7 Best Movies About Vietnam | A Cinematic Odyssey

Vietnam, a country with a rich history, culture, and diverse landscapes, has been the subject of many films. These masterpieces are usually based on the true story of war crimes – a complicated subject matter, Vietnam veterans after the war ended, or some universal pictures of this country.

From Vietnam War movies to comedies, the films offer a glimpse into the lives of Vietnamese people and the beauty of the country. You might have heard of some war films about Vietnam before, such as Full Metal Jacket 1987 by Warner Bros, or Hamburger Hill by Paramount Pictures.

In this article, we will explore some of the best movies about Vietnam. Our criteria for selection are films that capture the country’s history, culture, and landscapes. We have also included a variety of genres, so there is something for everyone on this list. Please also note that this list is not ranked in any particular order.

Explore the top things to do in Vietnam with our recommendations!

A Tourist’s Guide To Love (2023)

A Tourist’s Guide to Love is a romantic comedy film directed by Steven K. Tsuchida and starring Rachael Leigh Cook. The film follows Amanda, a travel executive who joins a group tour in Vietnam to recover from a broken heart. Along the way, she falls in love with her tour guide, Sinh.

Vietnam In The Film

The film captures the beauty of Vietnam, showcasing its stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, and delicious food. Viewers can learn about Vietnamese customs and traditions through Amanda’s interactions with Sinh and his family. They can also see some of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, and Da Nang.

Awards – Best Movies About Vietnam?

A Tourist’s Guide to Love has won several awards, including the Audience Award for Best Romantic Comedy at the Newport Beach Film Festival and the Best Picture Award at the Vietnamese International Film Festival.

The Scent Of Green Papaya (1993)

The Scent of Green Papaya is a Vietnamese-French drama film directed by Trần Anh Hùng. The film tells the story of Mùi, a young peasant girl who is hired to work as a servant for a wealthy family in Saigon. Mùi grows up in the household, observing the lives of the family members and learning about the world around her.

Vietnam In The Film

The traditional Vietnamese way of life is depicted, from the food and clothing to the customs and traditions, together with the natural beauty of Vietnam – lush green landscapes and bustling city streets in the 1950s and 1960s.

Awards

Among the best movies about Vietnam, The Scent of Green Papaya was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1993. It also won the Golden Camera award at the Cannes Film Festival and the César Award for Best First Feature Film.

Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

Good Morning, Vietnam is a biographical comedy-drama film directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robin Williams. The film tells the story of Adrian Cronauer, a disc jockey who is sent to the frontline of the Vietnam War to boost morale among the troops in the first half of the film. Cronauer’s irreverent and upbeat style clashes with the military establishment, but he quickly becomes a beloved figure among the soldiers.

Vietnam In The Film

The atmosphere of Vietnam during the Vietnam War shows up with its mix of danger, boredom, and camaraderie. Viewers can see the impact of the Vietnam War on the soldiers and the Vietnamese people from the frontline to the veterans hospital – the same historical time as Full Metal Jacket.

Awards

It was nominated for five Academy Awards. Robin Williams earned an Oscar nomination for his role as Adrian Cronauer. It also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

The Quiet American (2002)

This is a spy thriller film directed by Philip Noyce and starring Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, and Do Thi Hai Yen. The film is based on the same name book written by Graham Greene. The story is set in Saigon in 1952, during the First Indochina War.

Vietnam In The Film

The film captures the image of Saigon during the Vietnam War, with its mix of danger, intrigue, and political turmoil. Viewers can see the impact of the war on the Vietnamese civilians and the French colonial government.

Awards

The Quiet American was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama. It also won several awards at the Venice Film Festival, including the Silver Lion for Best Director and the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for Michael Caine.

The Deer Hunter (1978)

The Deer Hunter is one of the best Vietnam War films written and directed by Michael Cimino and starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage. The film tells the story of three friends from a working-class steel town in Pennsylvania who are drafted into the United States Army and sent to fight in the Vietnam War. The film follows the men through their experiences in the war and their struggles to cope with the trauma they witness and endure.

Vietnam In The Film

The Deer Hunter displays the brutality and chaos of the Vietnam War in unflinching detail. The film depicts the physical and psychological toll that the Vietnam War takes on soldiers, both American and Vietnamese. Even when they recovered from casualties of war, the post-traumatic stress disorder in the rescue dawn still haunts them.

Awards

This Vietnam War movie won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor for Christopher Walken, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound. It was also nominated for four other Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Robert De Niro, Best Supporting Actor for John Savage, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.

The Floating Lives (2010)

Vietnamese drama film was directed by Phan Quang Binh Nguyen and starring Do Thi Hai Yen, Tang Thanh Ha, and Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc. The film is based on the short story of the same name by Nguyen Ngoc Tu.

The film tells the story of a family living in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. The father, Vo, is a stubborn and traditional man who is struggling to come to terms with the changing world around him. His daughter, Nuong, is a rebellious teenager who dreams of a better life for herself. His son, Dien, is a kind and gentle boy who is caught in the middle of his parents’ conflict.

Vietnam In The Film

The Floating Lives captures the beauty and tranquility of the Mekong Delta region. You can see green rice fields, winding rivers, and traditional floating houses, along with the unique culture and traditions of the Vietnamese people.

Awards

Among the best movies about Vietnam, this film received a lot of awards such as the Golden Camera Award at the Cannes Film Festival (2010), Best Film at the Vietnam Film Festival (2010), Best Director, Best Actress for Do Thi Hai Yen at the Asian Film Awards (2011).

Platoon (1986)

Platoon is a 1986 America – Vietnam war film written and directed by Oliver Stone and starring Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, John C. McGinley, Kevin Dillon, Keith David, Forest Whitaker, and Johnny Depp. It was launched one year earlier than the Full Metal Jacket.

The film is a semi-autobiographical account of Stone’s experiences in the Vietnam War, and it follows a young soldier named Chris Taylor (Sheen) as he is assigned to a platoon in the jungles of Vietnam.

Taylor soon finds himself caught in a conflict between two sergeants: the idealistic Barnes (Berenger) and the cynical Elias (Dafoe). Barnes is a hard-liner who believes that the only way to win the war is to kill as many Viet Cong as possible, even if it means killing civilians. Elias, on the other hand, is more sympathetic to the Vietnamese and believes that the war is unwinnable.

Vietnam In The Film

Platoon captures the brutality and chaos of the Vietnam War in unflinching detail. The film depicts the physical and psychological toll that the war takes on both American and Vietnam veterans. The film also explores the complex moral and ethical issues raised by the war.

Awards

Among Vietnam War movies, Platoon is a highly acclaimed film that has won numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound. It has also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama, the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film, and the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Platoon’s awards are a testament to its quality as a film and its importance as a cultural artifact.

Ready For Your Best Movies About Vietnam?

These best movies about Vietnam showcased give us a glimpse into the captivating stories, history, and culture of Vietnam. However, these movies are just a taste of what this diverse, resilient nation offers. With its emerald landscapes, mouthwatering cuisine, rich traditions, tragic yet triumphant history and welcoming spirit, Vietnam rewards travelers with vivid experiences.

The stories captured on film inspire us, but cannot substitute for bearing witness yourself to Vietnam’s beauty, contrasts, colors and verve. Let these films kindle your interest to visit Vietnam and craft your own adventure!