Where Was Tour Of Duty Filmed?

The Short Answer

Season 1 of Tour of Duty was filmed mainly on Oahu, Hawaii, at Schofield Barracks and Kualoa Ranch, whose valleys stood in for Vietnamese jungle. Seasons 2 and 3 relocated to California, using the Indian Dunes area near Santa Clarita and sites around Los Angeles, including the Ambassador Hotel in Wilmington for the Tet Offensive embassy attack.

Tour of Duty aired from 1987 to 1990 and followed a platoon through the Vietnam War, but the cameras never entered Vietnam. Producers built their war zone in two very different American landscapes across three seasons.

The first season took advantage of Hawaii's genuine tropical terrain, with real Hawaii Army National Guard support and extras at Schofield Barracks. When costs forced a move, California backdrops dressed with tropical plants carried the series through its final two seasons.

Every Location At A Glance

Location	Where	What was filmed	Access
Schofield Barracks	Wahiawa	Season 1 base Camp Ladybird and jungle patrols	Private property
Kualoa Ranch	Kaneohe	Season 1 valley and jungle patrol scenes	Ticketed
Indian Dunes / Newhall Ranch area	Valencia	Seasons 2-3 jungle and base scenes; dressed with tropical plants	Private property
Ambassador Hotel	Wilmington	Tet Offensive embassy attack scenes	Outside only

Filming Locations Map

4 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

This active US Army base in Wahiawa, Oahu, served as the Season 1 setting for base Camp Ladybird and the surrounding jungle patrols, with Hawaii Army National Guard support and extras adding realism. It remains a working military installation, so access is restricted and visitors cannot tour filming areas. Those interested in related history can visit the Tropic Lightning Museum on site, which covers the base's long military record rather than the show itself.

The valleys of this ranch in Kaneohe, Oahu, doubled for Vietnamese jungle in Season 1, hosting valley and jungle patrol scenes. Today it is a working ranch with ticketed movie site tours that pass through filming areas, and the property has hosted many other productions, including Jurassic Park. Of all the locations tied to the show, this is the one fans can most easily see for themselves, with guided tours running regularly.

After Season 1, production moved to this Valencia, California area near Santa Clarita, where the scrubland was dressed with tropical plants to fake Vietnamese jungle for Seasons 2 and 3 base and patrol scenes. The site had a long filming history, also serving China Beach and M*A*S*H, and the old M*A*S*H set in Valencia was reused for some later filming. Today the area is largely private or agricultural land, so there is little for visitors to see.

This building at 817 N Fries Ave in Wilmington, California, appeared in the Tet Offensive embassy attack scenes, its retro architecture standing in for Saigon. It is the most accessible of the California locations since the exterior can be viewed from the street, though there is no filming display or marker. Fans of the show can appreciate the facade that masqueraded as wartime Vietnam on screen.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

The story is set in Vietnam during the war, but no filming took place there. Season 1 used Hawaii, mainly Oahu's Schofield Barracks and Kualoa Ranch, while Seasons 2 and 3 shifted to California at Indian Dunes near Santa Clarita and Los Angeles area sites after high costs ended the Hawaii shoot.

Tours That Visit These Locations

Most Tour of Duty locations are either private or unmarked, which makes Kualoa Ranch the practical choice for fans. Its film sites tour includes areas where Season 1 jungle patrol scenes were shot.

Kualoa Ranch Film Sites Tour

Oahu: Kualoa Ranch Hollywood Film Locations Tour

This tour through Kualoa Ranch's valleys covers Hollywood filming areas that include spots used for Tour of Duty's first season, alongside scenery from Jurassic Park and other productions. It runs about $62.77 per person and holds a 4.6 rating from 809 reviews, making it the easiest way to stand inside the show's jungle.

4.6 out of 5 · 809 reviews

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Frequently Asked Questions

Was Tour of Duty filmed in Vietnam?

No. Although the series is set during the Vietnam War, filming took place entirely in the United States. Season 1 was shot in Hawaii on Oahu, and Seasons 2 and 3 were shot in California.

Why did filming move from Hawaii to California?

Production relocated after Season 1 due to high costs. California locations such as the Indian Dunes area near Santa Clarita and Los Angeles area sites replaced Hawaii for the remaining seasons.

Can you visit Schofield Barracks?

Not for filming purposes. It is an active US Army base with private access, though the Tropic Lightning Museum on site covers related military history.

Can fans visit the Season 1 jungle locations?

Yes, through Kualoa Ranch. The ranch offers ticketed movie site tours that pass through areas used for Season 1 valley and jungle patrol scenes.

What stood in for Saigon in the show?

The Ambassador Hotel in Wilmington, California, at 817 N Fries Ave, was used for the Tet Offensive embassy attack scenes, with its retro architecture doubling for Saigon.

Was the Indian Dunes site used by other shows?

Yes. The Indian Dunes area also served China Beach and M*A*S*H, and the old M*A*S*H set in Valencia was reused for some Tour of Duty filming in later seasons.

For most travelers, one stop captures the Tour of Duty experience: Kualoa Ranch on Oahu, where the first season's jungle patrols came alive and where a film sites tour still carries visitors through the same valleys today.