Welcome to Hell Let Loose: Vietnam
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is a 50v50 tactical first-person shooter set in the Vietnam War (1965–1973). It is built around squads, communication, and the slow, deliberate pace of real combined-arms warfare — not solo kill counts.
If you’re coming from arcade shooters, the first ten matches will feel punishing. That’s normal. Read this guide, drop into a match, and aim to survive — not to top the scoreboard.
Before You Start — Platform Notes
Multiplayer only. There is no single-player campaign. Every match is 50 live players on each side.
Cross-play is available but optional. PC and console players can play together — servers are clearly tagged as “cross-platform”, “PC only”, or “console only”. You choose the experience that suits you when picking a server. Server owners can also set which platforms are allowed on their server.
1. The Game Loop in 60 Seconds
- Two teams of 50 fight to capture strongpoints across 6 game modes
- Teams are split into squads (~6 players each), each with an Officer
- One Commander per team coordinates overall strategy from the tactical map
- Officers place forward spawn points — this is how your team stays in the fight
- Vehicles include tanks, helicopters (US only), and patrol boats (both factions)
- The NVA can build tunnel networks for surprise attacks
2. Pick the Right First Class
If this is your first time playing, pick Rifleman. Reasons:
- Easy to learn with no specialist mechanics
- Plenty of ammo to resupply teammates
- Most flexible role on the battlefield
Avoid these on day one: Commander, Officer, Tank Commander, Sniper. They look fun but require knowing the rest of the game first.
See: Rifleman class guide
3. The Six Survival Rules
Rule 1: Walk, don’t sprint
Sprinting drains stamina, makes noise, and forces you to a full stop before you can aim. Veterans walk almost everywhere. Sprint only to break line of sight when shot at, or to cross open ground.
Rule 2: Stay with your squad
When you spawn in, find your squad on the map and move with them. A squad of six is at least three times harder to kill than six solo players in the same area.
Rule 3: Use your microphone
You don’t have to be funny or chatty. You just need to say:
- “Enemy north, two o’clock, by the tree”
- “Reloading, cover me”
- “Squad leader, push?”
Even basic callouts double your contribution.
Rule 4: Don’t fight what you can’t see
Vietnam’s jungle is dense. Fog, weather, and foliage mean you’ll often hear enemies before you see them. Don’t fire blindly. A single muzzle flash gives away your position to every enemy in 200m.
Rule 5: Use cover and prone
Standing in the open against a machine gunner is suicide. Drop prone behind cover, peek slowly, and only fire when you have a clear target.
Rule 6: Spawn smart
Your Officer can place forward spawn points. Spawn on those whenever possible. Spawning at the main base means a long walk back — wasted time every death.
4. Understand Suppression
Even bullets that miss you matter. When rounds pass near your character, your screen blurs and audio distorts — this is suppression.
If you’re suppressed, break line of sight first. Don’t try to out-aim the machine gunner. Move, then engage from a different angle.
5. Getting Into Vehicles
HLL: Vietnam adds a vehicle seat selection wheel — when you approach a vehicle, a wheel appears letting you pick your seat before boarding. Choose driver, gunner, or any other crew position from the outside.
This replaces the old system of boarding first and swapping seats after. It makes coordinating tank and helicopter crews much faster.
6. Voice Channels
There are multiple voice channels:
- Proximity — anyone physically nearby hears you
- Squad — your 6-player squad only
- Command — Officers and the Commander only
As a Rifleman, you’ll mostly use proximity and squad. Don’t be afraid to talk — silence is how matches get lost.
See the full Voice Chat & Push to Talk guide if your mic is stuck open or push to talk isn’t responding.
7. The Vietnam-Specific Stuff
A few things to learn fast that didn’t exist in the original Hell Let Loose:
- Helicopters (US only) — transport, fire support, supply drops
- Tunnels (NVA only) — the enemy can spawn behind you on any map
- Patrol boats (both factions) — active combat threats on river maps
- Bayonets — available on M16A1 and Type 56; close-jungle melee is viable
8. Where to Go Next
Once you’ve played 5–10 matches as Rifleman, branch out:
- Learn Medic to keep your squad alive
- Try Officer when you’re confident
- Read Suppression, Tunnel Warfare, and Game Modes
- Join the Discord and squad up with regulars
Welcome to HLL.