The Vietnam War
Finishing School

Declaration of Independence
In 1945, people gather to hear Ho Chi Minh declare Vietnamese independence.
In 1945, people gather to hear Ho Chi Minh declare Vietnamese independence.

Everybody's Special | First Look
A Marine phones his mother when he doesn't think he'll make it out of Vietnam alive.
A Marine phones his mother when he doesn't think he'll make it out of Vietnam alive.

PBS Previews: The Vietnam War | Promo
Find out about the creation of the film from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick.
Find out about the creation of the film from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick.

Extended Look
Ken Burns & Lynn Novick tell the story behind their most ambitious film to date.
Ken Burns & Lynn Novick tell the story behind their most ambitious film to date.

Official Trailer | No Single Truth
Watch an official trailer for The Vietnam War.
Watch an official trailer for The Vietnam War.

The Reviews Are In
America's top critics are unanimous in their praise for The Vietnam War. #VietnamWarPBS
America's top critics are unanimous in their praise for The Vietnam War. #VietnamWarPBS

Behind the Scenes: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross on the Score
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross discuss composing the film's score.
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross discuss composing the film's score.

Behind the Scenes: Consulting with Ken Burns & Lynn Novick
Two of the film’s participants discuss working with the filmmakers.
Two of the film’s participants discuss working with the filmmakers.

Christmas Bombing
U.S. forces launch airstrikes on North Vietnam in December, 1972.
U.S. forces launch airstrikes on North Vietnam in December, 1972.

Finishing School
A Marine describes how war exposes a dark side of human nature.
A Marine describes how war exposes a dark side of human nature.

Combat is an Enormous High | First Look
A soldier describes the enormous high and enormous costs of combat.
A soldier describes the enormous high and enormous costs of combat.

Men Like This | First Look
A decorated Army veteran talks about the young men who fought the Vietnam War.
A decorated Army veteran talks about the young men who fought the Vietnam War.

Vietnamese vs. Vietnamese | First Look
A N. Vietnamese soldier laments how the war pitted Vietnamese against each other.
A N. Vietnamese soldier laments how the war pitted Vietnamese against each other.

Profound Sense of Humanity | First Look
A VietCong soldier realizes his American enemy is not unlike his own countrymen.
A VietCong soldier realizes his American enemy is not unlike his own countrymen.

The Fear Went Away | First Look
A navy pilot describes being shot down on his first combat mission.
A navy pilot describes being shot down on his first combat mission.

Cowards or Heroes? | First Look
Rather than serve in the military during the Vietnam War, some Americans went to Canada.
Rather than serve in the military during the Vietnam War, some Americans went to Canada.

How Am I Doing This? | First Look
A GI talks about his fear of land mines, and the courage it took just to walk in Vietnam.
A GI talks about his fear of land mines, and the courage it took just to walk in Vietnam.

PBS Previews: The Vietnam War | #5 Echoes Of Vietnam
The filmmakers discuss the impact of the Vietnam war era on the present day.
The filmmakers discuss the impact of the Vietnam war era on the present day.

PBS Previews: The Vietnam War | #2 Sights & Sounds
The filmmakers discuss finding the imagery and recording the score for The Vietnam War.
The filmmakers discuss finding the imagery and recording the score for The Vietnam War.

PBS Previews: The Vietnam War | #3 In Country
The filmmakers discuss filming on location in Vietnam.
The filmmakers discuss filming on location in Vietnam.

PBS Previews: The Vietnam War | #4 Unsettled History
The filmmakers discuss working with historical experts on the film.
The filmmakers discuss working with historical experts on the film.

PBS Previews: The Vietnam War | #1 Why Vietnam
The filmmakers discuss their decision to make a film about the Vietnam war era.
The filmmakers discuss their decision to make a film about the Vietnam war era.

Social Change Was Coming | First Look
The Vietnam era was marked by protests, not just about war, but also for social change.
The Vietnam era was marked by protests, not just about war, but also for social change.

At Great Cost | First Look
A N. Vietnamese citizen remembers slogans inspiring people to sacrifice - at great cost.
A N. Vietnamese citizen remembers slogans inspiring people to sacrifice - at great cost.

Shot Right Here | First Look
A South Vietnamese soldier is shot but fights on.
A South Vietnamese soldier is shot but fights on.

Not Since The Civil War | First Look
A GI recalls how the Vietnam War divided American society.
A GI recalls how the Vietnam War divided American society.

Fellow Warriors: Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam
John Musgrave is a Marine veteran who counsels active-duty soldiers and veterans.
John Musgrave is a Marine veteran who counsels active-duty soldiers and veterans.

Stories from The Vietnam War
Powerful, personal and inspiring stories related to The Vietnam War.
Powerful, personal and inspiring stories related to The Vietnam War.

A Mother's Worry | First Look
A mother wonders how she'll be informed if her son is injured in combat.
A mother wonders how she'll be informed if her son is injured in combat.

Expanding the Draft | First Look
With the Vietnam War ramping up, college students begin to worry about the draft.
With the Vietnam War ramping up, college students begin to worry about the draft.

Save Us | First Look
A Vietnamese woman learns that the powerful American military is coming to her country.
A Vietnamese woman learns that the powerful American military is coming to her country.

Everybody's Special (Vietnamese Subtitles)
A Marine phones his mother when he doesn't think he'll make it out of Vietnam alive.
A Marine phones his mother when he doesn't think he'll make it out of Vietnam alive.

A Mother's Worry (Vietnamese Subtitles)
A mother wonders how she'll be informed if her son is injured in combat.
A mother wonders how she'll be informed if her son is injured in combat.

Combat is an Enormous High (Vietnamese Subtitles)
A soldier describes the enormous high and enormous costs of combat.
A soldier describes the enormous high and enormous costs of combat.

Official Trailer | No Single Truth (Vietnamese Subtitles)
Watch an official trailer for The Vietnam War.
Watch an official trailer for The Vietnam War.