2 pt question for my vietnamese friends: are there any north vietnamese wae veteran organizations?

Question

how can i contact them?

Answer 1

yes there is a north vietnamese war veteran organization.  it is celebrated and posted with many signs.  its just not as popular as in usa

Answer 2

Xin Chao Ong Jon, I don't know the answer to your question. I've never been very far north from my "base of operations" in Ben Tre. I would bet pounds to pennies that there is. I'm a former Marine and can tell you from experience that there is nothing better than getting together with the other old farts (and new kids) at the VFW or Legion hall to swap tall tales. It's a part of the service life to get together with comrades, have a beer and b-tch about how the world is going to h**l in a hand-basket. Viet vets are probably more inclined, the whole country is so social. I'll have my wife ask her father when I talk to her tomorrow. He was VC. (You should of seen the look on his face when she brought me home to meet him.... Priceless. LOL)

Answer 3

Hi Ong Jon!

As you know, I have uncles who served on both sides of the Vietnam War. My Uncle Bui was an NVA major stationed in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang grotto during most of the War. He is currently a retired General living in Hanoi. I don't recall him saying anything about being a part of a Veteran's organization in Vietnam, and I doubt there is anything similar to what we have here in the states for you and other Vietnam Veterans.

Remember that Vietnam is a communist country, and any organization like that must go through their government bureaucracy for approval. Also, those who were brought up in a communist society simply don't understand what such an organization could do for them. They will likely think that they will be sent to prison for creating such an organization, which would squash any idea forming and sustaining it.

Chuck Searcy, a Vietnam Veteran living in Hanoi, formed the American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi. It took over a year of careful negotiations with the Vietnam government before they were allowed an official chapter. Also, membership to AmCham was initially limited to expats and foreigners.

All that in mind, I doubt there is a veteran's organization for NVA or Viet Cong.

NEW INFO!!!

I just checked with my family in North Vietnam, and I stand corrected. There ARE Veteran's organization of sorts for both NVA and Viet Cong veterans. However, the organization is different from what you would receive as a Veteran here.

If I am correct on what was just told to me, their Veterans are allowed to use military hospitals and medical services after discharge or retirement. This is not like our Veteran's Administration here, where VA hospitals and medical facilities are separate from the military. Veterans there are able to receive financial assistance if they are not able to work, but it's nothing like what Veterans here could receive.

There is an active Veteran's association there somewhat similar to the VFW here. I had though such an organization would be almost impossible to organize in a communist country until I was brought to realize that the generals who had formed their organization ARE the government.

Until Doi Moi, rise in economic status in Vietnam was predominantly through advancement as a government official or as a military officer. My uncle being a general was very well off compared to other Vietnamese (and he still is). Ironically, he couldn't care less about his country's government, and acts more like a capitalist than a communist. That's probably why he isn't involved with any Veteran's organizations there.