Returning from Vietnam 'the worst part'

The worst part of the Vietnam War was coming home, former corporal John Staszynski says.

"(It was) coming back to a country that told you not to wear your uniform because it would only upset the protesters," he told AAP after the Anzac Day dawn service in Adelaide.

"They told you to keep a low profile, stay out of trouble. And we thought that was a real kick in the pants.

"We were out there believing we'd done the right thing."

Mr Staszynski, 69, was part of the A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment during the late 1960s.

It was nothing like he'd expected. The squadron lived in tents and supported soldiers based at Nui Dat.

He was caught up in numerous skirmishes but no real battles.

"We had situations where our unit would go out and we'd be left in camp to protect the perimeters, which mean that we had extended night watches and picket duty," Mr Staszynski said.

"It was more dull and routine than it was exciting. But when it was exciting, of course, it was real and it wasn't make believe."

He said life for Vietnam veterans was "much more pleasant now" because the politics of the war had abated.

"People have a better understanding, a wider view of the conflict and realise that it wasn't as negative as it was painted to be," Mr Staszynski said.

About 10,000 people attended the dawn service, and even more lined the city streets to watch thousands of former and current servicemen and woman march.