The Vietnam War
The epic story of the Vietnam War as it has never-before been told on film.
Déjà Vu (1858-1961)
S1 Ep1 | 1h 25m 21s
After a century of French occupation, Vietnam emerges independent but divided.
Riding the Tiger (1961-1963)
S1 Ep2 | 1h 26m 27s
As a communist insurgency gains strength, JFK wrestles with US involvement in Vietnam.
The River Styx (January 1964-December 1965)
S1 Ep3 | 1h 57m 56s
With South Vietnam near collapse, LBJ bombs the North and sends US troops to the South.
Resolve (January 1966-June 1967)
S1 Ep4 | 1h 57m 25s
US soldiers discover Vietnam is unlike their fathers’ war, as the antiwar movement grows.
This Is What We Do (July 1967-December 1967)
S1 Ep5 | 1h 28m 18s
President Johnson escalates the war while promising the public that victory is in sight.
Things Fall Apart (January 1968-July 1968)
S1 Ep6 | 1h 27m 47s
Shaken by the Tet Offensive, assassinations and unrest, America seems to be coming apart.
The Veneer of Civilization (June 1968-May 1969)
S1 Ep7 | 1h 50m 54s
After chaos roils the Democratic Convention, Nixon, promising peace, wins the presidency.
The History of the World (April 1969-May 1970)
S1 Ep8 | 1h 52m 9s
Nixon withdraws troops but upon sending forces to Cambodia the antiwar movement reignites.
A Disrespectful Loyalty (May 1970-March 1973)
S1 Ep9 | 1h 52m 33s
South Vietnam fights alone as Nixon and Kissinger find a way out for America. POWs return.
The Weight of Memory (March 1973-Onward)
S1 Ep10 | 1h 50m 57s
Saigon falls and the war ends. Americans & Vietnamese from all sides seek reconciliation.
Déjà Vu (Vietnamese Subtitles)
S1 Ep11 | 1h 24m 52s
After a century of French occupation, Vietnam emerges independent but divided.
Riding the Tiger (Vietnamese Subtitles)
S1 Ep12 | 1h 25m 59s
As a communist insurgency gains strength, JFK wrestles with US involvement in Vietnam.
The River Styx (Vietnamese Subtitles)
S1 Ep13 | 1h 57m 28s
With South Vietnam near collapse, LBJ bombs the North and sends US troops to the South.
Resolve (Vietnamese Subtitles)
S1 Ep14 | 1h 56m 57s
US soldiers discover Vietnam is unlike their fathers’ war, as the antiwar movement grows.
This Is What We Do (Vietnamese Subtitles)
S1 Ep15 | 1h 27m 49s
President Johnson escalates the war while promising the public that victory is in sight.
Things Fall Apart (Vietnamese Subtitles)
S1 Ep16 | 1h 27m 19s
Shaken by the Tet Offensive, assassinations and unrest, America seems to be coming apart.
The Veneer of Civilization (Vietnamese Subtitles)
S1 Ep17 | 1h 50m 26s
After chaos roils the Democratic Convention, Nixon, promising peace, wins the presidency.
The History of the World (Vietnamese Subtitles)
S1 Ep18 | 1h 51m 41s
Nixon withdraws troops but upon sending forces to Cambodia the antiwar movement reignites.
A Disrespectful Loyalty (Vietnamese Subtitles)
S1 Ep19 | 1h 52m 4s
South Vietnam fights alone as Nixon and Kissinger find a way out for America. POWs return.
The Weight of Memory (Vietnamese Subtitles)
S1 Ep20 | 1h 50m 27s
Saigon falls and the war ends. Americans & Vietnamese from all sides seek reconciliation.
Déjà Vu (Explicit Language Version)
S1 Ep21 | 1h 25m 51s
After a century of French occupation, Vietnam emerges independent but divided.
Riding the Tiger (Explicit Language Version)
S1 Ep22 | 1h 26m 59s
As a communist insurgency gains strength, JFK wrestles with US involvement in Vietnam.
The River Styx (Explicit Language Version)
S1 Ep23 | 1h 58m 28s
With South Vietnam near collapse, LBJ bombs the North and sends US troops to the South.
Resolve (Explicit Language Version)
S1 Ep24 | 1h 57m 58s
US soldiers discover Vietnam is unlike their fathers’ war, as the antiwar movement grows.
This Is What We Do (Explicit Language Version)
S1 Ep25 | 1h 28m 48s
President Johnson escalates the war while promising the public that victory is in sight.
Things Fall Apart (Explicit Language Version)
S1 Ep26 | 1h 28m 18s
Shaken by the Tet Offensive, assassinations and unrest, America seems to be coming apart.
The Veneer of Civilization (Explicit Language Version)
S1 Ep27 | 1h 51m 26s
After chaos roils the Democratic Convention, Nixon, promising peace, wins the presidency.
The History of the World (Explicit Language Version)
S1 Ep28 | 1h 52m 41s
Nixon withdraws troops but upon sending forces to Cambodia the antiwar movement reignites.
A Disrespectful Loyalty (Explicit Language Version)
S1 Ep29 | 1h 53m 5s
South Vietnam fights alone as Nixon and Kissinger find a way out for America. POWs return.
The Weight of Memory (Explicit Language Version)
S1 Ep30 | 1h 51m 28s
Saigon falls and the war ends. Americans & Vietnamese from all sides seek reconciliation.
A Mother’s Worry | First Look
30s
A mother wonders how she'll be informed if her son is injured in combat.
Combat is an Enormous High | First Look
30s
A soldier describes the enormous high and enormous costs of combat.
Cowards or Heroes? | First Look
30s
Rather than serve in the military during the Vietnam War, some Americans went to Canada.
Everybody’s Special | First Look
30s
A Marine phones his mother when he doesn't think he'll make it out of Vietnam alive.
Expanding the Draft | First Look
30s
With the Vietnam War ramping up, college students begin to worry about the draft.
Profound Sense of Humanity | First Look
30s
A VietCong soldier realizes his American enemy is not unlike his own countrymen.
Social Change Was Coming | First Look
20s
The Vietnam era was marked by protests, not just about war, but also for social change.
The Fear Went Away | First Look
30s
A navy pilot describes being shot down on his first combat mission.
Vietnamese vs. Vietnamese | First Look
30s
A N. Vietnamese soldier laments how the war pitted Vietnamese against each other.
How Am I Doing This? | First Look
30s
A GI talks about his fear of land mines, and the courage it took just to walk in Vietnam.
A Mother’s Worry (Vietnamese Subtitles)
46s
A mother wonders how she'll be informed if her son is injured in combat.
Combat is an Enormous High (Vietnamese Subtitles)
1m 12s
A soldier describes the enormous high and enormous costs of combat.
Everybody’s Special (Vietnamese Subtitles)
1m 2s
A Marine phones his mother when he doesn't think he'll make it out of Vietnam alive.
Fellow Warriors: Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam
20m 46s
John Musgrave is a Marine veteran who counsels active-duty soldiers and veterans.
Declaration of Independence
S1 Ep1 | 1m 15s
In 1945, people gather to hear Ho Chi Minh declare Vietnamese independence.
Ho Chi Minh’s Letter
S1 Ep1 | 1m 24s
In 1919, a young Ho Chi Minh delivers a letter to the American delegation.
Student Protests
S1 Ep2 | 1m 42s
Students across South Vietnam protest the government's treatment of Buddhist monks.
JFK on the Diem Coup
S1 Ep2 | 1m
President Kennedy dictates his rueful account of the 1963 Coup in Saigon.
The Nightlight
S1 Ep2 | 1m 37s
A Marine remembers being afraid when assigned a listening post at night.
Clip: Episode 3 | The 9th Party Plenum
S1 Ep3 | 1m 32s
In Hanoi, two North Vietnamese factions disagree about how best to proceed in the war.
Clip: Episode 3 | Binh Gia
S1 Ep3 | 1m 43s
North Vietnamese forces ambush South Vietnamese Marines responding to a downed helicopter.
Clip: Episode 3 | Early Antiwar Movement
S1 Ep3 | 1m 22s
An antiwar movement begins to grow as Americans learn of the conflict in Vietnam.
Clip: Episode 3 | Ia Drang
S1 Ep3 | 1m 9s
Soldiers discuss the psychological shock of witnessing death on the battlefield.
Clip: Episode 3 | Vietnam’s Beauty
S1 Ep3 | 1m 22s
A Marine discusses his surprise in discovering the beauty of the Vietnamese landscape.
Clip: Episode 3 | Reporters in Vietnam
S1 Ep3 | 1m 35s
A journalist discovers that it is not always possible to remain neutral reporting on war.
Clip: Episode 3 | What is Vietnam Worth to Me?
S1 Ep3 | 1m 5s
In a taped conversation, President Johnson expresses concern about the war in Vietnam.
New York City March, 1967
S1 Ep4 | 1m 24s
An antiwar activist recalls a large protest march in New York City.
Humanity
S1 Ep4 | 55s
A Viet Cong soldier realizes his American enemy is not unlike his own countrymen.
Ho Chi Minh Trail
S1 Ep4 | 1m 20s
A youth volunteer on the Ho Chi Minh Trail describes her experiences.
Losses in His Family
S1 Ep4 | 57s
A Viet Cong soldier recalls losing several family members in the war.
Understanding the Enemy
S1 Ep4 | 2m 56s
A South Vietnamese woman researches the communist movement in her country.
LBJ Criticizes the Media
S1 Ep6 | 1m 25s
In a taped conversation, President Johnson laments press coverage of the war.
Living is the Difficult Thing
S1 Ep6 | 2m 10s
A captured Army doctor recounts his experience of being taken prisoner by the Viet Cong.
Moratorium Protests, 1969
S1 Ep7 | 1m 44s
On November 15, 1969, half a million gathered in Washington, D.C., to protest the war.
Protests in Chicago, 1968
S1 Ep7 | 1m 54s
A journalist witnesses a violent clash between police and protesters in Chicago.
Quang Ngai
S1 Ep8 | 1m 15s
A GI talks about the danger of landmines and the courage it took just to walk in Vietnam.
Clip: Episode 9 | A Marine Comes Home
S1 Ep9 | 1m 50s
A Marine describes his heartbreak at returning home to face angry protesters.
Official Trailer | No Single Truth (Vietnamese Subtitles)
S1 Ep11 | 30s
Watch an official trailer for The Vietnam War.
Behind the Scenes: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross on the Score
2m 17s
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross discuss composing the film's score.
Behind the Scenes: Consulting with Ken Burns & Lynn Novick
2m
Two of the film’s participants discuss working with the filmmakers.
PBS Previews: The Vietnam War | Promo
30s
Find out about the creation of the film from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick.
PBS Previews: The Vietnam War | #1 Why Vietnam
3m 30s
The filmmakers discuss their decision to make a film about the Vietnam war era.
PBS Previews: The Vietnam War | #2 Sights & Sounds
8m 41s
The filmmakers discuss finding the imagery and recording the score for The Vietnam War.
PBS Previews: The Vietnam War | #3 In Country
4m 31s
The filmmakers discuss filming on location in Vietnam.
PBS Previews: The Vietnam War | #4 Unsettled History
2m 30s
The filmmakers discuss working with historical experts on the film.
PBS Previews: The Vietnam War | #5 Echoes Of Vietnam
5m 15s
The filmmakers discuss the impact of the Vietnam war era on the present day.
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