The Invisible Scars That Won't Ever Heal In Vietnam

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In Vietnam, an entire generation that endured bombings, displacement, and profound loss of loved ones and homes has received little recognition for their suffering. They were children forced to leave school, mothers raising families amid chaos, and elders who lost everything in an airstrike.

Now, as they enter the final chapter of their lives, they carry not only chronic illnesses but also emotional wounds that never fully healed.

Unlike most international studies that focus on veterans, the VHAS tells a different story. In many cases, civilians may have suffered even more than soldiers. With weaker health, no military training and lacking support networks, they were more exposed to long-term psychological impacts.

Therefore, their trauma ran deeper and their recovery has been slower. Yet despite being living witnesses to history, their pain remains largely overlooked.

When trauma never left

Those who came of age during the war were ready to sacrifice their lives for the country's independence.

For many, love for family and strong ties to their communities were what kept them going. Amid relentless air raids and chaos, the instinct to survive, and the will to live, burned stronger than ever.

Both soldiers and civilians endured by choosing to forget the daily hardships they faced just to keep going. They clung to the fragile joy of simply being alive. But the pain they had pushed down never truly disappeared; it simmered beneath the surface, waiting to erupt.

In Quang Binh province, many elderly people broke down in tears as they recalled their wartime experiences. One man, the father of two children with disabilities linked to Agent Orange, struggled to speak as he recounted a haunting memory: the lifeless bodies of a young couple found in each other's arms inside a collapsed bomb shelter where they had just reunited after years apart.

An aging veteran wept as he remembered the moment his comrade was decapitated by shrapnel right in front of him; 50 years on, the soldier's remains are still missing. A woman, the sole survivor of her family, watched as the charred bodies of ten loved ones were pulled from the rubble of their bombed-out home.

No matter how much they try to forget, the scars remain. These memories resurface in sleepless nights, during moments meant for celebration and at reunions that should be filled with joy.

Forgiveness as prescription for healing

While war trauma is often unavoidable, its long-term effects can be eased with the right support. Our research shows that many older adults who lived through the war have demonstrated remarkable resilience. They've adapted, expressed gratitude for what remains, and focused on the future.

Social support, from family, friends or the broader community, is the foundation of healing. Those with strong family ties, intergenerational bonds, and a sense of belonging tend to cope better. Early detection of PTSD, combined with integrated physical and mental healthcare, offers the most effective path to recovery.