Lai Khê

Lai Khê Base Camp
Coordinates	11°11′42″N 106°37′01″E / 11.195°N 106.617°E
Type	Army Base
Site history
In use	1960-1975
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Garrison information
Occupants	5th Division 1st Infantry Division

Lai Khê Airfield
IATA: none – ICAO: none
Summary

Lai Khê (ấp Lai Khê – xã Lai Hưng, Bến Cát, Bình Dương) (also known as Lai Khê Base) was a former Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and U.S. Army base, located along Highway 13 to the northwest of Saigon and about 20 km north of Thủ Dầu Một in southern Vietnam

History

During the Vietnam War Lai Khê was a garrison town as the ARVN 5th Division was based there for most of the 1960s/70s.^[1]

Lai Khê was also the Headquarters for the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division from October 1967 until October 1969.^[2]

Other U.S. Army units based at Lai Khê included:

• 2nd Surgical Hospital (1968-March 1970)^[2]:213
• 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry (April–December 1969)^[2]:126
• 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry (April–December 1969)^[2]:128
• 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (February 1969)^[2]:130
• 6th Battalion, 15th Artillery (May 1967-July 1968)^[2]:99
• 18th Surgical Hospital (December 1967-February 1968)^[2]:215
• 2nd Battalion, 33rd Artillery (July 1967-April 1970)^[2]:104
• 173rd Aviation Company (March 1972)^[2]:122
• 554th Engineer Battalion (October 1969 – 1971) ^[2]:174

Current use

Most of the base has been turned over to housing and farmland while part of the base remains in use by the People's Army of Vietnam.

References

1. Tucker, Spencer (2000). Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War. ABC-CLIO. pp. 526–33. ISBN 9781851099610.
2. Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 74. ISBN 9780811700719.