 (14:29):
I know, Mike, all.
Speaker 15 (14:31):
Right, if you really want to risk your life. It's unsubstantiated.
But there's talk of a safe house just across the
Newport Bridge. He might be using that as a base. Thanks, Mike, Yeah,
good luck, buddy.
Speaker 6 (14:50):
Joseph Naomi, he's at Newport Bridge, I have to that's
where they'll be taking Trend.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
You stay here, Joseph.
Speaker 9 (14:58):
This is insane. You don't know that.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
Hey, I'll see you.
Speaker 6 (15:03):
I'll see you back at the Foreign Correspondence Bar in London.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
Have that Martini waiting?
Speaker 6 (15:09):
Then?
Speaker 4 (15:11):
Can you open the gate? Corporal? Are you sure he
opened the gate? The last chopper flight goes in three hours. Yes,
there'll be no one here after that, I know.
Speaker 10 (15:19):
Okay, everyone excuse me?
Speaker 6 (15:47):
Oh stop, no, no, no weapons. I'm a journalist, you american, American? Yes,
I'm a friend, not uh not army. Yes, yes, yes,
there's someone I need to see a comrade.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
I want to get to Newport Bridge.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
What comrade?
Speaker 6 (16:06):
His name is tran Van Kim, Comrade Kim.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
I need to meet him. It's important that I see him.
I just, I just, I just want to get to
Newport Bridge.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Why that bridge?
Speaker 4 (16:16):
Because that's where, because that's where he'll be. Can I
just keep walking? Why don't follow me? If you want to,
I don't care. Just let me go right listen American.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Joseph didn't know how long he was unconscious for, but
when he awoke, he was blindfolded and his hands were
tied behind his back.
Speaker 7 (16:46):
Way name you American? Come now?
Speaker 4 (16:51):
Now, come.
Speaker 9 (16:55):
Night?
Speaker 2 (17:01):
So American?
Speaker 11 (17:04):
Where am I.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
Now?
Speaker 2 (17:10):
We shoot you?
Speaker 11 (17:12):
No?
Speaker 4 (17:12):
No, no, no, no, don't.
Speaker 11 (17:15):
No.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
How does it feel thinking you could die in the
next few seconds? Him and tie him? Good Joseph, Hello Joseph,
it's been a while.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
I'm so glad to see you, and the feeling is
mutual one of me. In fact, your timing is excellent.
I think you should come with me, please.
Speaker 7 (17:56):
Hob in.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Where are we going through the Presidential Palace?
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Most of our brigades are matching there and now they're
facing almost no resistance. I'd be watching there, but I'm
not as fit as I used to be. Eight years
of captivity will do that to you.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
Where is she king? You must know I am here.
Can you at least tell me she's safe?
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Do you know what I miss most about those youthful
days of being fit, Joseph.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Not my balls, no, or the girls. I missed tennis.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
I loved that game, but I never played again after
be that Frenchman in the Sagon Championship.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
It was a great match, Yes, it was something.
Speaker 6 (19:15):
The one time I met Trim years ago now, I
told her about that game and how wonderfully you play well.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Some days stay with us forever. That was one such day,
and this will be another. You're a reporter, Joseph and
(19:50):
a famous prize winning author. I'm told you should witness this.
It will be in his zoric moment. Trust me.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
Inside, Comrade Kim was greeted by a large gathering of
North Vietnamese Army.
Speaker 9 (20:12):
Commanders dun da but no.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Together they all headed to the main hall where President
big Men was holding his first cabinet meeting, which he
now knew would also be his last.
Speaker 7 (20:32):
Ah Sagan, the revolution has arrived. Welcome, gentlemen, We have
been waiting for you to transfer power into your hands.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
I'm afraid there's no question of you transferring power. General mean, you.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
Cannot give up what you do not have. Your power
is completely dissolved. You can only hand over your unconditional surrender.
The Communist Party of North Vietnam is now the government
of all Vietnam. General Ming, we have prepared a speech
for you to read on national radio.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Yes, of course, arrest them all. What don't lie, heck
Ming to the radio station. Some things really are worth
(21:40):
a lifetime of struggle. I do not, Joseph.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
And as for you, this is for forty years, this
is for our friendship, This is for my sister Lane.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
What do you mean lorgji.
Speaker 7 (21:55):
Han Lo Chifang dong da America?
Speaker 4 (22:00):
What wait?
Speaker 5 (22:00):
What?
Speaker 11 (22:00):
What's what's going on?
Speaker 7 (22:03):
Joe?
Speaker 2 (22:03):
With the comrades.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
They will take you to your granddaughter and get you
to the American embassy in time for the last helicopter.
Speaker 11 (22:11):
Thank you, Kim. I don't know how to think, Joe.
Speaker 8 (22:18):
Now go.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Joseph and don't come back.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
Boy Kin Wing sa I you know. General Yuanan, President
of the Slagon Administration, appeal to the armed forces of
the Republic of Vietnam, lay down their arms, you know,
(22:50):
surrender unconditionally, beautifulces.
Speaker 4 (22:54):
Of the Liberation.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
On the thirtieth of April nineteen seventy five, after decades
of pain and misery, Vietnam was finally free and Joseph
and me were on that last flight out. I finally
reached American territory and my grandfather had returned home. He
died fifteen years later holding my hand.
Speaker 8 (23:37):
Now, wake up, San Francisco.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
It took years for Vietnam to change, but it is
now a peaceful and prosperous country. I returned for the
first time at the age of sixty seven. My children
took me back in their own kids, my grandchildren.
Speaker 13 (24:03):
And this is the Gucci comes like turnal system. Lady
and gentlemen used by the underground become fighters. If they
need to escape, they could jump down here and see sy.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
Look the whole right there.
Speaker 13 (24:17):
It's a way down there, that's over here. Let's move on,
Lady and gentlemen.
Speaker 9 (24:21):
Right here.
Speaker 13 (24:23):
The American had a special cop of men. They got that.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
Okay, Mom, I'm okay. I still feel young, but I
guess I'm not anymore.
Speaker 9 (24:36):
Mom, Okay, just remembering just Remember.
Speaker 12 (25:00):
Your Clothes Captain fiber One Alpa post.
Speaker 10 (25:05):
Copy by by One Alpha All Claire.
Speaker 11 (25:10):
Are you happy, Trin?
Speaker 6 (25:14):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (25:16):
Mecho.
Speaker 12 (25:27):
Saigon is a production of Thoroughbred Studios, gold Hog Productions
and iHeart Podcasts starring Kelly Marie Trann and Rob Benedict.
Based on the best selling novel Cigon by Anthony Gray.
It is created for audio by Greg Hadrick and Jeremy Fox,
written by Greg Hadrick and directed by John Scott Dryden.
Original music is by Sasha Putnam, with additional performances by
(25:51):
Normgnir and Lettipic Cheer. Editing and sound design is by
Elouise Whitmore. The series producer is Emma Herdon. In Saigon,
the narrator Trin is played by Cali Marie Trann, Joseph
Sherman by Rob Benedict, Lan Lenne, La Pray, gim Lam Visay,
(26:12):
Paul Devereux, Philip Arditti, Jacques Devaux, Anton Lesser, missr, Hugh Arranteo,
Madame Hugh Tiundu, Touit, Karon Barreto, Child to Wit v Yuen, Naomi,
Kirsty Bushel, Gary Sherman, Christopher Raglund, Michael tensch Ian Porter
(26:37):
Ho Chi Minh Kuang, Lock Todd, Richard Southgate, Henderson, Kerrie Schale,
Philippe Philip de Mill, and the French pilot by Wallace Hammond.
All other parts performed by Hou Kuonmann, Ci Rawlingson, Sotti,
Pong Dang, Wallace Hammond, Antoine Urbez, Tony Yen, Nuin Mi Guo,
(27:05):
Dan Baudienfuk, Fat Mang Mien, Ein lan Ang Fan A Dung,
and Anthony Huang. The script consultants are Lucy Gray and
Clarissa Gray. The script editor is Mike Walker, with script
supervision by Flynn Holman. The producer in Vietnam is Fat
Mang Mien. The studio engineers are Paul Clark, Vi Chan
(27:29):
Jua Vu Kaka, Juan Martin del Campo, and Greg Rubin.
The trailer's producer is Jack Soper. The executive producers are
Jeremy Fox, Greg Hadrick, John Scott Dryden, Howard Stringer and
Jason English
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
iHeartRadio 24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com