For my Brothers and Sisters who fought in Vietnam - Would you go back on VACATION? If so, why.... and why not?

Yes,would like to see my old base ,Cam Rahn Bay air base.

I WOULD LOVE TO GO BACK, BUT THE FARE WOULD KILL MY BUDGET. MOST VN VETS I KNOW ARE BARELY ABLE TO MEET THE MONTHLY BILLS AND I AM ON FIXED INCOMES (SOCIAL SECURITY & 50% VA DISABILITY), BUT A VISIT TO VIET NAM SOUNDS "GREAT" TO ME.

When I was able to go back--health being no problem---the USA and Vietnam had not yet established diplomatic relations which ticked me off. As a former Information and Broadcast Officer I had different reasons for wanting to return. Perhaps I'm a little different from other commentators because I did not voluntarily join the Army, received a nice letter from LBJ (may I spit on his grave).
I would want to see my old offices in Long Binh and Saigon because I always wondered how they were being used. As far as my last assignment at AFVN, I know the broadcast facility had some of the best equipment US Taxpayers could buy.
To this day, when someone asks me was it worth it?? I give a resounding: NO. Stupid neo-con war just to fight a philosophical idea which frightened all the "Red hunters" in the USA. Vietnam never posed a threat to us. I also lost friends over there including 6 from my small Catholic high school including a very fine classmate and homeroom buddy.
I would want to see all the progress and improvements including the remaking of Ho Chi Minh City including the new Caravelle Hotel site of the infamous "5 O'clock Follies". Where I watched everyone from the US ambassador to the Vietnamese military rep lie their asses off. The Vietnamese people are very industrious and hard working they only wanted to determine the destiny of their own country. However because of some health issues I'm no longer able to travel. Respect my fellow vets who return for whatever reason and those who help in restoring damage and searching for the remains of KIA's US and Vietnamese alike.
However, as I stated those are my views from someone who did not support the war but I'm glad if someone had to go, it was me. Rather me, than someone who believed we were doing the right thing. Still have no idea how the hell I made it through Infantry OCS before escaping to the Signal Corps.

No!

Not only have I gone back on vacation, and enjoyed myself thoroughly, I served as a diplomat in Vietnam from 1998 to 2001 when I was the first US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City. In addition to building the new consulate general building, I removed the old embassy (used the flag pole from the embassy for the consulate general), got to personally know the man who commanded VC forces in the Tet Offensive, and had tea with Hanoi Hannah. It was a great way to close a chapter in my life and US history, going from enemies in war to full-fledged diplomatic relations. I also served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for POW/Missing personnel affairs (2006-2009) and went to Vietnam annually in conjunction with this mission, and recently participated in a symposium at the US Institute for Peace in Washington, DC, highlighting how the POW/MIA issue and prosthetics for Vietnamese injured by UXO served as mutually beneficial programs to help us get past the war.