What was the name of North Vietnam's major conventional offensive launched in 1972?

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What was the name of North Vietnam's major conventional offensive launched in 1972? It was the Easter Offensive.

The Easter Offensive began on March 30, 1972, when North Vietnam’s People’s Army of Vietnam launched a large conventional attack against South Vietnamese and U.S.-supported forces. Unlike the guerrilla-focused image often associated with the war, this campaign used regular infantry, armor, artillery, and coordinated attacks across several fronts.

The offensive targeted areas including the northern provinces, the Central Highlands, and around Saigon. South Vietnamese forces, supported by extensive U.S. airpower, eventually halted and pushed back the assault, but the fighting was intense and costly. In South Vietnamese usage, the campaign is also remembered as the “Fiery Red Summer.”

The Easter Offensive is frequently confused with the Tet Offensive, which began in 1968. Tet was a nationwide surprise offensive involving attacks on cities and political centers; the Easter Offensive was the major conventional campaign of 1972.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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