January 13, 1972
Invasion of Vietnam
Nixon announces an additional 72,000 troops will leave Vietnam
Database labels: Invasion of Vietnam · 2 related database rows consolidated
Vietnam War year hub
Vietnam War in 1972: Timeline, Events, Battles and People
The World History Database contains 74 Vietnam/Indochina records dated 1972. After consolidating near-identical rows that describe the same dated event, this year hub presents 64 distinct chronology entries. Frequently represented events include Linebacker II, Conference of Paris, Negotiations, Invasion of Vietnam, Bombing of Haiphong. Frequently represented people include Richard Milhous Nixon, Henry Alfred Kissinger, Nguyen van Thieu, Vo Nguyen Giap, Henry Kissinger.
74 database rows64 consolidated events
Key events
Linebacker II, Conference of Paris, Negotiations, Invasion of Vietnam, Bombing of Haiphong, Bombing of Hanoi, Peace
People
Richard Milhous Nixon, Henry Alfred Kissinger, Nguyen van Thieu, Vo Nguyen Giap, Henry Kissinger, Vang Pao, Souvanna Phouma
Places
Washington, Hanoi, Paris, Haiphong, Moscow, Loc Ninh, Vietnam
Chronology for 1972
January 25, 1972
Negotiations
Nixon announce Kissinger has been secretly negotiating for peace in Paris
Database labels: Negotiations · 2 related database rows consolidated
January 25, 1972
Peace
The 8 point peace proposal to north Vietnam is made public
Database labels: Peace
February 20, 1972
Meeting with Mao & Zhou En-Lai bringing the period
Meets Mao & Zhou En-Lai bringing the period of US hostilities toward China to an end
Database labels: Meeting with Mao & Zhou En-Lai bringing the period
March 30, 1972
Easter
Hanoi refuses concessions & launches the Easter Offensive
Database labels: Easter
March 30, 1972
Easter Offensive
PAVN divisions strike across the DMZ and from Laos
Database labels: Easter Offensive
March 30, 1972
Easter Offensive
Helps direct the North Vietnamese 1972 offensive
Database labels: Easter Offensive
March 30, 1972
Easter Offensive Strategy
Backs the major conventional offensive against South Vietnam
Database labels: Easter Offensive Strategy
March 30, 1972
Invasion of Vietnam
The Viet Cong strike Quang Tri province, Kontum-Pleiku & Binh Long province. JCS increase the monthly sortie rate to 1,800
Database labels: Invasion of Vietnam; Operation Arc Light · 2 related database rows consolidated
March 30, 1972
Nguyen Hue Campaign
North Vietnam launches the Nguyen Hue Campaign as a major conventional offensive
Database labels: Nguyen Hue Campaign
March 30, 1972
PAVN Offensive
PAVN opens coordinated attacks across northern South Vietnam
Database labels: PAVN Offensive
March 30, 1972
Southern Offensive
Commands communist forces in the southern theater during the offensive
Database labels: Southern Offensive
March 1972
Constant Guard
Launches an offensive against growing North Vietnamese activity
Database labels: Constant Guard
April 7, 1972
Capture of Loc Ninh
Loc Ninh falls to North Vietnamese forces
Database labels: Capture of Loc Ninh
April 7, 1972
Loc Ninh Captured
PAVN forces capture Loc Ninh during the Easter Offensive
Database labels: Loc Ninh Captured
April 16, 1972
Bombing of Hanoi
US bombers attack Hanoi, 1st raid on a North Vietnamese city by the US since 1968
Database labels: Bombing of Hanoi
April 19, 1972
Bombing of Hanoi
Senate debates the bombing of Hanoi & refuses to support Nixon's policy in Vietnam
Database labels: Bombing of Hanoi
April 21, 1972
Bombing of Haiphong
Haiphong is bombed
Database labels: Bombing of Haiphong
April 1972
Bombing of Vietnam
Bombers are ordered north for the 1st time since 1968
Database labels: Bombing of Vietnam
April 1972
Operation Arc Light
The monthly sortie rate is increased to 2,500
Database labels: Operation Arc Light
May 8, 1972
Bombing of Haiphong
2,000 pound mines are dropped in Haiphong harbour
Database labels: Bombing of Haiphong
May 8, 1972
Haiphong Mining
Oversees Navy support for mining North Vietnamese harbors
Database labels: Haiphong Mining
May 8, 1972
Linebacker I
1st day of Operation Linebacker I, bombing north Vietnam
Database labels: Linebacker I
May 8, 1972
Mining of Dong Hoi
Nixon orders the mining of Dong Hoi
Database labels: Mining of Dong Hoi
May 8, 1972
Mining of Hai Phong
Nixon orders the mining of Hai Phong
Database labels: Mining of Hai Phong
May 8, 1972
Mining of Haiphong
Announces the mining of North Vietnamese harbors
Database labels: Mining of Haiphong
May 8, 1972
Mining of Vietnam Ports
Orders the mining of major north Vietnamese ports
Database labels: Mining of Vietnam Ports
May 10, 1972
Linebacker Air Campaign
Oversees Air Force operations as Operation Linebacker begins
Database labels: Linebacker Air Campaign
May 22, 1972
Nixon Moscow Summit
Meets Richard Nixon while the Vietnam War and Linebacker bombing remain central issues
Database labels: Nixon Moscow Summit
May 22, 1972
Visit to Washington
Arrives in Moscow for talks with Party Secretary Brezhnev
Database labels: Visit to Washington
June 30, 1972
the Pentagon Papers
The New York Times & Washington Post can resume publication of the Pentagon Papers
Database labels: the Pentagon Papers
June 1972
Operation Light Arc
The monthly sortie rate is increased to 3,150. Arc Light missions continue until the cessation of hostilities by all US forces on August 15, 1973
Database labels: Operation Light Arc
July 1972
Conference of Paris
The Paris Peace talks resume
Database labels: Conference of Paris · 2 related database rows consolidated
October 10, 1972
Paris Negotiations
Negotiates with Henry Kissinger on a draft peace settlement
Database labels: Paris Negotiations
October 23, 1972
Linebacker I
Nixon orders bombing to be halted north of 20 degrees latitude
Database labels: Linebacker I
October 26, 1972
Negotiations
Kissinger flies to Saigon to secure President Thieus signature to a peace agreement. Kissinger claims "peace was at hand"
Database labels: Negotiations
October 26, 1972
Peace Is at Hand
Says peace is at hand after progress in negotiations with North Vietnam
Database labels: Peace Is at Hand
October 1972
Bombing of Vietnam
Nixon halts bombing north of the Twentieth Parallel in anticipation of a truce
Database labels: Bombing of Vietnam
November 12, 1972
Peace
Announces US troop reduction to 45,000 in Vietnam
Database labels: Peace
December 13, 1972
Conference of Paris
The North Vietnamese walk out of the Paris peace conference
Database labels: Conference of Paris
December 14, 1972
Peace
Nixon ultimatum to NV to resume negotiations or "suffer the consequences"
Database labels: Peace
December 17, 1972
Linebacker II
"Christmas bombing" Dec. 17-30 - most intense bombing campaign of the war
Database labels: Linebacker II
December 18, 1972
Bombing of Haiphong
Nixon orders a 3 day bombing offensive against Hanoi-Haiphong, Operation Linebacker II
Database labels: Bombing of Haiphong
December 18, 1972
Bombing of Hanoi
Nixon orders a 3 day bombing offensive against Hanoi-Haiphong, Operation Linebacker II
Database labels: Bombing of Hanoi; Linebacker II · 2 related database rows consolidated
December 18, 1972
Christmas Bombing
Orders Operation Linebacker II bombing of North Vietnam
Database labels: Christmas Bombing
December 18, 1972
Linebacker II
Hanoi agrees to Nixon's conditions for reopening peace negotiations
Database labels: Linebacker II
December 18, 1972
Linebacker II
Operations north of the Twentieth Parallel cease, 729 sorties have ben flown & 15 planes lost
Database labels: Linebacker II
December 18, 1972
Linebacker II
Orders B52s to bomb Hanoi & Haiphong
Database labels: Linebacker II
December 18, 1972
Linebacker II
26-30 December, massive air bombing of military installations in North Vietnam
Database labels: Linebacker II
December 18, 1972
Linebacker II
Commands Strategic Air Command during the Linebacker II bombing campaign
Database labels: Linebacker II
December 28, 1972
Conference of Paris
Hanoi agrees to Nixon's conditions for reopening peace negotiations
Database labels: Conference of Paris
1972
Air Defense Resupply
Supports continued Soviet military resupply to North Vietnam during heavy US bombing
Database labels: Air Defense Resupply
1972
Air War in Laos
Continues heavy US air operations in Laos as negotiations and fighting continue
Database labels: Air War in Laos
1972
Commander of ARVN
Appointed Commander of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
Database labels: Commander of ARVN
1972
Conference of Paris
Negotiates the Paris Peace Settlement with Le Duc Tho
Database labels: Conference of Paris; Negotiations · 2 related database rows consolidated
1972
Conference of TV
Kissinger TV press conference Oct. 26 - "peace is at hand"
Database labels: Broadcast; Conference of TV; Negotiations · 3 related database rows consolidated
1972
Dismissal
Dismissed as the Commander of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
Database labels: Dismissal
1972
Easter
Nixon retaliates with the heaviest bombardments of the War & mines the Norths harbors
Database labels: Easter
1972
Invasion of Vietnam
US troops in Vietnam fall from 542,000 in Jan 1969 to 45,600 by July 1972. Despite Nixon's threats he withdraws US troops, by June 1972 47,000 are left
Database labels: Invasion of Vietnam
1972
Laos Negotiations
Links Laos policy to wider Vietnam negotiations
Database labels: Laos Negotiations
1972
Linebacker Diplomacy
Condemns US bombing and mining of North Vietnam during 1972
Database labels: Linebacker Diplomacy
1972
Nguyen Hue Campaign
The USA only has 65,000 troops in Vietnam to contain the Viet Cong offensive. Giap leads the Nguyen Hue Campaign, intended as the decisive invasion of the war
Database labels: Nguyen Hue Campaign; Offensive · 3 related database rows consolidated
1972
Peace Settlement Pressure
Seeks a Lao settlement as the wider Vietnam peace talks advance
Database labels: Peace Settlement Pressure
1972
Pressure on Long Tieng
Defends Hmong positions as North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao pressure continues
Database labels: Pressure on Long Tieng
Explore related Vietnam War guides
Sources and historical verification
This authority page consolidates World History Database records into a readable chronology. The database rows are research-index entries; important claims should be checked against primary documents and specialist histories.
Provenance
This year page is generated from World History Database records for 1972. Near-identical rows sharing date and place context are consolidated for display while the original database remains unchanged. Last reviewed 2026-10-06.