Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- Address: Henry Bacon Drive, at Constitution Avenue NW, National Mall, Washington D.C.
- Hours: Open 24 hours a day
- Admission: Free
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Cultural Experience,
Must-Do Experience,
Monument - Historical,
Monument - Military
If not one of the most powerful in the world, the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial is certainly one of the most powerful in Washington D.C. The iconic memorial is comprised of two walls of polished black granite, on which the names of the 58,209 soldiers killed in the Vietnam War are inscribed. It's an eloquent inversion of the Mall's other monuments: rather than a pale, ornate structure reaching skyward, it's dark, austere and burrows into the earth, symbolizing the war's wound to the national psyche.
Paper indices at both ends help you locate individual names. The most moving remembrances are notes, medals, and mementos left by survivors, family and friends; some of these are collected by park rangers and displayed at the National Museum of American History.
Nearby is the tree-ringed Women in Vietnam Memorial depicting female soldiers aiding a fallen man. Veterans dedicated to finding lost POWs have set up permanent camps around the monument, passing out pamphlets and Congressional petitions to search for soldiers still missing three decades after the war's end.
Latest Reviews
Review by Pamela B, July 2011
Doing what: Washington DC Monuments by Moonlight Night Tour by Trolley
Recommend the tour. The driver was informative and entertaining. It was a beautiful moonlit night (great luck/timing with that!) Rushed for time at the Lincoln/Korean War/Vietnam Memorials; only got to see two of three with time alotted. On the negative side, Viator did not notify the trolley co. of our reservation (discovered the day of the tour when we confirmed), but the trolley co. fit us in.
Note from Viator: Thank you for your comment. In case it isn't clear, Viator does not individually notify the tour operator of each individual who books the tour through our web site. As it says in the information section for this tour listing, "You must present a paper voucher for this tour. We will email a link to access and print your voucher at the Lead Travelers email address." That is all you should have to do to take this tour.
Review by Lily L, USA, January 2011
Doing what: Washington DC Monuments by Moonlight Night Tour by Trolley
Review by Dolores S, August 2012
Doing what: Washington DC Monuments by Moonlight Night Tour by Trolley
The tour and guide were excellent. Only disappointing thing was the lack of lighting in certain areas (korean monument, Vietnam..) as it was too dark to take photos. Fortunately I had seen the Vietnam memorial in the daytime, but for the stops, the tour needs to stop where there are lights.
Practical Info
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located northeast of the Lincoln Memorial, on the National Mall, and is accessible via metro and bus. The memorial is also near the Conservatory Garden and the Reflecting Pool, which fronts the Lincoln Memorial. Allow 20 to 30 minutes for your visit.
