Australian War Memorial to welcome Vietnam veterans 50 years on

The Australian War Memorial - in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War - will open the Commemorative Area and galleries for veterans and their families outside of normal open hours.

The extended hours coincide with the Australian Government event to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. A national service is being held at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in Canberra on 18th August 2023 from 10:00am.

Dan Hiscock, Assistant Manager of Visitor Services advised “On Vietnam Veterans Day on the 18th August, we are pleased to be offering extended hours on the Friday night and early morning on the Saturday, so veterans and their families can come in and view the Commemorative Area, the galleries and the Vietnam exhibit at the Australian War Memorial.

“We are welcoming Vietnam veterans back, 50 years on, to the Australian War Memorial not only to see the exhibits but to say thank you for what they did.”

The Director of the Australian War Memorial, Matt Anderson added “we look forward to welcoming our Vietnam veterans and their families. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge their service.”

Australians are being encouraged to honour and remember the service of some 60,000 Australian men and women who served in the Vietnam War and their families. During the war, 523 Australians lost their lives in the war, and over 3,000 were wounded.

The arrival of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) in South Vietnam during July and August 1962 was the beginning of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War.

The Australian Government officially ended Australia's involvement in the war on 11th January, 1973 when Governor General Paul Hasluck issued an official proclamation formally ending hostilities. The eleven year conflict had been the longest in Australian military history. 60,000 Australians had served during the Vietnam War.

The only combat troops remaining in Vietnam were a platoon guarding the Australian embassy in Saigon, which was withdrawn in June 1973.

On 30th April 1975, the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army, effectively ending the Vietnam War. Saigon was subsequently renamed Ho Chi Minh City.

During April 1975, a RAAF detachment of 7–8 Hercules transports flew humanitarian missions to aid civilian refugees displaced by the fighting and carried out the evacuation of Vietnamese orphans (Operation Babylift), before finally taking out embassy staff on 25th April.

Vietnam veterans and their families are welcomed to The Australian War Memorial Friday, 18th August 2023 from 5.45 pm to 7.45 pm, and Saturday, 19th August 2023 from 8 am to 10 am.

Veterans seeking to book free ticket/s to attend one of these two sessions and guarantee entry, should visit www.awm.gov.au/visit/plan.