The Battle for Vientiane: A Nation Torn Between East and West

The "City of Sandalwood," Vientiane, historically known for its gentle people and Buddhist festivals, became a violent stage for a Cold War showdown in December 1960. This conflict represented a decisive confrontation between the opposing political factions of Laos: the pro-Communist left and the pro-U.S. right.

The Path to Conflict

Following a coup in August, the administrative capital fell under the control of Captain Kong Le and his paratroopers. While Kong Le held the city, much of the countryside remained under the influence of General Phoumi Nosavan, the nation's pro-U.S. strongman. The fragile peace shattered when the neutralist Premier, Prince Souvanna Phouma, abandoned his attempts at compromise and fled to Cambodia, leaving a power vacuum.

Escalation and Foreign Aid

The battle lines were reinforced by foreign interests:

• The Left: Kong Le bolstered his forces with 2,000 Communist Pathet Lao guerrillas. He received critical military hardware from Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Abramov, including 105-mm howitzers, 120-mm mortars, and North Vietnamese advisors to operate them.

• The Right: General Phoumi Nosavan organized a political counter-move in Savannakhet, where the National Assembly named Prince Boun Oum as the new Premier. Supported by U.S. tanks and weaponry, Phoumi’s troops advanced on Vientiane by river, foot, and air.

The Siege of Vientiane

The ensuing three-day battle turned the capital into a war zone. Tanks fired through streets while mortar shells struck embassies, hotels, and temples. The U.S. embassy was set ablaze, and the Constellation Hotel was struck by shells as civilians sought cover. Amidst the chaos, lines of refugees fled across the Mekong River to Thailand.

The fluid nature of the war was evident in the streets; soldiers frequently switched sides by simply changing their colored armbands—red for Kong Le or white for General Phoumi.

Aftermath and a Fragile Victory

By the end of the week, General Phoumi’s forces regained control. Vientiane was left ravaged, with an estimated 200 dead and streets littered with debris and funeral pyres. While Premier Boun Oum’s new government received immediate support from the United States, the victory remained precarious. The retreating Pathet Lao forces issued orders to "develop guerrilla warfare powerfully," signaling that while the battle for the city was over, the struggle for the nation was far from finished.