6 films to watch before traveling to Vietnam

Table of Contents

• The Quite American (1958 and 2002)
• Full Metal Jacket (1987)
• Indochine (1992)
• L’Amant (1992)
• Thi Mai, rumbo a Vietnam (2017)
• Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
• A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023)

Cinema has produced excellent Vietnamese films! Before traveling, I always make a list of films set in or related to that country. Cinema is a good way to immerse yourself in the cultural, sociopolitical, and historical context of a country even before booking your flight. It's also much more fun than browsing facts on Wikipedia.

When we decided to travel to Vietnam, I realized that the only "Vietnamese" films I had seen were American war movies, like Apocalypse Now and Platoon. All I remembered from them was a lot of explosions, guns, and a strong binary between Americans/Vietnamese or Civilized/Savage.

Vietnamese films tend to focus on the war itself or the effects of post-colonialism. However, my 4 favorite films about Vietnam have a little less guns and explosions and a little more history and politics.

The Quite American (1958 and 2002)

In fact, I definitely recommend reading the book The Quiet American before watching the film. Graham Greene's dark story, with its questionable morality and dubious US intervention in France's war against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, is extraordinary. The love triangle between the three main characters - a British journalist, an American aid worker, and a Vietnamese woman - explores the link between the "civilizing" West and the "exotic" East in a more rooted and sophisticated way than other Vietnamese films.

The film The Quite American (2002) stars Michael Caine. Personally, I felt that the film was not as subtle as the 1958 version of The Quiet American, but it was still enjoyable. Perhaps especially because when you go to Vietnam, you can spot all the locations from the film scenes.

This film was shot in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

 Full Metal Jacket (1987)

A scene in Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket sticks in my mind. Sitting by a dusty road, a Vietnamese prostitute strolled by and suddenly met two American soldiers. She asked them: "Do you have a girlfriend in Vietnam?" swaying her hips. "Fifteen dollars each." While the two soldiers watched her, a skinny Vietnamese man rushed up and stole their camera, jumped on a motorcycle, and rode away.

I was never robbed when I was in Vietnam, although I heard some stories from other travelers, so I may have unconsciously learned something even before I got there.

Indochine (1992)

I've heard many bloggers say they fell in love with the idea of traveling to Vietnam after watching Indochine. This French-language film tells the story of a French plantation owner (Catherine Deneuve) amidst the Vietnamese people's struggle for independence from French Indochina. In Hanoi, you can visit Kinh Do cafe (one of the best cafes in Hanoi) where Deneuve bought coffee and croissants every morning while filming Indochine.

L’Amant (1992)

Who could refuse a French-Vietnamese romantic drama? What I liked most about this film is that the Western/Eastern couple is reversed. The protagonists are a Vietnamese man and a French schoolgirl, who begin a love story together in Saigon. It's an elegant and atmospheric film, even if it's more character-driven.

L'amant is a foreign film imbued with Vietnamese substance.

Thi Mai, rumbo a Vietnam (2017)

Thi Mai, rumbo a Vietnam comes from Spain. It's a fun story about a trip to Vietnam for an adoption. As the film's struggles unfold, viewers are treated to a beautifully filmed tour of Hanoi and the surrounding regions of Vietnam. It's a magnificent look at this beautiful country.

Thi Mai, rumbo a Vietnam is a fun film with silly escapades. It's full of heart and love. This film was written by Marta Sánchez and directed by Patricia Ferreira. The 2017 film is currently streaming on Netflix.

If you're in the mood for a heartwarming adventure with a happy ending, Thi Mai, rumbo a Vietnam should do the trick.

The film brings us a real Hanoi!

Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

Controversial? Only because there are so many Robin Williams fans, I think. A comedy about the Vietnam War? There's just something fundamentally wrong with that. Perhaps it's because the film's comedy is more nonsensical than it gives the impression of showing Americans (represented by Robin Williams' character and the buddies who laugh at his jokes) ignoring the horrible reality of war. It's mostly very embarrassing, often unrealistic, and the main character appears totally devoid of cultural understanding and sensitivity.

Want to watch a recent film?

A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023)

"A Tourist's Guide to Love" is a romantic drama that tells the story of Amanda, a travel agent, and her journey after a breakup. Amanda chooses Vietnam as her destination "to find herself." During her trip, she meets Sinh, a Vietnamese tour guide (played by Scott Ly). At his suggestion, Amanda embarks on a different journey than initially planned to further explore the landscapes and culture of Vietnam.

The film, shot with Hollywood-level attention to detail, highlights the beauty of iconic sites, as well as the Vietnamese people and culture, across six main cities: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An, My Son, and Ha Giang.

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