The American Retreat from Vietnam refers to the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Vietnam during the Vietnam War, which lasted from the late 1950s until 1975. The process began in earnest after the Paris Peace Accords were signed in January 1973, aiming to establish peace and allow for the withdrawal of American troops. By March 1973, the last U.S. combat soldiers left Vietnam. Following the withdrawal, the conflict continued between the North Vietnamese and South Vietnamese forces. In April 1975, Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, fell to the North Vietnamese, marking the end of the war and the reunification of Vietnam.