60 years of Plei Me Victory: A heroic history on the Central Highlands battlefield

On the morning of November 18, in Pleiku ward, the Ministry of National Defense coordinated with Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee to organize a scientific workshop with the theme "Plei Me Victory - Stature, significance and historical lessons" to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Plei Me Victory (November 26, 1965 - November 26, 2025).

In his opening speech, Senior Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defense, said that in the dry season of 1965, the first offensive campaign between the main force of the Vietnam People's Army and the US expeditionary force took place on the Central Highlands battlefield. The goal was to find a suitable way to fight, defeat the US expeditionary force, gain independence and unify the Fatherland.

Senior Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh speaks at the conference. Photo: TL

With a proactive spirit and high determination, the revolutionary armed forces and local people achieved the Plei Me Victory, writing a heroic page in the resistance war against the US to save the country; demonstrating the will to fight, win and the spirit of revolutionary attack under the wise leadership of the Vietnam Workers' Party, headed by President Ho Chi Minh .

The forces participating in the campaign included 3 infantry regiments (320, 33, 66), 1 commando battalion, 1 artillery battalion, 1 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun battalion and local armed forces.

After more than 1 month of fighting (October 19 - November 26, 1965), the Plei Me Campaign achieved a resounding victory, eliminating nearly 3,000 enemy troops, including 1,700 American troops, destroying a mixed infantry and mechanized battalion of the Saigon puppet army, destroying and damaging 2 American battalions, destroying 89 military vehicles, and shooting down 59 aircraft. The campaign achieved the first victory in the confrontation with the American troops in the strategic area of the Central Highlands.

The Presidium chaired the workshop. Photo: TL

Deputy Minister Le Huy Vinh emphasized that today's workshop is a meaningful activity to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Plei Me Victory, an opportunity for the entire Party, people and army to review the heroic fighting tradition of previous generations; to remember the compatriots and comrades who fought and sacrificed for the victory of the cause of national liberation and reunification.

“The results of the workshop will contribute to fostering patriotism, national pride, self-respect, the will for independence, self-reliance and the desire for peace, the determination to overcome all difficulties; strengthening the belief and determination of the entire Party, people and army to unite to overcome all difficulties and challenges...” - the Deputy Minister shared.

Speaking at the conference, Senior Lieutenant General Truong Thien To - Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army - affirmed that the victory of the Plei Me Campaign had great historical significance in terms of politics and military; it was a victory of the art of organizing and implementing the first offensive campaign in the period of fighting the US on the mountainous battlefield, marking the first defeat of the US army in Vietnam.

Senior Lieutenant General Truong Thien To affirmed that the victory of the Plei Me Campaign had great historical significance in terms of politics and military. Photo: TL

From the practical experience of the confrontation, our troops effectively neutralized the strength of the US airborne cavalry, promoting their close combat strengths to limit the enemy's strengths in firepower and mobility, forcing the US troops to be passive in our fighting style.

“Although 60 years have passed, the stature and significance of the Plei Me Victory is still the pride of the ethnic people and armed forces of the Central Highlands in particular, and of the army and people of the whole country in general. It was a victory of spirit, indomitable will, bravery and intelligence, and readiness to sacrifice for the cause of national unification,” Senior Lieutenant General Truong Thien To emphasized.

He said the conference's organizing committee had received 80 reports and presentations from central agencies, leaders and former leaders of the Ministry of National Defense, generals, historical witnesses, and scientists inside and outside the military. The presentations had deeply and comprehensively analyzed many aspects related to the Plei Me Victory.

Also at the workshop, Gia Lai Provincial Party Secretary Thai Dai Ngoc emphasized that the Plei Me Victory was a milestone in the history of the nation's revolutionary struggle in general and of the Party Committee, army and people of Gia Lai province in particular. The spirit of victory continues to be the pride, inspiration and motivation for the Party Committee and people of all ethnic groups in Gia Lai in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland today.

Comment (0)