Sam Thong

Sam Thong refers to a historical settlement and surrounding area located in Laos, primarily associated with the early stages of the Vietnam War (or the Second Indochina War). It served as a key base of operations for the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Royal Lao Army (RLA) in their covert war against the Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese forces.

Sam Thong was strategically important due to its proximity to the Plain of Jars, a significant geographic feature and contested area. The base was used for training Lao soldiers and Hmong irregulars, as well as for launching bombing campaigns and reconnaissance missions. It also functioned as a logistics hub for supplying these forces.

The area was heavily bombarded during the war, leading to significant civilian casualties and displacement. The population was largely comprised of ethnic Hmong people, who were recruited and trained by the CIA to fight against the communist forces. The fall of Sam Thong to Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese forces in the early 1970s marked a turning point in the Laotian Civil War and contributed to the eventual communist victory in 1975. The legacy of Sam Thong continues to impact the region through unexploded ordnance and the ongoing challenges faced by the Hmong community.