PANO - 59 years have elapsed since the day Vietnamese volunteer soldiers teamed with Lao troops and people to win Upper Laos Victory, laying good foundation for the development of Laos and Vietnam’s revolutions. PANO would like to introduce this vitally significant event in the relationship with the solidarity of Vietnam-Laos combat alliance.
In late 1952 and early 1953, with great support from Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, Lao troops and people built and reinforced an uninterrupted and strong chain of liberation zones and bases from Upper Laos and Central Laos to Lower Laos. Besides, the connection of the two liberated zones of Northwest of Vietnam and Upper Laos helped Laos promote guerrilla warfare in areas behind the enemy’s lines. That fostered Vietnam and neighbouring Laos to bring their initiatives in fighting the enemy into full play to win great victories.
In order to boost the solidarity of the combat alliance of Vietnam and Laos, the Meeting of the Party Central Committee of Vietnam (in January 1953) pointed out the need for the Vietnam Revolution to cooperate with the Laos Revolution to step up the resistance war against French imperialists to a new height. The Central Committee Meeting stressed that although the French Army had tried by all means to control the Upper Laos, it still exposed various weaknesses, so Upper Laos would be a wonderful area for Vietnam and Laos to jointly attack and separate the enemy’s troops and to reinforce Laos’ librated zone and revolutionary base.
Thoroughly grasping the Party Central Committee’s guidelines, on February 2 nd , 1953, Military General Commission of Vietnam approved a plan to open military operation on Lao battlefield and propose Politburo and President Ho Chi Minh to assign regular troops and Vietnamese volunteer soldiers to team with Lao troops and people to start an operation against enemy in Samneua (Upper Laos). That proposal was ratified.
On February 3 rd , 1953, the Government of Vietnam and Lao Resistance War Government decided to cooperate in opening Upper Laos Campaign to wipe out part of the enemy’s force, liberate part of occupied territory and assist Lao Resistance War Government with building and expanding its revolutionary bases in contribution to fostering Lao people’s resistance war and destroying strategic bases of the enemy in the North of Indochina so that they had to divide their force to cope with.
Upper Laos includes six provinces of Luong Phrabang, Huaphanh, Xiengkhuang, Vientiane, Phongsaly and Huoi Sai. This area was mountainous with a few of traffic road. From Vietnam, Road No. 7 led to Xiengkhuang, road No. 6 from Hoa Binh, Moc Chau to Pahang and Samneua in Huaphanh, a road from Son La passing Muong Het to Samneua. Parts of these roads in Laos’ territory were in very bad condition and automobiles could only travel in parts of Vietnam.
Meanwhile, the enemy divided Upper Laos battlefield into two defensive areas: Mekong (including Vientiane and Luong Phrabang) and Tran Ninh (including Samneua and Xiengkhuang). Samneua town in Huaphanh province was the key defensive area with strong group of fortresses like Na San in Northwest of Vietnam. The enemy had built 11 fortifications in a 1,8x2km valley where stood Na Thong field airport and Na Vieng parachuting field. The enemy’s force was reinforced from 3 Companies of fighters and partisans to 3 Battalions and 1 Artillery Company with more than 2,500 troops in total, including French and Lao puppet troops. In Xiengkhuang Province, the enemy also reinforced a Lao puppet Battalion.
Having agreed on the orientation and determination of the campaign set by the two Governments, Vietnam and Laos set up a Headquarters of the Campaign in which General Vo Nguyen Giap was the commander, comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh as political chairman and Major-General Hoang Van Thai as Chief of the General Staff. The Headquarters also included Prince Souphanouvong who was Prime Minister of Lao Resistance War Government, Defence Minister Cayxon Phonevihan and two other senior officials.
To implement the determination of the two countries’ leaders, in late February 1953, Vietnamese and Lao units pushed up their preparation in all aspects. To make ensure the Campaign´s victory, the High Command asked the Command of Vietnamese volunteer troops in Upper Laos to cooperate with Lao troops to well prepare for the Campaign and secure units of the two countries to march to regrouping location.
Since early March 1953, more than 60 officers and soldiers who were experienced in terrain and had a good command of Lao language were commissioned by the Command of Vietnamese volunteer troops in Upper Laos to study the enemy’s situation, terrain conditions and local people in Samneua and Xiengkhuang. The result was reported to Vietnamese High Command as a basis to set up combat plan.
Besides, the Command cooperated with Lao units and local authorities to mobilise local people to build bases, reinforce and develop armed forces of Laos and speed up guerrilla warfare.
The area in Xiengkho District bordering the Northwest of Vietnam and the road from Xophao to Samneua were key areas in the preparation for the Campaign. Units of both Vietnam and Laos were speeding up their preparation for the campaign.
