80 Vietnam War Essay Topics & Examples

Looking for Vietnam war essay topics? Being the largest conflict in the US history, Vietnam war is definitely worth analyzing.

Why did the US lose the Vietnam war? Who won the war and how did that happen? There are many questions about the conflict that wait to be answered. Other options for your Vietnam war essay are to focus on the US involvement or talk about the lessons of the conflict.

Whether you are planning to write an argumentative essay, research paper, or thesis on the Vietnam war, this article will be helpful. Here we’ve collected top Vietnam war research questions, titles. Essay examples are also added to add to your inspiration.

🔝 Top 10 Vietnam War Essay Topics

1. Vietnam war: the causes
2. US involvement in the Vietnam war
3. Vietnam war: the key participants
4. The causes of the conflict in Vietnam
5. Gulf of Tonkin incident and its role in the Vietnam war
6. Why did the US lose the Vietnam war?
7. War crimes in the cause of the conflict in Vietnam
8. Vietnam war: the role of women
9. Weapons and technology in the Vietnam war
10. Vietnam war and its influence on popular culture

💡 Vietnam War Essay: How to Write

Chemical warfare, civilian peace protests, and an overwhelming number of casualties are all central circumstances of a Vietnamese-American 19-year conflict that garnered attention all over the world.

Reflecting all these topics in a Vietnam War essay is essential to writing an excellent paper, as well as other structural and informational points. In the prewriting stages:

• Research your issue. Doing so will not only help you choose among various Vietnam War essay topics but also help you start assembling a list of sources that can be of use. Compiling a bibliography early on will allow you to gauge how well covered your subject is and whether you can approach it from different viewpoints. Use various book and journal titles to give your work academic credibility.
• Write a Vietnam War essay outline. This action will help you distribute the weight of your ideas evenly between sub-themes. In turn, doing so will allow you to create a smooth flowing, interconnected narrative of whichever issue you choose.
• Compose a title for your paper. Vietnam War essay titles should be both reflective of their author’s stance and representative of the chosen methodological approach. Since your title is the first thing a potential reader sees, it should grab their attention in the best way.
• Read available sample essays to see which tools and techniques may work in your own paper. While plagiarism is punishable in the academic world, there are no repercussions for getting inspiration or pretending to grade an essay for yourself. Good examples may be just the thing you need to write an excellent paper yourself!

Now you are ready to begin writing. Layering your paper with the appropriate information is only one aspect of essay writing, as you should also:

• Begin your introduction by placing a Vietnam War essay hook in it. This catch can be a remarkable piece of information, a quote from a famous person, or an opposing viewpoint on the subject. Whichever you choose, placing a hook allows you to interest your readers and secure their interest for the duration of your paper.
• Use appropriate terminology. A war-related paper may call for an in-depth understanding of technology, while an ideology related one requires more event-related knowledge. Choose your words according to the specifics of your issue and use them to write a comprehensive and well-rounded essay.
• Understand the cause and effect war environment. Clearly define the links between events and make sure your audience understands all the intricacies of the issue. A timeline, written by you or found online, should help you trace these connections, creating an interflowing essay.
• Recognize the effect of seemingly background events. The recognition of a soldier’s civil rights and the rise of a movement that called for American citizens to return to their home continent is not battlefield-related but greatly impacted politics regarding the issue. Remember that there may be connections between seemingly unrelated problems, and finding them is your goal as an essayist.
• Stick to your Vietnam War essay prompt and the received instructions. Ignoring the specified word count in favor of drafting a more extensive coverage of the problem is not worth losing a grade on a suburb essay.

Always check the rubric that your instructor provided to receive good grades.

Writing an essay giving your trouble? Zero starting ideas? Head over to IvyPanda and get your essay written in no time!

🏆 Best Vietnam War Essay Examples & Topic Ideas

1. Similarities and Differences Between Korean and Vietnam Wars
   There were also several differences such as the way of development of the conflicts where the Korean War was during three years, and the Vietnam War was the prolonged struggle, the participation of the Chinese […]
2. Music as a Weapon During the Vietnam War
   Music to the soldiers in Vietnam acted as a tool to remind all troops of the responsibility that they had taken by being on the battlefield.
3. Why Did the United States Lose the Vietnam War?
   The Office of the Secretary of Defense had become demoralized due to the events that had taken place; hence, it was unwilling to escalate the war further due to the decline of the army troops […]
4. The Use of Agent Orange in the Vietnam War
   The Association of American Advancement of science prompted the US government to allow investigations into the effects of Agent Orange in Vietnam in 1968.
5. “The Killing Zone: My Life in the Vietnam War” by Downs
   At the very outset, it was clear to the soldiers that the war in Indochina was not being conducted in terms of the glory myths on which they had been raised. The second part of […]
6. The Vietnam War in the “Child of Two Worlds”
   Therefore, in the future, he is like to live in the outside world rather than in the inside one. Therefore, Lam wants to start a new life in the US and forgets his roots, which […]
7. Vietnam War: History and Facts of War That Began in 1959
   The Second Indochina War began in 1959, five years after the division of the country, according to the Geneva Agreement. South Vietnam’s troops failed to substitute American soldiers, and in 1974 the peace agreement was […]
8. How the Vietnam War Polarized American Society
   It galvanized the enemy and opponents of the war in both Vietnam and America and led many to question the ethics of the campaigns.
9. The Role of Women in the Vietnam War
   For example, women in the Navy Nurse Corps and Army Nurse Corp were sent to take part in the Vietnam War and the Korean War.
10. Causes and Effects of the Vietnamese War
    To the U.S.the war was a loss, because the reunion of South and North Vietnamese citizens marked the end of the war, hence U.S.’s undivided support for the southern region yielded nothing, apart from numerous […]
11. The Vietnam War in American History
    Since early fifties the government of the United States began to pay special attention to Vietnam and political situation in this country, because, it was one of the most important regions in the Southeast Asia.
12. French Involvement in Vietnam War
    Even though in the overwhelming majority of cases, the author focuses attention on the history of Vietnam since the Involvement of the French troops in the nineteenth century, he also gives background information as to […]
13. Vietnam War in the “Platoon” Movie by Oliver Stone
    In the context of the war, the confrontation between two non-commissioned officers, the cruel-hearted Barnes and the humane Elias, is depicted.
14. Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War
    The Vietnam War caused unintended consequences for the civil rights movements of the 1960s as it awakened the African-Americans’ consciousness on the racism and despotism that they experienced in the United States.
15. Hanoi and Washington: The Vietnam War
    The Vietnam War was a conflict that was military in nature, occurred between the years 1954 and 1975, and was between the communists and the non-communists.
16. Stories From the Vietnam War
    In the dissonance of opinions on the Vietnam War, it appears reasonable to turn to the first-hand experiences of the veterans and to draw real-life information from their stories.
17. Political and Social Forces During and After the Vietnam War
    The political forces in the aftermath of the Vietnam War centered around balancing between the Cold War and the maintenance of public support.
18. Researching and Analysis of the Vietnam War
    A Chinese leader inspired by the Soviet Union and the Chinese, Ho Chi Minh, formed a union to aid the resistance against the French occupiers in Vietnam and the Japanese.
19. The Vietnam War and the Tet Offensive
    In this presentation, the discussion of the impact of Tet Offensive on the United States and the role of media in military events will be discussed.
20. The Artistic Legacy of Maya Lin: A Cultural Response to the Vietnam War
    Major confrontations as the signs of a shift in cultural perspectives and attitudes have always defined the development of art, the Vietnam War being one of the infamous examples of the phenomenon.
21. The Vietnam War: Diplomatic Mechanisms Connected With the USA
    The onset of the Vietnam War exposed the vagaries in the American political and administrative systems in terms of issues of diplomacy, presidency, and even in cultural and social matters.
22. “The Green Berets” Film About the Vietnam War
    According to the plot, one American journalist named George Beckworth is to cover the topic of the military involvement of the USA in this war.
23. Vietnam War: David Halberstam’s “The Making of a Quagmire”
    In his account, the author of the book The Making of a Quagmire: America and Vietnam during the Kennedy Era, is categorical about the dealings of the Americans in the Vietnamese affair.

💣 Most Interesting Vietnam War Topics

1. “A Time of War: The United States and Vietnam” by Robert D. Schulzinger
   These events relate to the activities and interests of the Americans, the French and Vietnamese which preceded the beginning and the aftermath of the war.
2. Interview Report: Memories of the Vietnam War
   Locker about the way he happened to take part in the Vietnam War, he said that he was drafted but, anyway, at that time he thought that it was his destiny as he wanted to […]
3. Ho Chi Minh’s Influence in the Vietnam War
   He was the leader of the Vietnam independence movement and established the Democratic Republic of Vietnam which was governed by the communists.
4. How the Vietnam War Influenced the Iraq War?
   During the Vietnam era, the neo-conservatism movement expanded due to the political polarization occurring in the country between the anti-war, anti-American sentiments of the counterculture and neo-cons who championed blind patriotism.
5. Impact of the Vietnam War and Results of the Cold War
   It galvanized the enemy and opponents of the war in both Vietnam and America and led many to question the ethics of the campaigns.
6. How TV Showed the Vietnam War
   At the dawn of television media emergence, the coverage of the Vietnam War was subjective as the opinion of the public was manipulated by the government to get the desired reaction from the Americans to […]
7. Vietnam War Perceptions of African American Leaders
   Externally, the country was embroiled in an unpopular war in Vietnam and internally, rejection of the ‘establishment’ typified by the ‘Counter-culture movement’ and the Black Civil rights movement was gaining momentum.
8. Vietnamese Culture and Traditions: The Role in Vietnam War
   It was this division that left America with little understanding of how the rest of the world lives and how the country can effectively help others even in times of war.
9. My Lai Massacre During Vietnam War
   American soldiers of Company assaulted the hamlet of My Lai part of the village of Son My in Quang Ngai province of South Vietnam on 16 March 1968.
10. American Government’s Involvement in the Vietnam War
    According to John Kerry, although the main idea behind the decision made by the U.S.government at the time seemed legitimate given the rise in the threat of communism taking over democracy, the execution of it […]
11. American History During the Vietnam War
    In the quest to figure out the events that took place in the history of America, I had an opportunity to interview a close family friend who was one of the African American soldiers during […]
12. The Vietnam War on the Network Nightly News
    This evidence refuting the use of attrition by the American troops indicate that the strategy was ineffective and as such, it gave their enemies a leeway to capitalize on it and intensify the combat.
13. China-Vietnam Opposition or the Third Vietnam War
    The Korean War, numerous military operations in the Middle East, and the Vietnam War were preconditioned by the clash of ideologies and parties unwillingness to make a compromise.
14. Vietnam War vs. War on Terror in the Middle East
    The starting point for the War on Terror is considered to be the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and other locations which led to the deaths of thousands.
15. The Vietnam War and Its Effects on the Veterans
    Although numerous books and articles contain memories of those who lived to tell the tale, the best way to learn about the Vietnam War and to understand how war changes people is to talk to […]
16. Vietnam War: The Results of Flawed Containment
    The neo-orthodox perspective on the war in Vietnam consisted of criticism towards United States policies in the sense that civilian and military leaders of the country were unsuccessful in developing achievable and realistic plans with […]
17. Vietnam War and American Revolution Comparison
    Consequently, the presence of these matters explains the linkage of the United States’ war in Vietnam and the American Revolution to Mao’s stages of the insurgency.
18. Vietnam War in “A Path to Shine After” by James Post
    The author uses the contrast between a peaceful life of the veteran and his experience as a soldier to highlight the senselessness and cruelty of war.
19. Vietnam War Experiences in David Vancil’s Poems
    For these reasons, the majority of the works devoted to the given issue tend to demonstrate the horrors of war and factors that impacted people.
20. America in Vietnam War: Effects of Involvement
    However, the involvement of America in the war has made other countries around the world to question its principle of morality.
21. African American Soldiers During Vietnam War
    In the 1960s and 70s, African Americans battled racial discrimination at home in the United States but also faced similar if not the same tension as a member of the Armed Forces while fighting in […]
22. Contribution of Women in the Vietnam War
    Special emphasis will be given to nurses because without their contribution, so many soldiers would have lost their lives or suffered from deteriorating conditions in the War Some of the nurses in the Vietnam War […]
23. Photos of Vietnam War
    The role of the media in the Vietnam War also raises issues of what the media ought to censor and report to the public.

🔍 Vietnam War Research Topics & Questions

1. The American Strategic Culture in Vietnam War
   Spector further emphasizes that the involvement of the United States in both phases of the Vietnam War was due to Harry Truman, the then president of the United States, who did not support communism, but […]
2. America’s Failure in Promoting Its Politic in Vietnam
   Existing literature purports that, part of America’s agenda in Vietnam was to stop the spread of communism and in other literature excerpts, it is reported that, America was persuading North Vietnam to stop supporting the […]
3. Vietnam War in the Book “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien
   The Irony of being at war is that Peace and conflict are both inevitable; it is the way we handle either of the two that determines our opinion of life in general both in the […]
4. Anti-War Movement and American Views on the Vietnam War
   The fact that people started to take part in demonstrations and openly protest any drafting and involvement of the United States in the war, created even more attention towards the Vietnam Conflict.
5. How Did the Media Shape Americans’ Perceptions of the Vietnam War?
   At the heart of this war, the media is believed to have shaped the Americans perception about the war. Technology in this moment made it possible for television to film some incidents in the war […]
6. The Vietnam War: Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy Leadership Roles
   On November 1, 1995, Eisenhower’s action to give military training to the government of South Vietnam marked the official start of the U.S.involvement in the Vietnamese conflict.
7. The Vietnam War Causes
   The aftermath of the Second World War had the South Vietnam controlled by the French and the North Vietnam controlled by Viet Minh.
8. The Vietnam War: A Clash of Viewpoints
   With the help of the most realistic descriptions and the vivid pictures of woes that soldiers had to take in the course of the battles, the author makes the people sink into the mind of […]
9. China’s Support for North Vietnam in the Vietnam War
   As of the time of the war, the capital city of South Vietnam was Saigon while that of the North was Hanoi.
10. Appy, C. and Bloom, A., Vietnam War Mythology and the Rise of Public Cynicism, 49-73
    The first myth is that the intervention of the US in the Vietnam War was devoid of any political interests and colonial based ambition contrary to that of the French.
11. Vietnam Women Soldiers in the Vietnam War and Life Change After the War
    In 1968, the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong forces attacked all the major cities of South Vietnam and even the US embassy followed where the war could not stop but in the year 1973 […]
12. Vietnam War: The Battle Where There Could Be No Winners
    Inflamed by the ideas of the patriotic behavior and the mission of protecting the interests of the native land, the American soldiers were eager to start the battle.
13. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution of 1964 Is a Turning Point in Vietnam War
    The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution that occurred in August 7, 1964, was one of the major turning points in the United States military involvement into the flow of the Vietnam War.
14. The Vietnam War’s and Student’s Unrest Connection
    An example of such protests were held by the by the University of Washington during the national strikes that took an approximate one week as a reaction to the Kent University shootings and a culmination […]
15. Vietnam War: John Kerry’s Role
    Kerry’s actions during the Vietnam war that eventually led to his acquisition of the Purple Heart is a as a result of his ability to stop the actions of the enemy as evident in their […]
16. Views on Vietnamese War in the Revisionism School
    Though United States did not involve itself into the war in order to break the dominance of Soviet Union, it wanted to gain politically and economically.
17. Concepts of the Vietnam War
    The fear to go to Vietnam and participate in a war that many believed America will inevitably lose, continued to engulf their life even more.
18. Analysis of the Vietnam War Timeline 1961-64
    In essence, the analysis of JWPs in this war would entail critical exploration of the jus in bello, with the aim of determining the combatants and non-combatants, and this is important in the sense that […]
19. Politics in the 1960s: Vietnam War, Bay of Pigs Invasion, Berlin Wall
    However, in recent years following the collapse of the Soviet Union between1980 1990 and the opening of Vietnam to the outside world in the same period it is possible to understand the motives of both […]
20. Protests and Music of the Vietnam War
    As the public absorbed the announcement, and the truth behind the war, they were angered by the fact that many American lives had been lost in the war, and the fact that the government was […]
21. The Vietnam War Outcomes
    The Vietnam War was and is still considered the longest deployment of the U. In conclusion, both the U.S.and the Vietnam governments have a lot to ponder regarding the outcome of the Vietnam War.