The Vietnam War

Watch The Vietnam War

  • 2002
  • 1 Season
  • 8.5  (255)

The Vietnam War is part of the series on the Discovery Channel called Assignment Discovery. This particular classic documentary takes an unbiased look at the most controversial war in American History - not only the war happening in Vietnam itself, but also the massive protests in American cities. From the first involvement in 1954 to the massive Tet Offensive of 1968, to the fall of Saigon in 1975, Assignment Discovery covers all of the major and minor events during the war. Also the interviews with veterans that survived the war are in this documentary to give a first hand account of the ground combat.

The film footage that was taken during the war has been digitally restored for home audiences. As part of the production, advice from military historians was also taken into account in helping in the production of the documentary. Due to the adult content, viewer discretion is strongly advised for mature viewers. Viewers at home can take an in depth look at a war that was truly one of the biggest controversies of the 20th century. It also takes into account the struggle for independence on the part of the Vietnamese forces who wanted to unify the country.

During the fall of Saigon, many of the southern Vietnamese people who had the means to escape did so for fear of the North Vietnamese. During the last minutes of the documentary there is footage of helicopters being pushed into the ocean to make room for civilians who wanted to flee. The whole of the Vietnam War was a study in controversy that looks into part of the political climate of the Cold War during the 1960s that left a massive impression on a generation.

The Vietnam War is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (23 episodes). The series first aired on January 14, 2002.

The Vietnam War
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Seasons
Vietnam Becomes a Country, Not Just a War
24. Vietnam Becomes a Country, Not Just a War
January 18, 2024
Survey the post-war issues while the United States attempted to recover from war, tracking the initial alienation of Vietnam vets in America to their acceptance in mainstream America. Conclude by focusing on post-war Vietnam. What happened to the South and her people? And what did normalized relations between the United States and Vietnam look like?
Vietnam
23. Vietnam
January 18, 2024
With the dust of war settled, how many ultimately died or went missing in Vietnam? Investigate the human consequences of the conflict from POWs to casualties, evaluating the effectiveness of allied and NVA hospitals in treating wounded soldiers along with the treatment of prisoners in Vietnamese camps.
The Bitter End, 1972
22. The Bitter End, 1972
January 18, 2024
Nixon knew by 1972 that US involvement in Vietnam had to end. But how it would end, and exactly when, was up for debate. Evaluate national security advisor Henry Kissinger
America Pulls Back, the North Strikes, 1971
21. America Pulls Back, the North Strikes, 1971
January 18, 2024
After Cambodia, the burden of combat fell to the AVRN, while morale among US troops hit an all-time low. Reconstruct the Lam Son 719 operation in Laos and the Easter Offensive. Survey the problems that plagued US servicemen in Vietnam. And dive into bombshell investigations like Winter Soldier and the Pentagon Papers.
The Race against Time, 1970
20. The Race against Time, 1970
January 18, 2024
In 1970, the United States found itself in a difficult position. Still, a North Vietnam victory was by no means inevitable. Evaluate the allied position in the war at the start of the 1970s, from the surprising strength of South Vietnam to the invasion of Cambodia, and see how anti-war advocates tempered US involvement.
Nixon and Vietnamization, 1969
19. Nixon and Vietnamization, 1969
January 18, 2024
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, America pursued a new strategy in Vietnam, hoping to reform the South from within. Examine the imperfect but steady democratization of South Vietnam. Define and evaluate Richard Nixon
The Antiwar Movement in America
18. The Antiwar Movement in America
January 18, 2024
Disapproval of the war in Vietnam coalesced into a powerful, if ultimately diffuse and incohesive, movement. But who were the personalities and groups behind the struggle? What sort of protest tactics did the more militant anti-war groups deploy? And did such profound anti-war sentiment impact the scale and scope of fighting at all?
Race, Culture, and Women in the Vietnam War
17. Race, Culture, and Women in the Vietnam War
January 18, 2024
The 1960s and 1970s were socially and culturally transformative. Explore the ways in which war in Vietnam exposed racial and gender inequities within the United States, fueling a series of movements for not only equal rights but also peace, and examine how the US presence in Vietnam altered the social and cultural landscape there, as well.
America in Turmoil, 1968
16. America in Turmoil, 1968
January 18, 2024
The year 1968 was difficult for ordinary Americans
The Tet Offensive, 1968
15. The Tet Offensive, 1968
January 18, 2024
Perhaps one of the most consequential campaigns in the entire Vietnam War was the so-called Tet Offensive in 1968. Dive into this extraordinary communist attack. What happened? Who was involved? To what extent did it fail militarily? And how did this meticulously planned and highly coordinated siege change the course of the war?
How to Fight an Asymmetric War
14. How to Fight an Asymmetric War
January 18, 2024
How does one fight and ultimately win an asymmetrical war? And what exactly is an asymmetrical war, anyway? Tactics: Learn about the military strategies deployed by the North Vietnamese army. Examine the ways in which the strategies differed from US approaches and investigate how America and the ARVN responded to them.
False Optimism, Failing Strategies, 1966
13. False Optimism, Failing Strategies, 1966
January 18, 2024
Zoom outward to take stock of the overall situation in Vietnam between 1966 and 1967. See where fighting was fiercest from the DMZ to Hill 875. Examine how the United States approached battle through a series of expansive operations. And take stock of how leaders from President Johnson to North Vietnam
Guns, Gear, and Food in the Vietnam War
12. Guns, Gear, and Food in the Vietnam War
January 18, 2024
From garments to guns, what kinds of tools did soldiers in Vietnam have available to them? Did the VC and United States differ in the types of gadgets and technologies they gave their combat soldiers? And how did soldiers on both sides manage to feed themselves in the deep and winding jungles of Vietnam?
The World of the American Combat Soldier
10. The World of the American Combat Soldier
January 18, 2024
Spend some time with the Vietnam War
America Goes All In, 1965
9. America Goes All In, 1965
January 18, 2024
America, terrified by the prospect of losing South Vietnam in the global struggle against communism, dove headfirst into war in 1965. What were the forces at play
The Vietnam War in the Skies
8. The Vietnam War in the Skies
January 18, 2024
While the United States boasted an impressive air force, its air campaign struggled when confronted by VC forces. Here, investigate the specifics of America
On the Frontlines, Pt. 3: Ringing Down the Curtain
7. On the Frontlines, Pt. 3: Ringing Down the Curtain
May 25, 2007
As Nixon withdraws troops from Vietnam, he orchestrates an incursion into Cambodia. On Easter 1972, North Vietnamese swarm into South Vietnam.
Unsung Heroes: The Battle of Khe Sanh
6. Unsung Heroes: The Battle of Khe Sanh
November 11, 2004
The 77-day siege of Khe Sanh received unprecedented, agonized attention from the homefront as brave American soldiers fought fiercely against a numerically superior foe over a combat base with virtually no strategic value.
On the Frontlines, Pt. 4: The End Game
5. On the Frontlines, Pt. 4: The End Game
May 25, 2007
U.S. Marines rescue almost 7,000 people -- 1,400 Americans and 5,600 South Vietnamese -- in the hours before Saigon falls to the Communists.
Command Decisions: The Tet Offensive
4. Command Decisions: The Tet Offensive
April 29, 2006
In January 1968, during the Tet holiday cease-fire, the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong attacked over 100 cities and bases in South Vietnam. Technically a military defeat for the Viet Cong, the offensive became a political and public relations disaster at home on U.S. soil.
On the Frontlines, Pt. 2: Tet In Saigon and Hue
3. On the Frontlines, Pt. 2: Tet In Saigon and Hue
May 25, 2007
In January 1968, during the Tet holiday cease-fire, the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong attack over 100 cities and bases in South Vietnam. The bloodiest battle, near the ancient capital of Hue, inflicts thousands of casualties of both soldiers and civilians.
On the Frontlines, Pt. 1: America Enters the War
2. On the Frontlines, Pt. 1: America Enters the War
May 25, 2007
Courageous U.S. soldiers in Vietnam, both on land and in the air, face an unrelenting enemy in bloody battles at Ia Drang Valley, Khe Sanh, Con Thien, and Dak To.
LBJ and Vietnam: In the Eye of the Storm
1. LBJ and Vietnam: In the Eye of the Storm
January 14, 2002
Despite domestic and diplomatic achievements, Lyndon Johnson's presidential legacy is almost solely defined by his escalation of America's Vietnam commitment. In this feature-length documentary, key participants, including Robert McNamara, explore the fateful decision-making process.
Description
Where to Watch The Vietnam War
The Vietnam War is available for streaming on the A&E website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch The Vietnam War on demand at Apple TV Channels, Amazon Prime, Amazon, Vudu and Apple TV.
  • Premiere Date
    January 14, 2002
  • IMDB Rating
    8.5  (255)