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AAC 1 Amiot AAC 1 Toucan, Junker 52 transport aircraft built in France
ACM Antenne Chirurgicale Mobile - Mobile Surgical Unit
ACP Antenne Chirurgicale Parachutiste - Parachute Surgical Unit
AFAT Auxiliaire Féminine de l'Armée de Terre - Army Auxiliary Female Personnel
ALOA Aviation Légère d'Observation Artillerie - Light Artillery Observation Aviation
ANV Armée Nationale du Vietnam - Vietnam National Army, army of Emperor Bao Dai's nominally independent state
ARK Armée Royale Khmère - Khmer Royal Army
Bac Bô Northern Vietnam, Tonkin
BAPN Base Aéroportée Nord - Northern Airborne Base
BAPS Base Aéroportée Sud - Southern Airborne Base
BAWOAN Bataillon Parachutiste Vietnamien - Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (phonetic transcription, see also BPVN)
BCCP Bataillon Colonial de Commandos Parachutistes - Colonial Commando Parachute Battalion
BCCP Bataillon Colonial de Chasseurs Parachutistes - Colonial Parachute Battalion
BCL Bataillon de Chasseurs Laotiens - Laotian Chasseurs Battalion
BDP Bataillon de Dragons Portés - Motorised Dragoon Battalion
BEP Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes - Foreign Legion Parachute Battalion
BG Bataillon du Génie - Engineer Battalion
BI Bataillon d'Infanterie - Infantry Battalion
BM Bataillon de Marche - March Battalion (provisional unit made up of companies from various battalions)
BMC Bordel Mobile de Campagne - Mobile Campaign Bordello, as its name implies, a bordello run under the control of the Army's Medical Corps. Obviously, this institution wasn't advertised to visiting US Congressmen...
BMEO Brigade Marine d'Extrême-Orient - Far East Marines Brigade
BMI Bataillon de Marche Indochinois - Indochinese March Battalion
BMTS Bataillon de Marche de Tirailleurs Sénégalais - African Infantry March Battalion
BPC Bataillon de Parachutistes Coloniaux - Colonial Parachute Battalion
BPCP Bataillon Parachutiste de Chasseurs à Pied - Chasseurs à Pieds Parachute Battalion
BPL Bataillon de Parachutistes Laotiens - Laotian Parachute Battalion
BPVN Bataillon Parachutiste Vietnamien - Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (see also BAWOAN)
BT Bataillon Thaï - Tai Battalion
BTA Bataillon de Tirailleurs Algériens - Algerian Infantry Battalion
BVN Bataillon Vietnamien - Vietnamese Battalion
CC Capitaine de Corvette - RN Lieutenant Commander
CCA Compagnie de Commandement et d'Appui - Command and Support Company
CCB Compagnie de Commandement de Base - Base Command Company
CCL Compagnie de Commandos Laotiens - Laotian Commando Company
CCPL Compagnie de Commandos Parachutistes Laotiens - Laotian Para Commando Company
CCR Compagnie de Commandement Régimentaire - Regimental Command Company
CCS Compagnie de Commandement et des Services - Command and Services Company
CEFEO Corps Expéditionnaire Français d'Extrême-Orient - French Far East Expeditionary Corps
CEML Compagnie Etrangère de Mortiers Lourds - Foreign Legion Heavy Mortar Company
CEPML Compagnie Etrangére Parachutiste de Mortiers Lourds - Foreign Legion Parachute Heavy Mortar Company
CF Capitaine de Frégate - RN Commander
Chi doi Viet Minh unit of 200 to 1500 men
Chien-Khu Viet Minh fortified base area
Chu Luc Viet Minh Main Force, i.e. Regular Forces
CI Central Interception - Radio Intercept Centre
CIP Compagnie Indochinoise Parachutiste - Indochinese Parachute Company
CIPLE Compagnie Indochinoise Parachutiste de Légion Etrangère - Foreign Legion Indochinese Parachute Company
CL Commando Léger - Light Commando
CLA Compagnie Légère d'Accompagnement - Light Support Company, native light infantry unit attached to a Dinassaut, typically 80 natives with 4 European officers/NCOs
CLI Corps Léger d'Intervention - Light Intervention Corps
CLSM Compagnie Légère de Supplétifs Militaires - Military Auxiliaries Light Company
CR Centre de Résistance - Defensive position, itself made up of several strongpoints (points d'appui)
Crabe M29 Weasel amphibious light cargo carrier
CRD Compagnie de Réparation Divisionnaire - Divisional Repairs Company
CRMA Centre de Réception du Matériel Américain - US Equipment Reception Centre
CSM Compagnie de Supplétifs Militaires - Military Auxiliaries Company
Cu'u Quôc National salvation
CV Capitaine de Vaisseau - RN Captain
Dai doi Viet Minh company
DBLE Demi-Brigade de Légion Étrangère - Foreign Legion Half-Brigade (regimental grouping of independent battalions or battalions from different parent units)
DBMP Demi-Brigade de Marche Parachutiste - Parachute Half-Brigade (regimental grouping of independent battalions or battalions from different parent units)
DBP Dien Bien Phu
DBSAS Demi-Brigade SAS - SAS Half-Brigade (regimental grouping of independent battalions or battalions from different parent units)
DCA Défense contre avions - Anti-aircraft
DCEO Division Coloniale d'Extrême-Orient - Far East Colonial Division
DD Dai Doan - Viet Minh division
DGD Direction Générale de Documentation - Documentation Directorate
DGER Direction Générale des Etudes et Recherches - Research and Studies Directorate
DIC Division d'Infanterie Coloniale - Colonial Infantry Division
Dinassaut Division Navale d'Assaut - Naval Assault Division (see also DNA)
DIRMA Direction du Matériel - Ordnance Directorate
DKZ Dai-bac Khong Ziat  (recoilless rifle)
DLO Détachement de Liaison et d'Observation - Liaison and Observation Detachment, artillery forward observers
DNA Division Navale d'Assaut - Naval Assault Division (see also Dinassaut)
DNEO Division Navale d'Extrême Orient - Far East Naval Division
DRV Democratic Republic of Vietnam
Du Kich Viet Minh local guerilla
DUKW US amphibious truck
DY Code letters used in French intelligence documents references to indicate that part of the  information was derived from radio intercepts
DZ Drop Zone
EA Engin d'Assaut - Assault Craft, French steel copy of the LCVP
ECS Escadron de Commandement et des Services - Command and Services Squadron (cavalry units)
EM Etat-Major - General Staff
EMIFT Etat-Major Interarmes et des Forces Terrestres - Joint Services and Land Forces General Staff
ER Escadron de Reconnaissance - Reconnaissance Squadron (cavalry recce company)
EROM Escadron de Reconnaissance d'Outre-Mer - Overseas Reconnaissance Squadron (cavalry recce company)
ERP Escadrille Régionale de Protection - Regional Fighter Flight
ERVN Escadron de Reconnaissance Vietnamien - Vietnamese Reconnaissance Squadron (cavalry recce company)
FACD Forces Armées Caodaïstes - Cao Dai Armed Forces (militia of the Cao Dai sect based in Cochinchina)
FAIN Forces Amphibies d'Indochine du Nord - Northern Indochina Amphibious Forces
FAIS Forces Amphibies d'Indochine du Sud - Southern Indochina Amphibious Forces
FAMIC Forces Amphibies de la Marine en Indochine - Navy Amphibious Forces in Indochina
FFFM Flottille Fluviale de Fusiliers-Marins - Marines Riverine Flotilla
FFVS Forces Françaises du Vietnam Sud - Southern Vietnam French Forces
FM Fusil mitrailleur - Light Machine Gun
FMEO Forces Maritimes d'Extrême Orient - Far East Naval Forces
FOM Forces d'Outre-Mer - Overseas Forces
FTCV Forces Terrestres du Centre Vietnam - Central Vietnam Land Forces
FTEO Forces Terrestres d'Extrême Orient - Far East Land Forces
FTNV Forces Terrestres du Nord Vietnam - Northern Vietnam Land Forces
GAC/AOF Groupe d'Artillerie Coloniale d'AOF - West African Artillery Battalion
GAOA Groupe Aérien d'Observation d'Artillerie - Artillery Aerial Observation Squadron
GAP Groupement Aéroporté - Airborne Group
GATAC Groupement Aérien Tactique - Tactical Air Command
GAVN Groupe d'Artillerie Vietnamien - Vietnamese Artillery Battalion
GB Groupe de Bombardement - Bomber Squadron (air force)
GC Groupe de Chasse - Fighter Squadron (air force)
GCCP Groupement Colonial de Commandos Parachutistes - Colonial Parachute Commando Group
GCMA Groupement de Commandos Mixtes Aéroportés - Mixed Airborne Commandos Group, cover unit for SDECE paramilitary operations behind Viet Minh lines
GCP Groupement de Commandos Parachutistes - Parachute Commando Group
GLAP Groupement Léger Aéroporté - Light Airborne Group
GM Groupe Mobile - Mobile Group, all-arms task force similar to WW2 combat commands
GMEO Groupement de Marche d'Extrême Orient - Far East March Group
GMI Groupement Mixte d'Intervention - Mixed Intervention Group, successor of the GCMA after the 1953 shakedown
GMMTA Groupement des Moyens Militaires de Transport Aérien - Military Transport Group
GMNA Groupe Mobile Nord-Africain - North African Mobile Group 
GOMRN Groupement Opérationnel de La Moyenne Rivière Noire - Black River Operational Group
GONO Groupement Opérationnel du Nord-Ouest - North-West Operational Group
GRC Garde Républicaine de Cochinchine - Cochinchina Repunlican Gard, successors of the pre-WW2 Garde Indigène, later renamed GVNS
GT Groupe de Transport - Transport Squadron (air force)
GTM Groupement de Tabors Marocains - Moroccan Tabor Group
GVNS Garde du Vietnam Sud - Southern Vietnam Guard
Huyên District
Ju 52 Junker 52 transport aircraft built in France as Amiot AAC 1 Toucan
Khu Zone
Ky Territory
Lao Dong Vietnamese Workers Party (Communist Party)
LCA Landing Craft, Assault (small, British craft)
LCI Landing Craft, Infantry (large US craft used as command vessel by the Dinassauts)
LCM Landing Craft, Mechanised (British or US craft - probably the most common landing craft in service. Either British LCM Mk3 or the longer US LCM Mk6)
LCT Landing Craft, Tank (large landing craft always in short supply in Indochina!)
LCVP Landing Craft, Vehicle Personnel (US small craft)
Lien Khu (L.K.) Lien Khu (Viet Minh Interzone)
Liên Viêt National front
LK Lien Khu (Viet Minh Interzone)
LSIL Landing Ship Infantry (Large)
LSIL Landing Ship, Infantry (Large) - large US craft used as command vessel by the Dinassauts
LSSL Landing Ship, Support (Large) - US craft used for command and fire support duties
LV Lieutenant de Vaisseau - roughly a senior Lieutenant in British terms
LVT Landing Vehicle, Tracked - US amphibious vehicles also known as amtracks or Buffaloes)
LVT(A) Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armoured) - armoured version of LVT with an M-8 HMC turret - 75mm howitzer armed
Nam Bô Southern Vietnam, Cochinchina
Nam Ky Southern Vietnam, Cochinchina
OAP Opération Aéroportée - Airborne Operation
OSS Office of Strategic Service
PA Point d'appui - strongpoint
PATLAC Patrouille des Lacs - Lakes Patrol
PAVN People's Army of Vietnam
PC Poste de Commandement - Command Post
PCI Parti Communiste Indochinois - Indochinese Communist Party
PFAT Personnel Féminin de l'Armée de Terre - Army Female Personnel
PIM Prisonniers et Internés Militaires - POWs and Interned Military Personnel, often assigned to French combat units to serve as porters
PM Pistolet mitrailleur - Machine Pistol
RAA Régiment d'Artillerie d'Afrique - Artillery Regiment of Africa
RAC Régiment d'Artillerie Coloniale - Colonial Artillery Regiment
RACM Régiment d'Artillerie Coloniale du Maroc - Moroccan Colonial Artillery Regiment
RAP Régiment d'Artillerie Parachutiste - Parachute Artillery Regiment
RBFM Régiment Blindé de Fusiliers-Marins - Marines Armoured Regiment
RC Route Coloniale - Colonial Road
RCC Régiment de Chasseurs à Cheval - Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment (armoured cavalry)
RCP Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes - Parachute Chasseurs Regiment
REC Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie - Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment (i.e. armoured)
REI Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie - Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment 
RF Route Fédérale - Federal Road
RFM Régiment de Fusiliers-Marins - Marines Regiment
RIC Régiment d'Infanterie Coloniale - Colonial Infantry Regiment (French personnel)
RICM Régiment d'Infanterie Coloniale du Maroc - Colonial Infantry Regiment of Morocco (armoured unit, despite its title)
RMIC Régiment de Marche d'Infanterie Coloniale - Colonial Infantry March Regiment
RMSEO Régiment de Marche de Spahis d'Extrême-Orient - Far-East Spahi March Regiment (spahis are North African cavalrymen)
RP Route Provinciale - Provincial Road
RSA Régiment de Spahis Algériens - Algerian Spahi March Regiment (spahis are North African cavalrymen)
RSM Régiment de Spahis Marocains - Moroccan Spahi March Regiment (spahis are North African cavalrymen)
RTA Régiment de Tirailleurs Algériens - Algerian Infantry Regiment
RTM Régiment de Tirailleurs Marocains - Moroccan Infantry Regiment
RTT Régiment de Tirailleurs Tunisiens - Tunisian Infantry Regiment
SAS Special Air Service
SDECE Service de Documentation Extérieure et de Contre-Espionnage, French intelligence service
SGB Sous-Groupement Blindé - Armoured Task Force
SKZ Sung Khong Ziat (rocket launcher or bazooka)
SM Surveillance Maritime - Maritime Surveillance, coastal naval patrols
SOE Special Operations Executive
SRO Service de Renseignements Opérationnels - Operational Intelligence Service, Army field intelligence
STCAN/FOM Services Techniques des Constructions et Armes Navales / France d'Outre-Mer - 8 or 11m armoured patrol boats built by the French for service in Indochina
Tabor Moroccan battalion-size unit recruited in mountain areas
TAM Transport Aérien Militaire - Military Air Transport
TAP Troupes Aéroportées - Airborne Forces
TAPI Troupes Aéroportées Indochine - Indochina Airborne Forces
TAPN Troupes Aéroportées Indochine du Nord - Northern Indochina Airborne Forces
TAPS Troupes Aéroportées Indochine du Sud - Southern Indochina Airborne Forces
td tieu doan (Viet Minh or ANV battalion)
TD Trung Doan (Viet Minh regiment)
TDKQ Tieu Doan Kinh Quan (Vietnamese Light Infantry Battalion), ANV regional battalion, dubbed Commando Battalions as a morale booster but common opinion described them as "neither commandoes, nor battalions" 
TDND Tieu Doan Nhay Du  - Vietnamese Parachute Battalion  (see also BAWOAN and  BPVN)
TFEO Troupes Françaises d'Extrême Orient - Far East French Forces
TFIN Troupes Françaises d'Indochine du Nord - Northern Indochina French Forces
TFIS Troupes Françaises d'Indochine du Sud - Southern Indochina French Forces
Tong Bo Central Committee
Toucan Amiot AAC 1 Toucan, Junker 52 transport aircraft built in France
Trung Bô Central Vietnam, Annam
Tu Vê Viet Minh local militia
UBKC/HC Uy Ban Khang Chinhi Hanh Chinh (Resistance and Administration Committee)
UMDC Unités Mobiles de Défense de la Chrétienté - Christian Derfence Mobile Units, Catholic militias raised in Bentre province
VBD Vé Binh Doan - ANV National Guard
Vinogel Dehydrated gellified wine, the only opinion about its taste that I have found is that of a Viet Minh veteran of Dien Bien Phu who said that it tasted all right with a lot of sugar...
VM Viet Minh, abbreviated form of "Vietnam Doc Lap Dong Minh Hoi" (Revolutionary League for the Independence of Vietnam), although the League was in fact disbanded in 1951 Viet Minh was used throughout the conflict to describe Vietnamese communists
VNQDD Vietnam Quôc Dân Dang - Nationalist Party of Vietnam
Village
ZANO Zone Autonome du Nord-Ouest - North-West Independent Zone
ZOT Zone Opérationnelle du Tonkin. - Tonkin Operational Zone

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