The Vietnam war made American culture bolder and more varied
The conflict, which ended 50 years ago, precipitated new styles of music and film

The images of the fall of Saigon, on April 30th 1975, are indelible. A helicopter takes off from the roof of the United States embassy, leaving behind a long line of would-be evacuees. Victorious North Vietnamese soldiers roll into the city in tanks, on their way to sack the American embassy and raise their flag over the presidential palace. Vietnamese civilians rush onto packed boats in terror.
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This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “The times, they did a-change”
Culture
April 26th 2025- The Vietnam war made American culture bolder and more varied
- The NFL has turned the draft into thrilling television
- They sing and dance—but rarely show their faces. Meet VTubers
- An old, leisurely way to watch television drama is back in vogue
- TikTok is changing the perfume business
- Exploring the mysteries of the Louvre

From the April 26th 2025 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the edition
What to watch this weekend
Morality plays, from the corridors of the Vatican to the battlefields of Vietnam

TikTok is changing the perfume business
You too can smell like freshly cut grass or a rich old woman

Exploring the mysteries of the Louvre
A colourful history of the world’s most popular museum
They sing and dance—but rarely show their faces. Meet VTubers
These entertainers, who use digital avatars, are growing in popularity
The NFL has turned the draft into thrilling television
Talented individuals, strategy and time pressure make for great drama
An old, leisurely way to watch television drama is back in vogue
On binge-watching v stinge-watching