First Indochina War

Historical eventMay 181952

First Indochina War

First Indochina War: Viet Minh forces overran a French and Laotian garrison at Muong Khoua, leaving only four survivors.

Everything on May 18Original source

In context

When
Sunday, May 18 195274 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1950s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1952.

What happened

The First Indochina War known alternatively internationally as the French Indochina War or the Vietnamese War of Independence, was fought in French Indochina between the French Union and the Viet Minh and their respective allies, from 19 December 1946 until 11 August 1954. Most of the engagements of this conflict occurred in Vietnam.

May 18 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1952First Indochina War
  2. 20062006 Nepalese revolution
  3. 2006Federal Parliament of Nepal
  4. 2009Sri Lanka Army
  5. 2009Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
  6. 2013Murder of Mark Carson
  7. 20152015 Colombian landslide
  8. 20182018 Santa Fe High School shooting
  9. 2018Cubana de Aviación Flight 0972
  10. 20192020 United States presidential election
  11. 20262026 Islamic Center of San Diego shooting

Also in 1952

  • September 12Flatwoods, West VirginiaThree boys in Flatwoods, West Virginia, U.S., reported seeing a ten-foot-tall (3 m) monster in the woods while investigating a UFO.
  • October 20Evelyn Baring, 1st Baron Howick of GlendaleThe Governor of Kenya Evelyn Baring declares a state of emergency and begins arresting hundreds of suspected leaders of the Mau Mau Upris…
  • November 51952 Severo-Kurilsk earthquakeAn earthquake struck the Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering a major tsunami that affected the Kuril Islands and other parts of the Pacific O…
  • June 17Guatemalan RevolutionGuatemalan Revolution: The Guatemalan Congress passed Decree 900, redistributing unused land greater than 224 acres (0.91 km2) in area to…
  • June 17Decree 900Guatemala passes Decree 900, ordering the redistribution of uncultivated land.
  • October 3Operation HurricaneThe United Kingdom successfully conducted its first nuclear test, becoming the world's third state with nuclear weapons.
  • September 6Farnborough Airshow crashA prototype aircraft crashed at the Farnborough Airshow in Hampshire, England, killing the pilot and test observer on board, and 29 spect…
  • November 25Korean WarKorean War: After 42 days of fighting, the Battle of Triangle Hill ended as American and South Korean units abandoned their attempt to ca…

Everything we record for 1952 →

Sources

Cite this page

“First Indochina War”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/first-indochina-war-1952-may-18, accessed October 27, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did First Indochina War happen?

May 18 1952 — 74 years ago, on a Sunday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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