In August 1960, self-proclaimed "neutralist" Kong Le seized control of Vientiane, and invited Souvannaphouma to lead a new government. Phoumi, who refused to join Souvannaphouma's government, gained the backing of the CIA and in November began marching forces on Vientiane. The Soviet Union responded by airlifting supplies to Kong Le's neutralist forces. Laos was now at the centre of a Cold War showdown. By the time Phoumi's troops reached Vientiane in December, the neutralists had allied themselves with the Pathet Lao and the Viet Minh.

Meanwhile, the CIA recruited a clandestine army of ethnic Hmong, under the command of Vang Pao, a brilliant Hmong lieutenant-colonel. The Hmong were naturals as guerilla soldiers; determined to defend their homeland, they knew the terrain. But by 1968, Vang Pao's forces were no longer fighting for their homeland, they were fighting for the United States, pawns of the war in Vietnam.