On the Central Highlands battlefield at 5:55 am on March 9, Division 10, which was reinforced with special forces, artillery, and anti-aircraft units, opened fire on Duc Lap. This district, positioned on Road 14 about 50 km southwest of Buon Ma Thuot, served as a key gateway between the Central Highlands and the Southeast region. The attack targeted five key locations: the headquarters of the enemy’s Division 23, and the districts of Duc Lap, Nui Lua, Dak Sak, and Dak Song.
Using bold tactics, bypassing the outer defensive lines of the enemy’s local militia, and concentrating forces on primary targets, the Regiments 28 and 66 quickly overran both Nui Lua and the Division 23’s headquarters within just over three hours of intense fighting.
In Duc Lap, however, the Battalion 2 under the Regiment 28 and the Battalion 9 of the Regiment 66 encountered fierce resistance. As they pushed deeper into the town, they faced increasingly intense enemy counterattacks, resulting in heavy casualties. Given the situation, the Division 10 had to halt its advance to regroup and consolidate forces.
On the night of March 9, all 12 infantry battalions and supporting units preparing for the Buon Ma Thuot offensive began moving out of their assembly areas, located 12-15 km from the city. They launched attacks from five directions as the Division 316 advancing from the north, south, and east; the Division 10 spearheading a deep thrust into the Division 23’s command headquarters; and the Regiment 95B attacking the Sau junction.
On the Binh Dinh front, the Regiment 93, along with provincial special forces and district troops from Binh Khe and An Nhon, launched an attack on enemy positions from eastern Binh Khe to eastern An Nhon on the morning of March 9. They successfully destroyed enemy strongholds at Nui Dat and Nui Thom, severed transportation routes on Road 1 and the old Road 19, and liberated the hamlets of Binh Hoa, Nhon My, and Nhon Khanh.
On the Southwestern Hue Front, the Division 324 reinforced the Infantry Battalion 4 on March 9, which joined the Battalion 5 in capturing Hill 224. Meanwhile, the Battalion 3, reinforced by the Company 2 of the Battalion 2, seized Coi Hill near Hill 303, while the Company 7 took control of Hill 273, completing the encirclement of Hill 303.
On the Quang Tri front, provincial and district armed forces, along with local militia, launched simultaneous attacks on enemy positions at Hills 122, 118, and 90, as well as isolated outposts. Artillery and mortars were used to suppress enemy firepower at Doc Bau and Tan Dien.
At midnight on March 9, Company 12, in coordination with the Reconnaissance Company 30 and the Provincial Special Forces Battalion 10, attacked the Mai Linh military zone — an important link in the enemy’s defensive system in Quang Tri. The assault resulted in the elimination of over 100 enemy soldiers. The success of these operations inspired uprisings in enemy-controlled areas across Quang Tri and three northern districts of Thua Thien.
In the Quang Tri lowlands, from March 9 onward, enemy forces were forced to abandon 21 outposts in western Hai Lang District. They regrouped with the Task Force 913 and the Marine Brigade 369 to launch counterattacks and establish defensive positions to block key transport routes leading into the lowlands.
