Vietnam Web Sites
National Archives: Vietnam War ★★★★★
View current online exhibits, view a timeline of major events, or request official government documents from the war. Clicking the “Education” tab will take you to DocsTeach’s module on the Vietnam War, where primary sources are sorted by category, such as French colonialism, the Tet Offensive, and public opinion on the American homefront. DocsTeach also offers about a dozen teaching activities and lesson plans on the war.
Tim O’Brien on “The Things They Carried” ★★★★★
This is a enrapturing talk delivered by The Things They Carried author Tim O’Brien about his experiences in the war and how they continued to affect him for decades thereafter. The video is long, but the speech is excellent and easy to grasp.
The Day the 60s Died ★★★★☆
This PBS video covers homefront opposition to the war, and features testimony by historians and active participants alike. The video is centered on the Kent State shootings, and uses this context to discuss the ongoing protests against the Vietnam War and President Nixon’s efforts to address them.
Vets with a Mission ★★★★☆
Under the “history” tab there is a superb and very extensive collection of well-written information that deals with many topics in-depth. The site’s coverage spans from the earliest history of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people to the present. There’s also a collection of photos.
The Wars for Vietnam 1945-1975 ★★★★☆
Very good page for getting an overview of the war. Nicely put-together, detailed info. Also has some primary sources/documents.
Spartacus – Vietnam War Index ★★★★☆
A large collection of topics including political and military figures, issues, events, organizations, and links to more sites. Clicking on a link for a particular subject leads to a separate page with detailed information. This is a very good collection of factual information.
LBJ in the Oval Office ★★★★☆
This page features four primary source audio clips from conversations of Johnson and high-level officials regarding the Vietnam War.
Vietnam Peace War March (YouTube) ★★★★☆
A 1967 news clip covering a Central Park protest against the war in Vietnam.
Statistics about the Vietnam War ★★★★☆
A large collection of statistics compiled from a variety of credible sources, aimed at dispelling popular myths about the war.
1968 Democratic Party Convention Riots ★★★☆☆
A primary source document (authored by Tom Hayden of SDS) explains some of the reasoning behind the protest and revolts against the war and government/culture in general. Also discusses the role of race and civil rights during the period. Published by History Matters, an online US History survey course by George Mason University.
PBS – Vietnam Online ★★★☆☆
PBS site includes a timeline of events, maps, primary sources, and bios on key figures in the war. Also has a teacher’s guide.
Vietnam, Stories Since the War (PBS) ★★★☆☆
This PBS site contains background information on the Vietnam War, first-hand stories of veterans, an index, and a search function.
Guerrilla Wars: 1956-1989 (PBS) ★★★☆☆
Discusses guerrilla war movements in Vietnam, Afghanistan and elsewhere
Battlefield: Vietnam (PBS) ★★★☆☆
A companion to the PBS video program, this site features a brief historical introduction, a battlefield timeline, an expose on guerrilla tactics, a look at the siege of Khe Sanh, and other resources.
Assignment Hanoi ★★★☆☆
Follow U.S. Ambassador and former P.O. W. Pete Peterson as he returns to the land of his captors on a mission of reconciliation, through interviews, research on Vietnam’s history before 1900, and investigation of an ambassador’s duties. PBS
The VietNam Pictures Archives ★★★☆☆
These archives consist of a number of JPEGs and GIFs, MIDI sequences and RealAudio clips. The presentation is extremely dated, but the files are still available for download.
Lesson Plans, Teacher Guides, Activities and more
Teaching the Vietnam War
PBS website with lesson plans, videos, and documents covering every phase of the war.
PBS Frontline World – Teaching the Vietnam War
Another PBS lesson plan on Vietnam based around video clips that are available online.
DocsTeach Vietnam War
A quality, modern website with a collection of primary sources, lesson plans, and classroom activities.
Vietnam WebQuest
This WebQuest is designed to be used with the History.com online portal to the Vietnam war. Includes an answer key.