Ia Drang River ( Vietnamese : Sông Ia Drăng ), also known as the Prêk Drang in Cambodia , is a tributary of the Srepok River in the Mekong river system that flows through Vietnam and Cambodia.
20-652: The river originates from the hills in southern Pleiku , the provincial capital of Gia Lai province in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam. It then flows southwestwards, through Chư Prông district and enters the Ou Ya Dav District of Ratanakiri province in northeast Cambodia, before joining the Srepok River . The valley northeast of the Chư Prông massif, through which the river flows,
40-417: A Convair 880 (VR-HFZ) from Bangkok to Hong Kong, disintegrated and crashed while the aircraft was flying at 29,000 feet (8,800 m) over Pleiku, Vietnam after a bomb exploded in a suitcase placed under a seat in the cabin, killing all 81 people on board. After the fall of Buôn Ma Thuột to a major North Vietnamese assault in early 1975, and the resulting insecurity of National Route 19 leading from Qui Nhơn ,
60-667: Is a city in central Vietnam , located in the Central Highlands region. It is the capital of the Gia Lai Province . Many years ago, it was inhabited primarily by the Bahnar and Jarai ethnic groups, sometimes known as the Montagnards or Degar , although now it is inhabited primarily by the Kinh ethnic group. The city is the centre of the urban district of Pleiku which covers an area of 260.77 km² (100 mi²). As of 2023,
80-523: Is home to the Hoàng Anh Gia Lai football club. The city sits at the junction of several national roads— National Route 14 to Kon Tum in the north and Buôn Ma Thuột in the south and National Route 19 to Stung Treng in Cambodia in the west (via Ratanakiri Province ) and to Bình Định Province in the east. In addition, Pleiku is served by Pleiku Airport in the near outskirts of
100-459: Is located at an average altitude of 700m - 800m; Ham Rong junction, or the junction of National Highway 14 and National Highway 19 south of Pleiku , has an altitude of 785m. In 1971, during the Republic of Vietnam, Pleiku provincial capital had 34,867 residents. According to the statistical, the city's population includes 28 ethnic groups; The Kinh people make up the majority (87.5%),
120-555: Is located between National Highway 14 and National Route 19 near the Indochina intersection of neighboring Cambodia and Laos on the Ho Chi Minh Highway . Pleiku occupies 26,076.8 hectares, and is the economic, political, cultural and social center of Gia Lai province. Pleiku is 465 km north of Ho Chi Minh City , 1,287 km south of Hanoi , 181 km from Buôn Ma Thuột and 377 km from Da Nang . Pleiku
140-663: Is the site of the Battle of Ia Drang in November 1965, during the Vietnam War . 13°18′58″N 107°20′18″E / 13.316118481867°N 107.33822933382°E / 13.316118481867; 107.33822933382 This article about a location in Vietnam is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Cambodian location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Pleiku Pleiku
160-524: The Vietnam War because it was the primary terminus of the military supply logistics corridor extending westwards along Highway 19 from the coastal population centre and port facilities of Qui Nhơn . Additionally, its central location on the plateau, between Kon Tum to the North, Buôn Ma Thuột to the south, and the North Vietnamese Army 's base areas inside Cambodia to the west made Pleiku
180-503: The State Department to assess the war. The attack prompted U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson to begin bombing North Vietnam . A 1997 meeting between American and Vietnamese officials revealed that the attack was not ordered by Hanoi, nor were they aware of Cooper and Bundy's visit. In December 1965 the 170th Aviation Company joined with the 119th to create the 52nd Aviation Battalion. The base eventually expanded to house
200-546: The city has a population of around 274.018 people. The name " Pleiku " first appeared in the Governor-General of French Indochina records in 1905, in the decree that established the province of Gia Lai. The Decree of the Governor-General of Indochina dated July 4, 1905, established an autonomous province in the western mountainous region of Binh Dinh province, naming it " Plei-Kou-Derr ". This marked
220-552: The city. 13°59′N 108°00′E / 13.983°N 108.000°E / 13.983; 108.000 Camp Holloway Camp Holloway is a former U.S. Army base near Pleiku in central Vietnam . Camp Holloway was established in 1962. It was located along Route 19 approximately 3km east of Pleiku in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The camp was named in 1963 for Piasecki CH-21 helicopter pilot Warrant Officer Charles E. Holloway , who in December 1962 became
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#1732775713732240-602: The colonial period and is still the official name of the city today. At the end of the First Indochina War , in June 1954, the French Army Groupe Mobile 100 was ordered to fall back from An Khê to Pleiku and then to reopen Route Coloniale 14 between Pleiku and Buôn Ma Thuột . This led to the last battle of the war: the Battle of Mang Yang Pass . Pleiku was strategically important during
260-421: The converted population, there are about 504,984 people. Pleiku city is divided into 22 commune-level administrative units, including 14 wards: Chi Lang , Dien Hong , Dong Da , Hoa Lu , Hoi Phu , Hoi Thuong , Ia Kring , Phu Dong , Tay Son , Thang Loi , Thong Nhat , Tra Ba , Yen Do , Yen The and 8 communes: An Phu , Bien Ho , Chu A , Dien Phu , Gao , Ia Kenh , Tan Son , Tra Da . The city
280-481: The first aviator assigned to the 81st Transportation Company to be killed in action. The 81st Transportation Company , re-equipped in 1963 with Bell UH-1 Huey helicopters, later became the 119th Assault Helicopter Company . A Viet Cong attack in the early morning hours of February 7, 1965 , killed seven, wounded 104 and destroyed 10 aircraft. At the time CIA Analyst Chester L. Cooper and national security adviser McGeorge Bundy were visiting Saigon on behalf of
300-544: The first official use of the name "Plei-Kou" in writing. The word " Plơi " means "village" in Jarai , while " Kơdưr " can mean either "north" or "upper". Therefore, the name " Pleiku " can be translated as "upper village" or "village in the north". The word " Derr " is likely a Jarai word that was added to the name " Pleiku " by the French to distinguish it from other villages in the area. The name " Pleiku " has been used since
320-490: The headquarters of the 52d Combat Aviation Battalion, now part of the 17th Combat Aviation Group , 1st Aviation Brigade. At its peak, Camp Holloway was home to two additional UH-1 "Huey" assault helicopter companies, the 179th Aviation Support Helicopter Company Boeing CH-47A Chinook , an Cessna O-1 Bird Dog unit the 219th Reconnaissance Airplane Company (Headhunters), a Sikorsky CH-54 Skycrane company, and other supporting units. B Troop, 7th Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry also
340-578: The main centre of defense of the entire highland region of the Republic of Vietnam . This was obvious to both sides; the United States established an armed presence very early in the conflict at Camp Holloway , and the Việt Cộng attack on this base in early 1965 was one of the key escalating events that brought U.S. troops into the conflict. On 15 June 1972, Cathay Pacific Flight 700Z , operating
360-428: The president, Nguyễn Văn Thiệu , ordered the hasty evacuation of Pleiku. The military operation to attempt the withdrawal of ARVN forces, down the poorly maintained tertiary road LTL-7B through Ayun Pa to Tuy Hòa , led to a catastrophe in which over 100,000 evacuees from Pleiku and Kon Tum were killed or left stranded without support. Pleiku is located in the center of Gia Lai province and borders: Pleiku
380-593: The rest are other ethnic groups, mainly the Gia Rai and Ba Na ethnic groups (12.5%). The number of people of working age is about 328,240 people, accounting for 65% of the population. The natural population growth rate decreased rapidly, reaching 1.12% in 2008. Ethnic minorities live mainly in villages such as Plei Op village (Hoa Lu ward), Kep village (Dong Da ward), Brúk Ngol village (Yen The ward), and some other villages. The entire urban area has 62,829 households with 274,048 people with permanent residence. Including
400-454: Was stationed at Camp Holloway for a period of time. In 1972 B Troop, 7/17th Air Cavalry was redesignated H Troop, 17th Cavalry Regiment. At 02:30 on 26 January 1968 the camp was attacked by mortar fire and sappers from two companies of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 408th Sapper Battalion resulting in five UH-1 helicopters and one ammunition storage area destroyed. In 1973 Camp Holloway
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