Operation Xieng Dong

Operation Xieng Dong
Part of Laotian Civil War; Vietnam War
Date7 April-5 July 1971
Location
Result Royal Lao Army and allies successfully defend the royal capital. People's Army of Vietnam retreats.
Belligerents
 North Vietnam
Laos Pathet Lao

 Kingdom of Laos
Forces Armées Neutralistes
Special Guerilla Units

Supported by
CIA of the United States
Units involved
335th Independent Regiment

Bataillon Parachutistes 101
Bataillon Commando 205
Bataillon Guerrier 121
Two more MR 1 Bataillon Guerrier
Bataillon Guerrier 227
Two MR 5 battalions
Groupement Mobile 32

Half regiment of two battalions

Irregulars

Operation Xieng Dong (7 April–5 June 1971) was a successful defensive strike by the Royal Lao Army (RLA) against an invasion by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN). In early February 1971, PAVN forces swept RLA defenders from a line of hilltop positions guarding the royal capital of Luang Prabang. The city's perceived invulnerability to attack was shattered. King Sisavang Vatthana refused to leave his capital. Other Military Regions of Laos hastily forwarded to Luang Prabang's Military Region 1 any troops that could be spared from the rest of the Laotian Civil War. On 7 April, the resulting patchwork force of RLA battalions, Forces Armee Neutraliste half regiment, and Central Intelligence Agency-backed Special Guerrilla Units managed a three-pronged offensive supported by tactical aviation that surrounded and defeated the invading PAVN 335th Independent Regiment, which had gotten within eight kilometers of Luang Prabang. By 5 June 1971, the 335th was in full retreat.