The legendary pilot

NGUYỄN THÀNH TRUNG
The legendary pilot

​It was the morning of April 8th, 1975.

The sky of Saigon was ___ and clear.

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The sky of Saigon was calm and clear.

From the airport, a group of fighter jets ___ as usual.

Fill in the Blanks

Take off (v): Cất cánh

From the airport, a group of fighter jets took off as usual.
as usual: Như thường lệ

No one on the ground ___ anything.

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No one on the ground suspected anything.

It seemed just like a normal training flight of the South Vietnam's army.

It seemed just like a normal training flight of the South Vietnam's army.

Seem (v): Dường như
Flight (n): Chuyến bay
Army (n): Quân đội

North Vietnam - South Vietnam

But suddenly, one jet broke away.

It turned sharply and sped up.

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Speed up (v): Tăng tốc

It was flying ___ to the Independence Palace!

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It was flying alone to the Independence Palace!

Multiple Choice

Theo con, Independence Palace tương ứng với địa điểm nào sau đây?

• Bến Nhà Rồng

• Dinh Độc Lập

• Chợ Bến Thành

• Nhà thờ Đức Bà

That jet was ___ by Nguyễn Thành Trung.

Who was the pilot?
What was he going to do?

Fill in the Blanks

That jet was piloted by Nguyễn Thành Trung.

To everyone around him, he was one of the most skillful South Vietnamese pilots.

But in truth, he was working for the North ___.

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But in truth, he was working for the North secretly.

He was a spy!

On that day, he was carrying out a ___ mission.

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On that day, he was carrying out a historic mission.

He would bomb the Independence Palace - the heart of the South Vietnamese government
– from within.

​It was the morning of April 8th, 1975. The sky above Saigon was calm and clear. From the airport, a group of fighter jets took off as usual. It seemed just like a normal training flight of the South Vietnam's army.

But suddenly, one jet broke away. It turned sharply and sped up. It was flying alone to the Independence Palace!

That jet was piloted by Nguyễn Thành Trung. To everyone around him, he was one of the most skillful South Vietnamese pilots. But in truth, he had been secretly working for the North. He was a spy! On that day, he was carrying out a historic mission: He would bomb the Independence Palace - the heart of the South Vietnamese government – from within.

But Nguyễn Thành Trung was not only a brave pilot — he was also a kind person.

He had four bombs, but he didn’t drop them all ___.

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He had four bombs, but he didn’t drop them all at once.

First, he ___ two bombs outside the palace, where there was no one.

Fill in the Blanks

First, he released two bombs outside the palace, where there was no one.

This was not a mistake — it was a ___ .

Fill in the Blanks

This was not a mistake — it was a choice.

He wanted to warn ___ nearby, to give them time to run and find safety.

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He wanted to warn those nearby, to give them time to run and find safety.

He wanted to warn those nearby, to give them time to run and find safety.

those = people

Only after that, he dropped the the other two bombs directly on the palace.
the other: Khác
directly: Trực tiếp, thẳng

Only after that, he dropped the the other two bombs directly on the palace.


the other >< other

the other: Còn lại
Other: Khác

The ___ was powerful.

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The explosion was powerful.

The ground ___ with dust and fire. Luckily, no lives were lost.

Fill in the Blanks

The ground shook with dust and fire. Luckily, no lives were lost.

The ground shook with dust and fire. Luckily, no lives were lost.
shake (V1) --> shook (V2)

But Nguyễn Thành Trung was not only a brave pilot — he was also a kind person. He had four bombs, but he didn’t drop them all at once. First, he released two bombs outside the palace, where there was no one. This was not a mistake — it was a choice. He wanted to warn those nearby, to give them time to run and find safety.


Only after that, he dropped the other two bombs directly on the palace. The explosions were powerful. The ground shook with dust and fire. Luckily, no lives were lost.

After completing the mission, he turned his jet and flew north, away from everything he had once been part of.

When he landed safely, he was welcomed not just as a pilot — but as a ___.

Fill in the Blanks

When he landed safely, he was welcomed not just as a pilot — but as a hero.

Nguyễn Thành Trung’s story is more than a military activity.

 It is the story of ___ and kindness.

Fill in the Blanks

 It is the story of bravery and kindness.

It is the story of a soldier who flew for a nation’s dream — with both strength and a gentle heart.

​After completing the mission, he turned his jet and flew north, away from everything he had once been part of. When he landed safely, he was welcomed not just as a pilot — but as a hero.

Nguyễn Thành Trung’s story is more than an action from the war. It is the story of bravery and kindness. It is the story of a soldier who flew for a nation’s dream — with both strength and a gentle heart.