I'm packing for a trip to Vietnam. I have a cotton shirt with a camouflage pattern that I'm thinking of taking. Could this be considered offensive for an American to wear on account of the war? The shirt was actually made in Vietnam.

We found the Vietnamese to be very low key about the American War. However, unless the camouflage shirt is the only shirt you own, I would leave it at home. Why take the chance of offending someone?

Yes, thanks. I guess if I have to ask, I'd feel uncomfortable, regardless of what people are thinking.

Actually, most people south of Hue love the Americans for trying to help. Do not worry about the cammo clothing. It can be found everywhere here in all the markets. The shorts I am wearing at this very moment in Nha Trang Vietnam says Commanding officer of USS Enterprise and look like military issue.

Owee58

The Vietnamese people are incredibly nice to Americans, even in the north. They refer to the war as "the American war", but that is in the past and we felt very comfortable as Americans visiting Vietnam.

OK, thanks again. I guess I'm wondering especially because I'm a VN vet. I just happen to like the shirt and it's the right light-weight cotton. It's obviously not genuine military clothing.

Leave it at home. Older Vietnamese will find it offensive, they are just too polite to say anything about it to your face. Plenty of lightweight cotton shirts around with out the need for camouflage.

Agree leave it at home.

I would also chose a different shirt.

I am sitting in a hotel in Hanoi at thís very moment and have been in VN since Jan. 22. Not all southerners like the US, in fact a signìficant group from Cu Chi were with the north all through the war. I ưould leave the shirt home. It is my sense that the VN people are happy to be living in peace and have left the "American war" behind. At the same time they have not forgotten and will freely talk about it.