The 312th Infantry Division is a division of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), first formed in October 1950. It was one of the 6 original "Iron and Steel" Divisions of the Viet Minh.
First Indochina War
The 312th Division was formed in October 1950 and first saw action in January 1951 at the Battle of Vĩnh Yên. In late April 1953 General Võ Nguyên Giáp ordered the 312th to threaten Luang Prabang, the division reached the outskirts of the capital on 30 April but were then withdrawn back into Tonkin. ==Vietnam War==
Vietnam War
In June 1966 the Division's 141st and 165th Regiments were transferred to the 7th Infantry Division in the Phước Long area. In early 1968 the Division's 209th Regiment was sent to reinforce the Central Highlands front. On 1 April the Division departed Ninh Bình Province and began moving south, then turned west along Route 9 into Laos and down the Ho Chi Minh Trail. In late April the Division was located north of Saigon and on 30 April it captured Phu Loi Base Camp. ==Present Day==