Served in Vietnam
More than 2.7 million Americans served in Vietnam, carrying out combat, medical, aviation, logistics, intelligence, communications, and support missions.
The message that matters
One day. One overdue welcome.
Those who served answered their country’s call. They did their duty with courage and returned to a nation deeply divided over the war. Too many were met with silence, hostility, or neglect.
National Vietnam War Veterans Day separates the warrior from the war. It asks every American to recognize honorable service, remember sacrifice, care for those still carrying the effects of that service, and say clearly:
To every Vietnam Veteran—welcome home, and thank you.
Why March 29
From departure to national recognition
The date connects the final departure of U.S. combat forces with a lasting commitment to honor everyone who served.
- 1973
A chapter closes
On March 29, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam was disestablished and the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam. The last acknowledged prisoners of war were released on or around the same date.
- 2012
A national proclamation
President Barack Obama proclaimed March 29, 2012, Vietnam Veterans Day and called on Americans to honor those who served and give them the respectful welcome they had earned.
- 2017
Recognition becomes law
The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act made March 29 an annual national observance and added the date to the occasions when Americans are especially encouraged to display the U.S. flag.
Fly the flag on March 29.
Public Law 115-15 amended the U.S. Flag Code to encourage display of the flag on National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
Read the official Flag Code entryWho we honor
Service in every role
The national commemoration recognizes everyone who served on active duty from November 1, 1955, through May 15, 1975—whether in Vietnam, elsewhere in Southeast Asia, or at another duty station.
Names on The Wall
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial records Americans who gave their lives or remain missing, preserving each name in the nation’s memory.
Women served
More than 265,000 women served in the U.S. military during the Vietnam era, including about 11,000 who served in Vietnam—most as nurses.
Figures are rounded where indicated and provided for historical context. See the official sources below.
Honor and remembrance
Their legacy remains with us
National Vietnam War Veterans Day honors those who returned, those who did not, those still unaccounted for, and those who later died from conditions connected to their service.
01
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The Wall preserves 58,318 names in chronological order of loss, linking the living with those remembered in its reflective stone.
Visit the NPS memorial guide → 02Women’s service
The Vietnam Women’s Memorial honors the essential and long-overlooked service of women in military medicine, evacuation, leadership, and support.
Explore the Women’s Memorial → 03In Memory
The In Memory plaque honors veterans who served in Vietnam and later died from Agent Orange exposure, PTSD, cancers, and other service-related causes.
Learn about the In Memory tribute →Honor through action
Four ways to observe March 29
Recognition does not need to be elaborate. A sincere gesture can carry the welcome and gratitude that should have been offered decades ago.
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Display the U.S. flag
Fly it respectfully at your home, business, school, or community organization.
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Say "Welcome home”
Thank a Vietnam Veteran directly and recognize the service behind those words.
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Listen and preserve
Invite a Veteran to share only what they wish, and help preserve their story for future generations.
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Connect Veterans to support
Share trustworthy information about benefits, health care, counseling, and exposure-related assistance.
Service earned. Support available.
Resources for Vietnam Veterans and families
Long-term health conditions, toxic exposures, grief, and readjustment concerns can surface years after service. These official and local resources can help.
Official references
Learn more
These government sources provide the law, history, memorial information, and current Veteran support guidance used for this page.
Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 GovInfo · Public Law 115-15 2012 Presidential Proclamation Archived White House · March 29, 2012 National Vietnam War Veterans Day fact sheet U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration Vietnam Veterans Memorial National Park Service Agent Orange exposure and disability compensation U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
