An Khê Explained

13.9531°N 108.6569°W

An Khê
Settlement Type:Town (Class-4)
Official Name:Town of An Khê
Native Name:An Khe town
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Vietnam##Location within Southeast Asia##Location within Asia
Pushpin Map:Vietnam#Southeast Asia#Asia
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Central Highlands
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Gia Lai province
Seat Type:Capital
Seat:An Khê
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:200.07
Area Urban Km2:49.83
Population As Of:2019
Population Total:81,600
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Urban:55,165
Population Density Urban Km2:auto
Timezone:Indochina Time
Utc Offset:+7

An Khê is a town (thị xã) of Gia Lai province in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam.

As of 2003 the district had a population of 63,118.[1] The district covers an area of 199 km². The district capital lies at An Khê.[1]

Located on the main highway, QL-19, between Qui Nhơn on the coast and Pleiku in the Central Highlands, An Khê was of strategic significance during the Vietnam War.

History

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

The Battle of Mang Yang Pass, 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 troops belonging to the 803rd Regiment and suffered heavy losses.

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.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Districts of Vietnam. Statoids. March 13, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090301021252/http://www.statoids.com/yvn.html. 1 March 2009 . live.