Best Vietnam Films

There’s more to Vietnam films than just war films. When we decided to travel to Vietnam, I realised that the only “Vietnamese” films I had seen were American war films, like Apocalypse Now and Platoon. All I remembered of them was a lot of explosions, guns and a questionable and outdated binary between Americans/Vietnamese as Civilised/Savages.

A little bit of research uncovered there are some brilliant Vietnam-based films — and they’re not only war films. Before travelling to a new country, I love to watch films set there. Cinema is a good way to immerse yourself in the cultural, socio-political and historical context of a country before you arrive.

Films about Vietnam tend to heavily focus on the war itself or on the effects of post-colonialism. My list of the best Vietnam movies have a few less guns and explosions and a bit more history and politics, but you’ll find a shortlist of Vietnam war films at the end.

Best Vietnamese Directed Films

The Scent of Green Papaya (1993) — At the top of my list of the best Vietnam films is The Scent of Green Papaya. This is a Vietnamese-language film directed by Vietnamese-French director Tran Anh Hung. The story is about a Vietnamese servant girl and how her life unfolds. As there are so many American-made films about Vietnam, I felt this classic had to come first in the list. Previously available to watch on MUBI. 

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Best Films About Vietnam

The Quiet American (1958) — Read the The Quiet American book before watching the films. Graham Greene’s dark story of questionable morals and dubious American intervention in France’s war against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam is tremendous. The love-triangle between the three main characters — a British journalist, an American aid worker, and a Vietnamese woman — explores the relationship between the “civilising” West and the “exotic” East in a more rooted and sophisticated way than the other Vietnam films. Available to watch on Amazon. 

The Quiet American (2002) — The Quiet American (2002) film stars Michael Caine. I personally felt the film wasn’t as subtle as the 1958 version of The Quiet American, but it was still enjoyable. Perhaps mostly so because when you do go to Vietnam, you can spot all of the places from scenes in the film. Available to watch on Amazon.

The Hotel Continental Saigon, where Graham Greene stayed as a long-term guest whilst writing his novel, The Quiet American.

Indochine (1992) — I’ve heard other bloggers say that they fell in love with the idea of travelling in Vietnam after watching French-directed Indochine. This French-language film tells the story of a French plantation owner (Catherine Deneuve) amidst the Vietnamese people’s struggle for French Indochina’s independence from France. In Hanoi, you can visit the café (one of the best coffee places in Hanoi) where Deneuve bought her coffee and croissants every morning when she was filming Indochine. Available to watch on Amazon.

Breakfasting at Kinh Do Café, right under the Indochine film poster.

The Lover (1992) — Who could turn down a steamy French-Vietnamese romantic drama? What I liked most about this film is that the trope of the Western man/Eastern woman couple is reversed. Instead, the protagonists are a Vietnamese man and a French school girl, who begin a love affair together in Saigon. It’s an elegant, atmospheric film, although it’s more character-focused than anything. The film was directed by French director Jean-Jacques Annaud. Available to watch on Amazon.

Vietnam War Films

Full Metal Jacket (1987) — There’s a scene in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket that sticks in my mind. Sitting on the side of a dusty road, a Vietnamese prostitute saunters up to two American soldiers asking, ‘You got girlfriend in Vietnam?’ whilst swinging her hips. ‘Fifteen dollar each,’ she sings. As the two soldiers are gawking at her, considering, a skinny Vietnamese man runs up and steals their camera, jumps on a motorbike and rides away. I never had or saw anyone have something stolen when I was in Vietnam, though I did hear a few stories from other travellers, so maybe I learnt something subconsciously before I even got there. Available to watch on Amazon.

The historic streets of Hue, where Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket was set (but not filmed).

Platoon (1986) — Platoon is written and directed by Oliver Stone. Stone was a US infantryman in Vietnam, and his experiences informed much of the film. The movie is a bloody affair with harrowing and realistic battle scenes. The film won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound and Best Film Editing at the Academy Awards. Available to watch on Amazon.

Apocalypse Now (1979) — Francis Ford Coppola is the director behind psychological war film, Apocalypse Now. The narration of the film is based on Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novella Heart of Darkness. The film won a host of awards including a Palme d’Or and Best Direction at the British Academy Film Awards. Available to watch on Amazon.

Da 5 Bloods (2020) — Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods follows a group of black Vietnam War veterans who return to Vietnam from the USA. They go in search of the remains of their fallen squad leader and buried treasure. It was good to see underrepresented Black American war veterans depicted in cinema, but this film missed the mark for me. Available to watch on Netflix.

… and 1 Film Not to Watch

Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) — Controversial? Only because there are so many Robin Williams fans I think. A comedy about the Vietnam War? There is just something that fundamentally doesn’t work about it. Perhaps it’s because the film’s comedy is more slapstick than deadpan that it doesn’t come off right. Americans, represented by Robin Williams’ character and the cronies who laugh at his jokes, seem oblivious of the horrific reality of the war. It’s cringey, often unrealistic and the main character appears totally void of cultural understanding or sensitivity. Other people loved it though, so maybe I’m just a bore.

Get 1 month free on MUBI

MUBI is like Netflix, but for independent and foreign films. MUBI offers a 1 month free trial before you sign up. The platform features great films from all over the world and daily film releases.

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