I agree that Australia is just a puppy dog to the warmongering america.

And the Vietnam war was a futile war, but another war in america's long and pathetically dismal history of war.

america is the most warmongering nation on the planet, and americans did not win the Vietnam war, like they have rarely won any war.

But that doesn't matter anymore, as long as america is at war, and being at war helps americans feel good about themselves (although they kill and injure a lot of people during their wars, which doesn't help other people feel good).

I also agree with the Vietnamese that Australians should not be using a battle in Vietnam as an excuse for a celebration and a party.

That would be the height of arrogance and americanism.

The appropriate US memorial lists the names on a dignified marble wall - in US. Is there any site they made in Vietnam ?
Can't find it..
Maybe Aust has outdone the Yanks in americanism with this episode of
skiting. Horrible to think if Gallipoli had been a military victory ,
with Anzac cove surf club , Anzac Pub and whopper flag like Parliament with athletic contest to run up the ridge to the top.

An incredibly ignorant presentation of the relationship of Australia with Vietnam. Both sides could have handled it better, but Vietnam’s actions were rude and unjustified.

“The Australian Government will provide an estimated $83.6 million in total ODA to Vietnam in 2016-17. This will include an estimated $58.4 million in bilateral funding to Vietnam managed by DFAT.
Australia and Vietnam’s partnership extends across political, security, economic and people-to-people activities. Australians born in Vietnam represent the fifth largest migrant community in Australia, and around 24,000 Vietnamese students enrol in education institutions in Australia each year. Vietnam is one of our fastest growing trade partners, and is central to regional security in South East Asia. The country’s further development as a strong trade and investment partner is vital to our national interest and the region’s prosperity.”
http://dfat.gov.au/geo/vietnam/development-assistance/Pages/development-assistance-in-vietnam.aspx

Our government has demonstrated its goodwill, and should have been treated with more consideration.
The author is a green, so his niggardly and uninformed view is only to be expected

In my opinion this is very much a left-wing diatribe. If the Aussie Vets had gone to Long Tan the local people would have flocked to the Aussies saying that the communist government was a terrible government and they wanted out of there or that they wanted to be rid of this odious government. I believe that is the reason that they didn't want the Aussies there.

Long Tan was a defeat for the Vietnamese in which around 200 to 400 of their soldiers perished. It is not surprising that they are sensitive about that. To have hundreds of Australians turning up with flags, TV cameras and bugles, giving speeches and parading around with medals, would seen to them that we were celebrating our victory over them in their own country.

If the Commonwealth forces had been victorious at Gallipoli, but the forces of Islam had eventually prevailed in driving us out of Asia Minor, there is no way that a Muslim government today would allow us to celebrate the Gallipoli victory in their own country.

Vietnam has always allowed visits to Long Tan , locals were interviewed this time and their government negotiated a visit on normal conditions after Turnbull asked for it.
French snub Battle of Waterloo 200 years after British defeated Napolean
Don't mention le war to French who still seem bitter about Napolean finishing second to the Duke of Wellington
France remains ambivalent about Napoleon's legacy and the battle has hit a raw nerve over whether it should ignore a tyrant or celebrate his military genius and fathership of France’s Civil Code.
That came to the fore earlier this month when Belgium minted a special €2.5 coin to mark the battle after France forced it to scrap a €2 coin saying it would cause an "unfavourable reaction in France".