“ARE YOU READY TO
RETURN TO VIETNAM”

How to Begin Your Journey Back:

  • Black and white photo of nine older men posed in a dense forest with trees and roots.

    Step #1:

    Letter of Introduction:

    As the first step in the Return to Vietnam application, each applicant must send a short Letter of Introduction by email to the organization. This letter should briefly describe the applicant’s military background, including branch of service, unit, dates served, and main responsibilities. It should also note the regions or locations in Vietnam where the applicant was assigned or deployed. Most importantly, the letter should express the applicant’s personal commitment to honoring those who did not return and carrying their memory throughout the journey as a lasting testament to one of the deadliest engagements that our nation has ever seen.

  • Directional road sign for Veterans Home and Veterans Cemetery against a cloudy sky backdrop.

    Step #2:

    Health and Readiness Requirement:

    Veterans seeking to revisit former service locations must be in excellent health and provide complete medical records together with physician clearance. Each program is conducted with a strong commitment to authenticity, accuracy, and careful planning, with participant safety and well-being as the highest priorities. Because the journey may be physically and emotionally demanding, applicants must arrive fully prepared, accept personal responsibility for their participation, and be capable of meeting the demands of international travel and the program experience at every stage.

  • Peace and reconciliation on your return to Vietnam, a program by the Return to Vietnam initiative.

    Step #3:

    Respect the Mission:

    Return to Vietnam is a solemn mission of honor and remembrance, dedicated to those who lost their lives in war and to the families who carried that loss. It is also a significant financial undertaking to return veterans to Vietnam, and each participant is therefore expected to approach the journey with humility, reverence, and responsibility. At every stage of the experience, each veteran must serve as an advocate for the fallen, honoring their sacrifice with integrity, dignity, and disciplined respect in both word and action to ensure that the mission of remembrance, reflection, and service endures.

Costs of Participation

Eligible veterans are invited to participate in this initiative at no cost. Participants are not required to assume any financial responsibility, as the organization fully underwrites all program-related expenses, including airfare from the United States, lodging, meals, and ground transportation. By alleviating these logistical and financial considerations, the program enables veterans to devote their full attention to reflection, reconnection, honoring the fallen, and pursuing healing.

  • For many veterans, the War in Vietnam remains a profoundly personal chapter of their lives. Their return is not a matter of travel, but a pilgrimage of healing and remembrance—a chance to confront the past, honor fallen comrades, and seek peace. In these moments of reflection and renewed brotherhood, time becomes a bridge from sorrow toward healing and reconciliation.

  • This program is exclusively for combat veterans of the War in Vietnam. It is dedicated to organizing meaningful reunions that honor those who served in combat and who meet the established eligibility criteria as verified through their DD-214 military discharge documents. We appreciate your understanding and your commitment to preserving the integrity of this veteran-centered initiative.

  • To ensure the success of this important mission, the organization operates under a structured framework emphasizing coordination, readiness, and accountability. Each participating unit must designate a primary liaison to oversee communication and logistics, and assemble a roster of 20 highly qualified combat veterans who demonstrate exceptional physical fitness, hold valid passports, and show unwavering dedication to the mission’s objectives. 

  • All deployments are thoughtfully planned to span twelve days, providing participants with the time and space needed for meaningful reflection and connection. This carefully structured itinerary balances visits to significant locations with opportunities for quiet introspection, enabling veterans to revisit the places that shaped their service and their lives. The experience is designed to foster healing, strengthen camaraderie, and support personal resolution. By creating a respectful and supportive environment, we strive to help each veteran process the past, reconnect with fellow participants, and find renewed peace along the journey.

  • Each itinerary is thoughtfully crafted around your wartime experiences, providing a deeply immersive and restorative journey that honors the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. These travels return you to the specific regions where you and your unit once served, creating a powerful and personal connection between past and present. Walking these historic grounds offers a profound opportunity to revisit your own story—gaining deeper insight into the landscapes, challenges, and defining moments that shaped both your service and your life’s journey.

  • To honor the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans, the initiative pairs veterans of post-Vietnam conflicts—such as Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq—with Vietnam veterans on return journeys to Vietnam. This meaningful program establishes a respectful intergenerational bridge, fostering shared reflection, mutual understanding, and lasting bonds of service. By bringing together those who served in different eras, the initiative promotes healing, honors collective sacrifice, and strengthens the enduring legacy of courage carried forward across generations.

  • Each return journey to Vietnam is supported by a dedicated team committed to ensuring your safety, comfort, and peace of mind. Many team members are fellow combat veterans who understand the significance and emotional weight of your return. With medical, logistical, and production professionals accompanying you throughout the experience, every aspect of the journey is guided with respect, dignity, and a spirit of quiet reflection.

  • The answer is no. The Battlefield Repatriation Initiative is strictly limited to combat veterans who served together as comrades in arms. This eligibility requirement is non-negotiable and central to the integrity and purpose of the program. We expect and appreciate your understanding and respect for these parameters.

  • Your return to Vietnam will be provided at no cost, in recognition of your distinguished service and in keeping with our enduring commitment to honor those who served in combat. All aspects of the journey—including international travel, accommodations, and program-related expenses—will be fully covered. This comprehensive support is intended to allow you to focus solely on what truly matters: paying tribute to your service, honoring the fallen, and reflecting on the enduring legacy you share with your fellow veterans.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS