Visiting Vietnam

This is a short account of a recent trip by an American Doctoral student who is studying the conflict. Would have liked more pics, but maybe next trip.

"Much like the United States, Vietnam remembers the cost of war. In all the major cities, streets bear the names of war heroes (particularly Nguyen). Statues depicting heroic soldiers cover many of Vietnam’s city parks. Throughout Vietnam, people can find museums, temples, and cemeteries dedicated to North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) dead. Memorials and cemeteries sit alongside the highways of Vietnam. Much of these sites reflect Vietnam’s strong Buddhist influences. In this post, the selected sites show the rather wide range of memorialization found across Vietnam."
Visiting Vietnam: War Remembrance - Thompson Werk

 

Gordon, thanks for spreading the word about my Vietnam trip. I have uploaded many photos from my time in Vietnam at Photos. If you liked that particular article, I wrote two other pieces on Vietnam which can also be found on my website.

Cheers,
Rob

 

Thanks Rob, my pleasure. Some great photos in the other link.
Feel free to post your pieces in here, or summaries of them if that's easier.

 

Sure, here are the summaries of the other two articles.

Visiting Vietnam: War Sites

Visiting Vietnam: War Veterans

 

I've posted these as two separate articles, hope you don't mind.
"For three weeks, between May and June, I toured Vietnam. During my time in country, I visited the cities of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, and Hanoi. I saw the Mekong, Perfume, and Red rivers. I swam in the South China Sea and dove in the beautiful Ha Long Bay. By far the most memorable areas seen during my trip where the battle sites of Cu Chi, the Iron Triangle, Hue, and Khe Sanh. While this post addresses my visiting various war related sites, future installments will discuss other facets of my trip. So without further ado here is the first post about my experiences in Vietnam.
The trip began with a long flight from New Orleans to Atlanta to Seoul to Ho Chi Minh City. Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City was everything I anticipated. As the Korean Air jet landed at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, I saw the old U.S. Air Force hangers. Odds are those hangers are full of MiGs and not Thunderchiefs. Later on during the trip I saw similar hangers full of Russian fighter jets at Da Nang and Hanoi. As anticipated, sweating commenced as soon as I existed the airport."
Visiting Vietnam: War Sites - Thompson Werk

 

"In the second installment in my Visiting Vietnam series, this post focuses on the experiences of veterans. One of the most rewarding aspects of studying the Vietnam War is speaking with veterans. Having met many American veterans, I eagerly awaited meeting their Vietnamese counterparts. Once in Saigon, I did not have long to wait. Within minutes of leaving Tan Son Nhat International Airport, our local guide, Tony, greeted me. Little did I know that within a few hours, Tony would teach me more about Vietnam and the America War than I had ever imagined."
Visiting Vietnam: War Veterans - Thompson Werk

 

That is fine, I don't mind at all. I just hope people get something out of those articles, ha.

 

Oh, yes indeed. Thank you for posting this, Rob.
I spent a year in Vietnam with the US Army. Our area of operations (AO) was from KheSanh along the DMZ to the South China Sea. I was eager to view your photos, but when I clicked on the link my old outdated laptop was unable to download them. But your articles came through no problem.
I was touched by your description of the meeting between the veterans. I too bear my former enemies no ill will, they were doing their jobs and trying to stay alive, just as we were. I would have no problem calling them "friend."
Life is much easier with an absense of hate.
Thanks again Rob.

 

Stop it...I aint got the time...Put it in a folder and remind me in a few weeks. This fourm should be temporarily suspended during March to May. Baaaa

 

Hello,

When were you in Vietnam? Visiting Khe Sanh was an almost surreal experience and a highlight of my trip. I apologize for the photo issue, especially since there are a number of good photos of war related sites. That said, the photo section is now working and all the pictures are viewable. Aside from Pete's ambush site and Khe Sanh, the meeting of the veterans is one of my fondest memories of my Vietnam trip. So I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed that story.

 

I was in Vietnam Oct 1969 to Sept 1970 with the 75th Support Batallion, 1st Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized). The Brigade was OPCONed to the Marines and came under Command and Control of the 3rd Marine Division. I spent my time on two base camps, Camp Red Devil, and Quang Tri Combat Base. This was astride Highway One half way between Quang Tri City and Dong Ha, the Vietnamese call this area Ai Tu.
I have looked at the area using Google Earth and it appears our old airstrip near the river is still there.
I belong to The Society Of The Fifth Infantry Division, our website may interest you - lots of photos and some maps, after action reports, etc. Society of the Fifth Division
Click on the Vietnam tab at the bottom of the home page.

 

I imagine you were in country at a pretty tough time considering the media fallout from Tet.

With a good guide, most of those camps are locatable and sometimes accessible. Having been to Khe Sanh recently, I can safely say the airstrip is still there. Actually, the caretakers are in the process of restoring the airstrip to its wartime appearance. The museum at Khe Sanh, however, presents a North Vietnamese view of the war. I have some good photos of Khe Sanh online at www.thompsonwerk.com/photos.

I look forward to perusing your Division's site.