House Arrest Ends
Leaves Khmer Rouge custody on the last Chinese aircraft from Phnom Penh
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1979 in Kampuchea
Explore 36 historical events and records for Kampuchea in 1979.
Historical records for Kampuchea in 1979
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 36 of 36 unique records.
36Unique records
1 of 1Page
26Named events on this page
10Named people on this page
4Places on this page
January
Capture of Phnom Penh
The Vietnamese invade Kampuchea, capturing Phnom Penh. The Vietnamese forces invaded Kampuchea along with the KUFNS, capturing Phnom Penh
Capture of Phnom Penh
The Vietnamese forces invaded Kampuchea along with the KUFNS, capturing Phnom Penh
Fall of DK
Phnom Penh falls and Khmer Rouge flee to border regions
Head of State Appointed
Vietnamese-backed authorities install Heng Samrin as head of state
Invasion of Kampuchea
The Vietnamese invade Kampuchea, capturing Phnom Penh
Presidency Ends
Khieu Samphan loses state authority as Phnom Penh falls to Vietnamese-backed forces
Siege of Phnom Penh
The Vietnamese forces invaded Kampuchea along with the KUFNS, capturing Phnom Penh
PRK Government Formed
People's Republic of Kampuchea government forms under Heng Samrin's chairmanship
Revolutionary Council Leadership
Heng Samrin leads the People's Revolutionary Council after the fall of Democratic Kampuchea
February
Formation of Coalition
Khmer Rouge reorganize as part of anti-Vietnam resistance networks
September
UN Seat Retained
Anti-Vietnam Cambodian representatives retain international recognition after the fall of Phnom Penh
KCP
The party founded the Patriotic and Democratic Front of the Great National Union of Kampuchea as a united front in September 1979 to fight the PRK and the Vietnamese, led by Khieu Sampan. The armed forces under the command of the party, what remained of the erstwhile Peoples National Liberation Armed Forces of Kampuchea, were renamed National Army of Democratic Kampuchea
National Army of Democratic Kampuchea
The armed forces under the command of the party, what remained of the erstwhile Peoples National Liberation Armed Forces of Kampuchea, were renamed National Army of Democratic Kampuchea
United Nations
Pol Pot takes the United Nations seat as the legitimate representitive of Kampuchea
December
Invasion of Vietnam
Vietnam invades Kampuchea
Other events (month unknown)
Capture of Kampuchea
The Vietnamese forced out Pol Pot & withdrew from Kampuchea 10 yrs later
Constitution of Kampuchea
The Pen Sovan-led party is installed as the governing party of the new Peoples Republic of Kampuchea
Exile of Pol Pot
The Vietnamese forced out Pol Pot & withdrew from Kampuchea 10 yrs later
Exile of Sihanouk
The Chinese help Sihanouk escape into China
Exile Statement
Insists from exile that he remains president despite the republic's defeat
Foreign Secretary of Kampuchea
Appointed Foreign Minister
Government
The Peoples Republic of Kampuchea is established under Samrin by the Vietnamese
Head of State
Appointed Head of State for Kampuchea, by the Vietnamese
Invasion of Kampuchea
Begins guerrilla warfare against the PRK Government
Invasion of Kampuchea
Despite a traditional Kampuchean fear of Vietnamese domination, defecting Khmer Rouge activists assisted the Vietnamese, and, with Vietnams approval, become the core of the new puppet Government
Invasion of Kampuchea
Despite its deposal, the Khmer Rouge retains its United Nations seat, which is occupied by Thiounn Prasith, an old compatriot of Pol Pot
Invasion of Vietnam
The CPK led by Pol Pot withdrew its forces westwards, to an area near the Thai border, with unofficial protection from elements of the Thai Army
KCP
The CPK is divided into two, with the Pen Sovan-led group constituting a separate party
KCP
The CPK is divided into two, with the Pen Sovan-led group constituting a separate party
Khmer Rouge
Despite a traditional Kampuchean fear of Vietnamese domination, defecting Khmer Rouge activists assisted the Vietnamese, and, with Vietnams approval, become the core of the new puppet Government
Khmer Rouge
Despite its deposal, the Khmer Rouge retains its United Nations seat, which is occupied by Thiounn Prasith, an old compatriot of Pol Pot
Massacre
Charged with genocide by the Vietnamese, 3 million out of a 7 million population
Peoples Republic of Kampuchea
The Pen Sovan-led party is installed as the governing party of the new Peoples Republic of Kampuchea
United Nations
Despite a traditional Kampuchean fear of Vietnamese domination, defecting Khmer Rouge activists assisted the Vietnamese, and, with Vietnams approval, become the core of the new puppet Government
United Nations
Heng Samrins delegation is turned away from the United Nations Conference
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.