Embroidered Vietnam veteran hat and apparel collection

Commemorating service during the Vietnam era

The men and women who served during the Vietnam era returned home to a complicated national landscape, yet their commitment to duty and to each other remains unbroken. As part of our complete lineup of veteran hats and apparel, our Vietnam veteran collection provides a straightforward way to wear your service era.

This collection includes two distinct designs — Vietnam Veteran (for those who served in theater) and Vietnam Era Veteran (honoring all active-duty service during the 1955–1975 statutory period, regardless of deployment theater) — offered on embroidered hats, heavyweight tees, long-sleeve shirts, polos, hoodies, ceramic mugs, and vinyl stickers.

Official Vietnam era service dates per 38 CFR 3.2(f)

Establishing active duty dates is central to veteran identity and statutory benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs defines the Vietnam era under 38 U.S.C. § 101(29) and 38 CFR § 3.2(f) using two specific service windows:

1. Service in the Republic of Vietnam: For veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam, the general Vietnam era wartime period spans November 1, 1955, through May 7, 1975 (while presumptive Agent Orange exposure in the Republic of Vietnam, its inland waterways, and offshore territorial waters under 38 U.S.C. § 1116 and 38 CFR § 3.307(a)(6) covers January 9, 1962, through May 7, 1975).
2. Service outside the Republic of Vietnam: For active duty personnel who served anywhere else in the armed forces during the conflict, the statutory period spans August 5, 1964, through May 7, 1975.

These regulatory dates govern eligibility for wartime pension programs, burial benefits, and presumptive health coverage under the law.

Vietnam veteran collection: dad hat, trucker hat, and heavyweight tee

We offer the Vietnam veteran design on three blanks so you can pick the style that fits your day-to-day wear:

• Vietnam veteran dad hat (Yupoong 6245CM): An unstructured, 6-panel, low-profile cap with a 3 1/8″ (7.6 cm) crown, curved visor, 6 embroidered eyelets, and an adjustable strap with an antique buckle. Made of 100% chino cotton twill. Available in Black, Dark Grey, Khaki, Navy, Spruce, and Stone.
• Vietnam veteran trucker hat (Yupoong 6606): A structured, six-panel, mid-profile cap with a low-profile embroidery area and a 3.5″ (8.9 cm) crown. Built with hard buckram front panels, a mesh back for days in the sun, a Permacurv® visor with matching undervisor, and a plastic adjustable closure fitting head circumferences from 21 5/8″ to 23 5/8″ (54.9 cm to 60 cm). Fabric composition varies depending on color and available stock between 60% cotton / 40% polyester and 74% polyester / 26% cotton (blank product sourced from Vietnam or Bangladesh). Available in Black, Brown/Khaki, Charcoal/Black, Heather Grey/White, Moss/Khaki, and Navy/White.
• Vietnam veteran tee (Comfort Colors 1717): A unisex garment-dyed heavyweight t-shirt made of 100% ring-spun cotton at a fabric weight of 6.1 oz/yd² (206.8 g/m²). Features a relaxed fit, a 7/8″ double-needle topstitched collar, twill-taped neck and shoulders for extra durability, and double-needle armhole, sleeve, and bottom hems (blank product sourced from Honduras). Available in Black, Granite, Khaki, Moss, True Navy, and White.

To keep the lettering legible across colors, we pair light thread or ink with Black, Navy, Spruce, Dark Grey, Charcoal/Black, Moss/Khaki, Navy/White, Brown/Khaki, True Navy, Moss, and Granite, and dark thread or ink with Khaki, Stone, Heather Grey/White, and White. Two hats, one for each of you: pair a Vietnam veteran dad hat with a trucker hat—or match across eras—for a veteran and family member.

DoD trademark compliance and typography design

We avoid placing unlicensed military emblems, service seals, unit patches, flags, or campaign medals on our apparel. Under federal law (10 U.S.C. § 2260) and Department of Defense Instruction 5535.12, commercial reproduction of official military marks requires formal licensing from the Department of Defense.

By using two-line typography—setting “VIETNAM” over “VETERAN” with a horizontal rule—our hats and tees honor Vietnam era service without using restricted military marks.

Verifying records and toxic exposure benefits

If you are replacing lost military documentation or verifying deployment dates for VA health care, check your discharge papers using our guide on what is a DD214. Furthermore, any veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975 (or in other qualifying herbicide locations under the PACT Act) should review the expanded presumptive health coverage detailed in our Agent Orange presumptive conditions guide.

For families seeking meaningful ways to present headwear or apparel alongside military shadowboxes, explore our recommendations for gifts for veterans.