Outbreak of the Vietnam War

Date: March 10, 1975 • Location: Buôn Ma Thuột, Viet Nam

This milestone marked the outbreak and beginning of this historic period, which spanned 1975.

Ho Chi Minh Campaign: North Vietnam began its final push for victory over South Vietnam with an attack on Ban Me Thuot.

The 1975 spring offensive, officially known as the general offensive and uprising of spring 1975, was the final North Vietnamese campaign of the Vietnam War that led to the capitulation of South Vietnam. In December 1974, People's Army of Vietnam's (PAVN) forces crossed from their bases in Cambodia and captured Phước Long Province by January 1975. After this success, the North Vietnamese leadership increased the scope of the PAVN offensive and attacked the Central Highlands from Cambodia in March, capturing the city of Buôn Ma Thuột on 18 March. These operations were intended to be preparatory to launching a general offensive in 1976.