304 Division (Vietnam)
| 304th Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1950-present |
| Allegiance |
 Vietnam
|
| Branch | Vietnam People's Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Mechanized infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | 2nd Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Vĩnh Phúc, Vietnam |
| Nickname(s) | "Vinh Quang" (Glorious) |
| Engagements |
First Indochina War Battle of Hòa Bình Operation Bretagne Battle of Dien Bien Phu Vietnam War Battle of Khe Sanh Battle of Lang Vei First Battle of Quảng Trị 1975 Spring Offensive Hue–Da Nang Campaign |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Hoàng Minh Thảo Hoàng Sâm |
The 304 Division is an infantry division of the People's Army of Vietnam. It was established in January 1950 at Thanh Hoa.
In late December 1953 seven battalions from Regiment 66 of the 304th and Regiment 101 of the 325th Infantry Division moving from Vinh attacked isolated French outposts in the Annamite Range in Annam and Central Laos.
On 5 January 1954 General Võ Nguyên Giáp ordered the 57th Regiment of the 304th to move from Phú Thọ to Điện Biên Phủ and after a 10-day, 200 miles (320 km) march, by 23–24 January they were in position in the south of the valley. Regiment 57's main role during the Battle of Dien Bien Phu was to isolate the French garrison at Strongpoint Isabelle to the south of the main position in the valley. In late April following the heavy losses in the previous month's fighting, General Giáp ordered Regiment 9 of the 304th to Điện Biên Phủ as reinforcements. Total estimated losses among the 304th Division at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu are 490 killed.
One of its regiments took part in the November 14–18, 1965 Battle of Ia Drang.
In December 1967, US Intelligence reported that the 304th Division had crossed over from Laos and had taken up positions southwest of Khe Sanh Combat Base. On 21 January 1968 a battalion of the 304th attacked Khe Sanh which was defended by local militia and a Marine Combined Action unit, the 304th suffered at least 123 killed before the defending forces withdrew to the Combat Base.
On the night of 6/7 February, the 22nd Infantry Regiment (attached to the 304th) and the 101st Infantry Regiment of the 325th Division supported by 12 PT-76 lights tanks of the 203d Armored Regiment overran the US special forces camp at Lang Vei killing 316 of the camp's defenders including 7 Americans for the loss of 90 NVA killed and 7 tanks destroyed.
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