National Vietnam War Veterans Day is on Monday, March 29, 2027, and it falls on March 29 every year. It honors the men and women who served in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. It’s also a chance to give them the welcome many never got.
Why Is It on March 29?
On March 29, 1973, the last U.S. combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam. The date has become a symbol of the end of America’s combat role in the war.
It’s a national observance, not a federal holiday, so offices and schools stay open.
How Did the Day Become Official?
Congress passed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 unanimously in both the House and Senate. President Donald Trump signed it in March 2017. The law encourages Americans to fly the U.S. flag on March 29 each year.
Why Recognition Matters to Vietnam Veterans
Many returning service members met “a cold, and at times hostile, reception,” House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte said in 2017. He added that most “were not even acknowledged for their sacrifice.”
That’s why many March 29 events use the words “welcome home.” For some veterans, it’s the first time anyone has said it.
Who counts as a Vietnam veteran?
For the national commemoration, a Vietnam veteran is anyone who served on active duty between November 1, 1955, and May 15, 1975. That applies no matter where they were stationed.
The VA estimates more than 7 million Vietnam veterans are living in America and abroad. About 10 million more are family members of those who served.
The 50th anniversary commemoration
Congress authorized a national commemoration in the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. President Barack Obama launched it at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day 2012. More than 12,000 organizations joined as partners to host hometown events.
How to Honor Vietnam Veterans
- Fly the flag: the 2017 law specifically encourages it on March 29.
- Say “welcome home”: it’s the phrase many Vietnam veterans say they waited years to hear.
- Record a story: interview a veteran in your family and save the recording for your grandchildren.
- Visit the Wall: look up a name from your hometown and make a pencil rubbing.
- Attend a local event: VA medical centers and veterans’ groups often hold ceremonies on March 29.
- Volunteer: drive a veteran to a VA appointment through a local service group, or help at a veterans’ event.
- Read their names: search the Wall’s online directory for service members from your county.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Defense records list 58,220 U.S. military fatal casualties from the war, according to the National Archives. Their names, and those of the missing, are carved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Architect Maya Lin designed the memorial while she was a Yale University student, and it was dedicated in 1982. Its two black granite walls form a shallow V, with names listed in the order they were lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is National Vietnam War Veterans Day a federal holiday?
No. Offices and schools stay open. The 2017 law asks Americans to fly the flag rather than creating a day off.
What was the Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin?
The Defense Department’s 50th anniversary commemoration gave eligible living veterans a free lapel pin. By presidential proclamation, the commemoration ran through November 11, 2025.
Was the 2017 law bipartisan?
Yes. It passed both the House and Senate unanimously before the President signed it in March 2017.
Sources
- U.S. House Judiciary Committee – Goodlatte applauds enactment of legislation to honor Vietnam veterans (2017)
- United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration – FAQ
- National Archives – Vietnam War U.S. Military Fatal Casualty Statistics
- National Park Service – Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- U.S. House Judiciary Committee – Statement of Chairman Goodlatte at the markup of S. 305