I came across a listing for something being sold on Facebook Marketplace: Original Viet-Nam 67-68 Handmade Embroidered Bien Hoa War Souvenir Childs Jacket
Pictured was a blue jacket with Bien Hoa Vietnam 67-68 on the back, with a map of Vietnam, and an embroidered tiger, dragons and Vietnamese characters on the front.
The listing said it was a "genuine, theater-made 'souvenir' jacket", and that "these were often custom-commissioned by service members as gifts for family back home."
Searching on ebay, I found a number of similar jackets, seemingly confirming this was a somewhat common practice.
What is the history of these jackets?
Did Vietnamese tailors or servicemen make these jackets? Who made, and bought, the first one? Why were they popular as souvenirs? Would servicemen buy and ship them home, or bring them home with them? Were they bought for friends, or spouses, or kids? Did they fall in popularity as America turned against the war?