An Khê is a district-level town (''thị xã'') of

Gia Lai province Gia Lai is a northern mountainous Provinces of Vietnam, province in the Central Highlands (Vietnam), Central Highlands region, the Central Vietnam, Central of Vietnam. It borders Kon Tum province, Kon Tum in the north, Quảng Ngãi province, Qu ...

in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam. As of 2003 the district had a population of 63,118. The district covers an area of 199 km². The district capital lies at An Khê. Located on the main highway, QL-19, between Quy Nhon on the coast and Pleiku in the Central Highlands, An Khê was of strategic significance during the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

History

During the early 15th century, An Khe was a Cham/highlander city bore the name Samriddhipuri (City of Virtue, Richness).

First Indochina War The First Indochina War (generally known as the Indochina War in France, and as the Anti-French Resistance War in Vietnam, and alternatively internationally as the French-Indochina War) was fought between French Fourth Republic, France and Việ ...

The

Battle of Mang Yang Pass The Battle of Mang Yang Pass (also known as the Battle of An Khê or the Battle of Đắk Pơ) was one of the last battles of the First Indochina War between the French Union and Việt Minh which took place from 24 to 29 June 1954. The battle w ...

, the last major battle of the First Indochinese War, started near An Khê: on June 24, 1954, French colonial ''Groupe Mobile 100'' received orders to abandon its defensive position at An Khê and to fall back to the safer Pleiku, some 50 miles away over Route Coloniale 19. At the road marker 'Kilometer 15' the column was ambushed by

Việt Minh The Việt Minh (, ) is the common and abbreviated name of the League for Independence of Vietnam ( or , ; ), which was a communist-led national independence coalition formed at Pác Bó by Hồ Chí Minh on 19 May 1941. Also known as the Vi ...

troops belonging to the 803rd Regiment and suffered heavy losses.

Second Indochina War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

In August 1965 the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division established their main base, Camp Radcliff, near An Khê. In September of that year, the Battle of An Ninh took place about 30 km east of the town. Camp Radcliff remained in use by various U.S. Army units until late 1970 after which it was turned over to the ARVN. Image:An Khe airfield 1965.jpg, An Khê airfield, 1965

Climate

References

External links

* * * * Districts of Gia Lai province County-level towns in Vietnam Populated places in Gia Lai province {{GiaLai-geo-stub es:An Khe