Home from the Vietnam War (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Home from the Vietnam War follows decorated U.S. veteran Lee Alley and John Ngyuen as they return to Vietnam decades after the conflict. Their visit to a devastating battle site brings wartime memories, personal history and the possibility of reconciliation into focus in this documentary from Mat Hames.

Home from the Vietnam War centers on a return to Vietnam more than five decades after the war. The documentary follows decorated U.S. veteran Lee Alley and John Ngyuen, who fled the war as a child, as they revisit a site marked by violence and loss.

Directed by Mat Hames, the 71-minute film frames this journey through memory, nightmares and the search for healing. Its focus is personal rather than broadly encyclopedic, connecting the history of the Vietnam War with the experiences of two people who carry its consequences.

Home from the Vietnam War movie details

Story without spoilers

The film follows Lee Alley, a decorated U.S. veteran haunted by nightmares, and John Ngyuen, who escaped Vietnam as a child. Fifty-seven years after the war, the two return to Vietnam together and travel to one of its bloodiest battle sites.

Their visit brings them face to face with the history of the soldiers they once fought and with memories that have remained buried for decades. The documentary presents the trip as an effort to confront the past while seeking healing and reconciliation, without reducing the experience to a simple return visit.

What to expect

As a documentary combining history with personal testimony, Home from the Vietnam War is built around a real-life journey and the long aftermath of conflict. The premise points to a reflective film concerned with memory, trauma, wartime responsibility and reconciliation.

The story spans two perspectives: that of a former U.S. combatant and that of someone who fled Vietnam as a child. English and Vietnamese are listed among the spoken languages, reinforcing the film’s cross-cultural setting. The supplied details identify the historical and personal framework, but do not indicate its specific visual approach or critical tone.

Cast and creative team

Lee Alley and John Ngyuen appear as themselves. Alley is identified as a decorated U.S. veteran, while Ngyuen fled the war as a child. Mat Hames directs the documentary and co-writes it with Matt Hirst.

• Lee Alley as self
• John Ngyuen as self

Release and production context

Home from the Vietnam War is a 2026 documentary and history film with a listed release date of October 8, 2026. It runs for 1 hour and 11 minutes. The film uses English and Vietnamese and is produced by Alpheus Media.

Production companies: Alpheus Media

Movies Dock view

Home from the Vietnam War approaches the Vietnam War through the experiences of two people returning to a place shaped by conflict. With its focus on long-held memories, personal accountability and reconciliation, the documentary offers a concentrated account of what it can mean to revisit history decades later.

Film data:
TMDB