Gene, I think you were in the Navy. Likely didn't get much chance to venture too far inland.

Just south of the DMZ, in Quang-Tri province, the mountains and trees were absolutely beautiful, if taken with out the hostile folks roaming there. The rubber plantations, further south, around Tay Ninh, were also very nice if you just consider their geography and vegetation. The beaches at Cam Ranh Bay were nice too. Never had occasion to visit the U Minh forest and I'm grateful that I didn't but I think that it would be worthwhile today and not nearly so dangerous.

No real inclination to ever go back but the place is not without it's charms and there are many places a lot further down on my list of places I'd like to visit.