Vietnam veterans say they have received closure with the marking of a major anniversary, while one of Australia's war heroes has urged the government to continue the fight to improve mental health support.
Commemorative services were held around the country on Friday to remember the 50th anniversary of Australia ending its involvement in the conflict.
Veteran Russell Kennedy travelled from Melbourne to mark the occasion at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in Canberra.
"Today is closure," he said.
"We weren't accepted when we came home."
Douglas Witt, who also fought, said the acknowledgement "means everything in the world".
Victoria Cross recipient Keith Payne called the war a "sad memory".
After a lifetime without recognition, he praised the government for acknowledging the impact of post traumatic stress disorder on his colleagues.
"It's a shame on the nation, and the people of Australia should say to the government, 'let's fix the problem'," he told reporters.
In a message to all Australians, Mr Payne said: "Don't forget the causes of war."
At the end of the wreath-laying ceremony, the 89-year-old stood using his walker and laid poppies in honour of his mates.
About 3000 veterans and their families braved the wind and rain in the capital to remember those who served.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who attended an event in Ipswich, said Australians respected the valour, integrity and character of those who fought.
"Let us say to every one of our Vietnam veterans, today and every day, 'we honour you, we thank you and we are sorry that as a nation it took us so long for us as a nation to do so'."
He said Australia had matured enough to embrace the truth that "we can disagree with a war without that diminishing the respect we feel for every man and woman who puts on our uniform and serves in our name".
"Respect for your valour, your integrity and your character.
"Respect for the truth that you have all paid a price - a price that some are still paying."
Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh told the Canberra event the experience of the conflict reflected Australia's character.
"It's about knowing no matter how dire the circumstances, your mates will always have your back," he said.
Governor-General David Hurley attended the service, as did Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Tat Thanh.
In Sydney, veterans minister David Harris was at the Cenotaph in the CBD alongside RSL NSW President and Vietnam veteran Ray James.
“For those of us still here today, I say we must continue to honour the dead but fight like hell for the living as we support our fellow veterans of all conflicts and connect them with the mateship, camaraderie and services they need,” Mr James said.
About 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam, with more than 3000 wounded and 523 killed. Some 15,000 were conscripted under the National Service Scheme.
Upon returning home, veterans experienced hostility from the community over their involvement in an unpopular conflict, including being spat on and having paint thrown on them during parades.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, defence spokesman Andrew Hastie and veterans' affairs spokesman Barnaby Joyce said the war was a polarising conflict.
"At the time, public opinion often failed to draw a distinction between the politics of war and the people who fought in it," they said in a joint statement.
"In the decades since the Vietnam War, we have come to acknowledge our nation’s historical mistreatment of many who returned."
It is estimated more than 35,000 Australian Vietnam veterans are still living.
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