 The following year he took part in the Border Campaign, he was commander of 251st Battalion, a battalion of 174th Regiment ("CAA Bac Lang") at the Battle of Đông Khê.He successively held titles of battalion commander, regiment deputy commander participating in actions at Bình Liêu, Vĩnh Phúc, and Mộc Châu.In the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, he commanded 174th Regiment of the 316th Division, and three times attacked Hill A1 (Éliane 2).