The Vietnam War

Riding the Tiger (1961-1963)

President Kennedy inspires idealistic young Americans to serve their country and wrestles with how deeply to get involved in South Vietnam. As the increasingly autocratic Diem regime faces a growing communist insurgency and widespread Buddhist protests, a grave political crisis unfolds.

Riding the Tiger (1961-1963)

1h 26m

President Kennedy inspires idealistic young Americans to serve their country and wrestles with how deeply to get involved in South Vietnam. As the increasingly autocratic Diem regime faces a growing communist insurgency and widespread Buddhist protests, a grave political crisis unfolds.

Previews + Extras

  • Student Protests: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Student Protests

    S1 E2 - 1m 42s

    Students across South Vietnam protest the government's treatment of Buddhist monks. President Diem arrests thousands of students in response.

  • Episode Two | Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode Two | Preview

    S1 E2 - 30s

    In an immersive narrative, Ken Burns and Lynn Novick tell the epic story of the Vietnam War as it has never-before been told on film. THE VIETNAM WAR features testimony from nearly 80 witnesses, including many Americans who fought in the war and others who opposed it, as well as Vietnamese combatants and civilians from both the winning and losing sides.

  • The Nightlight: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Nightlight

    S1 E2 - 1m 37s

    A Marine remembers being afraid when assigned a listening post at night near the DMZ and how that fear stays with him today.

  • JFK on the Diem Coup: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    JFK on the Diem Coup

    S1 E2 - 1m

    Days after President Diem and his brother were killed in Saigon, President Kennedy dictated his own rueful account of the coup and his concerns for Vietnam's future.

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