1966 Civic Education Service Pictorial Map of Laos During the Vietnam War

This is a rare 1966 Civic Education Service pictorial map of Laos during the Vietnam War. The map depicts the region from Thailand and Burma to the Gulf of Tonkin and from China to Cambodia and South Vietnam. Strikingly colored, Laos, shaded yellow, occupies the map's center. The bright yellow indicates which portions of the country were controlled by non-communist forces, per the legend along the left side, which, most likely, is meant to be read as 'pro-U.S.' The shaded portion of Laos is the part of the country under the control of Communist forces, or the 'area of Laos held by Reds' as the legend states. This dichotomy, along with the brilliant red used to denote Communist countries and the green (the color of money) marking non-Communist countries, easily encapsulates the region's political turmoil during this era. Vignettes accompany captions concerning life in Laos, such as the nation's most important export (lumber), a Laotian mountain village, and some of the traditional dress of the tribal Meo people. Vientiane, the capital of Laos, and Luang Prabang, the location of the Laotian Royal Palace, are both labeled, as are several other towns and villages.

The Laotian Civil War and the Vietnam War

This map was created at the height of the Laotian Civil War, which raged from 1959 - 1975, and was fought between the Communist Pathet Lao and the Royal Lao Government. The Laotian Civil War became a part of the Vietnam War and what is known as a proxy war between the Cold War powers, which means that not only were the opposing Laotian forces fighting each other but troops of the North Vietnamese Army, U.S. troops, Thai, and South Vietnamese forces were also involved. Most of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a key logistical artery for the North Vietnamese to infiltrate men and supplies into South Vietnam from North Vietnam during the Vietnam War, traversed most of the length of Laos before entering South Vietnam. Communist Pathet Lao forces emerged victories at the end of the war in 1975, with up to 300,000 people fleeing Laos into Thailand after their takeover.

Ho Chi Minh Trail

The Ho Chi Minh Trail served both the Viet Minh during the First Indochina War and the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. Mainly a supply route, the Ho Chi Minh Trail is considered to be 'one of the great achievements of military engineering of the 20th century' by the United States National Security Agency. The Trail proved to be an incredible military accomplishment, considering that it was the site of the single most intense bombing campaign in history, with bombs dropping on average every seven minutes.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and published by Civic Education Service in 1966. There are no examples recorded in the OCLC and no evidence of it entering the private market.