Second Battle of Quảng Trị
1972 battle in the Vietnam War
The Second Battle of Quảng Trị (Vietnamese: Trận Thành cổ Quảng Trị; also called Operation Lam Sơn 72) was a battle in the Easter Offensive beginning on 28 June 1972 and lasting 81 days until 16 September 1972, when the South Vietnamese army (ARVN) defeated the North Vietnamese army (PAVN), leading to the ARVN recapturing Quảng Trị Province south of the Thạch Hãn River. This was the longest and fiercest battle in the Vietnam War, where South Vietnam played the main role while the U.S. only provided fire support for its ally.
Background
During the initial phase of the Easter Offensive, the PAVN passed the Demilitarized Zone and quickly captured Quảng Trị in the First Battle of Quảng Trị (30 March – 2 May 1972) and overran all of Quảng Trị Province. The ARVN regrouped forming a defensive line along the Mỹ Chánh River northwest of Huế and, together with U.S. support, the Battle of the Mỹ Chánh Line halted the PAVN offensive by 26 June.
Planning
On 14 June, I Corps commander, Lieutenant general Ngô Quang Trưởng briefed President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu and Joint General Staff chairman General Cao Văn Viên on his planned counterattack to retake Quảng Trị Province from the PAVN. Thiệu was not convinced, preferring a smaller-scale operation. Trưởng finally convinced Thiệu, emphasizing that such an effort would be possible "employing the superior firepower of our American ally." Thiệu finally approved the concept and Operation Lam Sơn 72 was launched on 28 June.
The probing attacks in June tested PAVN strength and allowed for the establishment of advance positions ahead of the launch of Trưởng's operation to recapture Quảng Trị Province. The operational plan called for the Airborne (RVNAD) and Marine (RVNMC) Divisions to advance abreast to the northwest to the Thạch Hãn River. The Airborne Division would deploy to the west from the foothills to Highway 1, while the Marine Division would deploy to the east from Highway 1 to the coast. Quảng Trị City would be in the Airborne Division's operational area, but the plan called for the city to be bypassed so as to concentrate on the destruction of PAVN forces.
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The record creator and administrative purpose are central evidence, because official documentation reflects both action and institutional priorities. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 22, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q4798235. Authority coordinates are 16.733, 106.967. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1972.
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