The Best Documentaries About Vietnam

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Documentary films about the Vietnam War

There have been many documentaries about the Vietnam War and the plethora of controversies that surrounded it. What are the best documentaries about the Vietnam War? This list, ranked by the community, has the best films that will educate you about the era and the war.
 
The films featured on this list cover a variety of topics about the Vietnam War, ranging from the history behind what brought the United States into the war, controversies and conspiracy theories involving the United States government’s role, behind the scenes details about victims who were affected by the devastations of the war, and even the impact that the Vietnam War still has to this day on all countries involved. No matter what aspect of the Vietnam War you're interested in, there is sure to be a documentary on this list for you!
 
This list features the best Vietnam War documentaries, including: The Anderson Platoon, The Uncounted Enemy, Going Upriver and Far From Vietnam. Vote for your favorite docs today and add any great films about the Vietnam War that aren't included -- then, be sure to check out our list of the best Vietnam War films.

Photo: Metaweb / GNU Free Documentation License
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  • Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
    1
    Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Sean Penn
    168 votes
    • Released: 1987
    • Directed by: Bill Couturié
    During the Vietnam War, numerous U.S. soldiers wrote to friends and loved ones who were waiting back home for their safe return. This documentary takes a deeper look into the letters that were sent ...more
  • Vietnam: the Ten Thousand Day War
    2

    Vietnam: the Ten Thousand Day War

    219 votes
  • The World of Charlie Company
    3

    The World of Charlie Company

    188 votes
    The World of Charlie Company is a one-hour documentary produced by CBS News in 1970 that shows what fighting North Vietnamese Army regulars in the jungles of Southeast Asia was like for a company of ...more
  • 17th Parallel: Vietnam in War
    4

    17th Parallel: Vietnam in War

    85 votes
    Civilians are the focus in this Vietnam War documentary that examines the lives and showcases the thoughts of the North Vietnamese people. Displaying a notable amount of anti-American sentiment -- ...more
  • A quietly austere documentary from Peter Schoendorffer, a veteran of the First Indochina War between France and Vietnam, returns the filmmaker to Vietnam in 1966, where he and a cameraman are ...more
  • Vietnam: The Last Battle
    6

    Vietnam: The Last Battle

    John Pilger
    100 votes
    • Released: 1995
    • Directed by: David Munro
    Vietnam: The Last Battle is a 1995 Carlton Television documentary, written and presented by John Pilger, and directed by David Munro, which returns to Vietnam nearly twenty years after the Vietnam ...more