Operation Xieng Dong

Operation Xieng Dong
Part of Laotian Civil War; Vietnam War
Date 7 April-5 July 1971 Location Luang Prabang Province, Laos Result Royal Lao Army and allies successfully defend the royal capital. People's Army of Vietnam retreats.
Belligerents
North Vietnam 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.