The armed police force fought in Dong Dang, Lang Son province. Photo: Ta Hai / VNA

Soldiers of artillery team 368 of Hoang Lien Son army defeated enemy troops on March 10, 1979. Photo: Phung Trieu / VNA

On February 20, 1979, soldiers of Company 10, Battalion 3 of Lang Son army recaptured Chau Canh hill and Cay Xanh hill (peak 409) in Tam Lung commune, Van Lang district, Lang Son, which was occupied by the enemy since February 17, 1979. Photo: Ha Viet / VNA

Soldiers at Ha Tuyen front ready to fight. Photo: Minh Loc / VNA

Houses in Ha village, Phuong Do commune, Vi Xuyen district, Ha Tuyen, were devastated by the enemy. Photo: Minh Loc / VNA

Soldiers of Company 39, Team 313 of Ha Tuyen destroyed the enemy's gun turrets. Photo: Minh Loc / VNA

Preparing weapons to fight on Ha Tuyen front. Photo: Minh Loc / VNA

Houses of people in Ha village, Phuong Do commune, Vi Xuyen district, Ha Tuyen, were detroyed. Photo: Minh Loc / VNA

Soldiers and local people in Van Quan commune, Lang Son, carried bullets to soldiers on the battlefield on February 27, 1979. Photo: Ha Viet / VNA

Female self-defense force of Ban Phiet forest farm, Muong Khuong district, Hoang Lien Son province (now Lao Cai) joined the local army in fighting the enemy’s attacks. Photo: Nguyen Tran / VNA

A doctor treated a wounded girl in Quyet Tien commune, Quan Ba district, Ha Tuyen, who was hit by artillery shells. Photo: Hua Kiem / VNA

Houses in the neighbourhood of Lo Ren, Dong Dang town, Lang Son, were devastated by the enemy. Photo: The Thuan / VNA

Houses in Pho Bang town, Dong Van district, Ha Tuyen, province were destroyed on March 8-9, 1979. Photo: Ngoc Quan / VNA

Ho Kieu bridge in Lao Cai town, Hoang Lien Son province (Lao Cai province now) was destroyed by the enemy during their withdrawal at the end of March, 1979. Photo: Nguyen Tran / VNA

Boarder guard Ngo Duy Nhung rescued a child from the ruins. Photo: Ngo Dinh Phuoc / VNA

Soldiers of Company 1, Battalion 1, Team M123 of Lang Son army defeated hundreds of Chinese soldiers on Khong Ten hill on February 17-18, 1979. Photo: Long Son / VNA

Suspension bridge in Xin Man district, Ha Tuyen province was destroyed. Photo: Minh Dien / VNA

Soldiers and local people in Mau Son commune, Cao Loc district, Lang Son province delivered tons of munitions and food to soldiers on the battlefield. Photo: Long Son / VNA

Tanks of Platoon 1, Company 2, Battalion 407 pursued the enemy in Lang Son town. Photo: The Thuan / VNA

Japanese reporter Isao Takano (with glasses) from newspaper Akahata was in Lang Son town during the early days of the battle. He died on March 7, 1979 on Quang Trung street, Chi Lang ward, Lang Son town. Photo: Minh Dao / VNA

Prefabricated building of workers in Lao Cai town, Hoang Lien Son province were damaged by the enemy's explosives. Photo: Phung Trieu / VNA

Soldiers at Ha Tuyen Front ready to protect the northern border. Photo: Minh Loc / VNA

Two Danish journalists were in Cuong Thinh village, Phuong Tien commune, Vi Xuyen district, Ha Tuyen province to cover the severe war. Photo: Long Son / VNA

Weapons of the enemy were captured by Vietnamese troops in Hoa An district, Cao Bang province in February 1979. Photo: Quang Khanh / VNA

Communication soldier Pham Van Do from Company 18, Ha Tuyen Medical Group bravely did his task, ensuring smooth communcation for the fighting. He was awarded the Feat Order -third class. Photo: Minh Loc / VNA

When the Vietnam-China border war occurred, the Soviet Ministry of Defense sent a high-level combat group of 21 Soviet Army leaders, headed by General Gennady Obaturov, to Vietnam with the task of "protecting Vietnam at all costs". In the photo: Major General V.Demyanenko (second from right) with his Vietnamese teammates in March 1981. Photo: VNA