Getting Out of Saigon

How a 27-Year-Old Banker Saved 113 Vietnamese Civilians

By: Ralph White

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

A “captivating” (The Washington Post) true story of “courage, resolve, and determination” (Christian Science Monitor), author Ralph White’s successful effort to save nearly the entire staff of the Saigon branch of Chase Manhattan bank and their families before the city fell to the North Vietnamese Army.

In April 1975, Ralph White was asked by his boss to transfer from the Bangkok branch of the Chase Manhattan Bank to the Saigon Branch. He was tasked with closing the branch if and when it appeared that Saigon would fall to the North Vietnamese army and ensure the safety of the senior Vietnamese employees.

But when he arrived, he realized the situation in Saigon was far more perilous than he had imagined. The senior staff members there urged him to evacuate the entire staff of the branch and their families, which was far more than he was authorized to do. Quickly he realized that no one would be safe when the city fell, and it was no longer a question of whether to evacuate but how.

Getting Out of Saigon is an “edge-of-your-seat” (Oprah Daily) story of a city on the eve of destruction and the colorful characters who respond differently to impending doom. It’s a remarkable account of one man’s quest to save innocent lives not because he was ordered but because it was the right thing to do.

©2022 Ralph White. All rights reserved. (P)2023 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

snapshot of a time in Vietnam

Description of real people in a difficult situation and how they managed to overcome.

getting out of Saigon

thus book explains so much about what happened during the fall of Saigon . not only did America but all of our allies let the Vietnamese people down.

Compelling. True. A human angle of the fall

I had a front row seat at the end of the evac as a young 18-year-old Marine standing offshore on Navy vessels. I have always had a soft spot for the Viet people, Especially the Montagyard. This story presents a whole new side of the evac and the refugees, that I had never imagined.
Ralph White is a HERO. Why have we never heard his name before?

Brilliant.

A brilliant listen and perfectly read. Filled in the missing part in my memory of that time.

This is a real account of a true hero.

Interesting & factual telling of the fall of Saigon and the lengths the author went to get is employees out.

A humble and heroic man and his account

As a child and army brat of the 60’s and 70’s I was personally impacted by the war and the unrest at home. I appreciate the insight into the last days in South Vietnam. The memoir felt like an accurate and transparent account of a terrible time. Much gratitude to Ralph and the many heroes in Vietnam. I wish my dad were alive to read this book so we could talk about it.

excellent listen

excellent story enhanced by superb narration. As a young adult I worked along side many refugees from Vietnam and Laos. This book helped paint a picture of what some endured to get out.

what a fantastic story

The fall of Saigon was a traumatic event. I still recall photos of people hanging from helicopter skids in their desperate attempt to escape what was coming.
This book is very informative as to what was happening during those fateful days. I highly recommend it.

Amazing Story

I enjoyed every part of this book. it shows the resilience of an individual who is driven to accomplish the mission assigned to him. His creativity in overcoming the barriers he confronted led to his success. Very few people would have accomplished this mission. As a Vietnam Veteran who spent some time in and around Saigon, his descriptions of Saigon were very accurate.

Great story

Great combination of history, adventure, and compelling and colorful storytelling. Ralph White took his assignment seriously.