The Hmong people in Laos have as their traditional homeland the areas in and around what was known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The United States began covert actions against the Pathet Lao forces as early as the Kennedy Administration before the United States entered into the war in Vietnam. The Pathet Lao opposed the government of Laos at the time and supported the government of North Vietnam. The Hmong formed military forces and aided the United States in operations against the Pathet Lao. In 1968 the United States began an air war and other military actions against the Pathet Lao forces along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and elsewhere in the Hmong areas. The Hmong continued to aid the United States forces.