The war to defend the northern border: The strength of the all-people national defense strategy.

Forty-seven years have passed, and recalling the battle to defend the northern border serves as a reminder to heighten vigilance and be ready to "fight to the death" to protect every inch of sacred land of the Fatherland, for the independence, freedom, and aspiration for peace of Vietnam.

Nearly half a century has passed, and recalling this serves to educate the younger generation about traditions, to honor, appreciate, and emulate the heroic examples of those who fought and sacrificed their lives for national independence.

Our soldiers marching to the northern front, February 1979 - Photo: Nhat Truong/VNA

From 9:15 AM on February 20, 1979, soldiers of Company 10, Battalion 3 of the Lang Son army launched an attack to retake Chau Canh Hill and Cay Xanh Hill (Hill 409), located in Tam Lung commune, Van Lang district (Lang Son province), which had been occupied by the enemy since February 17, 1979 - Photo: Ha Viet/TTXVN

Soldiers of Company 3, Battalion 1, H54 Regiment of the Hoang Lien Son Provincial Local Army bravely held their outpost, eliminating hundreds of enemy soldiers on February 17, 1979 - Photo: Nguyen Tran/TTXVN.

Soldiers of Company 1, Battalion 1, M123 Regiment of the Lang Son army fought bravely, eliminating hundreds of enemy soldiers at the unnamed hill over two days, February 17-18, 1979 - Photo: Long Son/TTXVN

Signalman Pham Van Do, Company 18, Ha Tuyen Medical Regiment, bravely performed his duty, ensuring uninterrupted communication lines to support combat operations. He was awarded the Third Class Military Merit Medal - Photo: Minh Duc/TTXVN

Soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Company, 2nd Battalion, H54th Regiment of the Hoang Lien Son Provincial Local Army were awarded the Third Class Military Merit Medal for their courageous fighting, repelling numerous enemy attacks, and holding their outpost on Hill 340 in Phiet village, Muong Khuong district, Hoang Lien Son province (now Lao Cai province) - Photo: Nguyen Tran/TTXVN

Militia members of Van Quan district, Lang Son province, simultaneously held their ground and organized the timely transport of ammunition to the battlefield to support artillery units in destroying the enemy, February 27, 1979 - Photo: Ha Viet/TTXVN

The Youth Union of Loc Binh district (Lang Son province) transports ammunition to the outpost, contributing to the fight against enemy incursions alongside the troops - Photo: Dinh Tran/TTXVN

Soldiers of the 368th Artillery Regiment of Hoang Lien Son Province unleash a barrage of fire to punish the enemy, March 10, 1979 - Photo: Phung Trieu/VNA

Self-defense fighters of Ban Phiệt Forestry Station, Muong Khuong district, Hoang Lien Son province (now part of Lao Cai province) held their ground and fought, coordinating with local troops to repel numerous enemy attacks - Photo: Nguyen Tran/TTXVN

The Lang Son Front Command and the 327th Regiment commander discuss battle plans at Chu Tien Cave (Lang Son town) - Photo: Van Bao/TTXVN

Enemy tanks were destroyed by our troops in the very first volley of fire at San village, Hoa An district, Cao Bang province - Photo: Tran Manh Thuong/TTXVN

The image of a soldier holding a B41 rifle pointed towards the invading army, next to the Lang Son Zero Milestone, in the early morning of February 17, 1979, is symbolic of the 1979 Northern Border Defense War - Photo: Archival material/VNA

Mr. Luc Van Vinh and his five children from Na Long village, Ngoc Khe commune, Trung Khanh district, Cao Bang province all joined the armed forces in the fight to protect the northern border - Photo: Ta Hai/TTXVN

Armed police forces bravely fought in the Dong Dang Fortress area, Lang Son province - Photo: Ta Hai/TTXVN

The town of Trà Lĩnh (Cao Bằng province) was destroyed by the enemy - Photo: Sĩ Châu/TTXVN

On February 17, 1979, the enemy used explosives, dynamite, and artillery to bombard the Lao Cai Apatite mine (Hoang Lien Son province), destroying the entire mine - Photo: Nguyen Tran/TTXVN

Vietnamese troops captured enemy weapons in Hoa An district, Cao Bang province, February 1979 - Photo: Quang Khanh/TTXVN

The Ho Kieu Bridge in Lao Cai town, Hoang Lien Son province (now Lao Cai province) was destroyed by explosives during the enemy's retreat in late March 1979 - Photo: Nguyen Tran/TTXVN

Doctors treat the wounds of students from Quyet Tien Primary School in Quan Ba District, Ha Tuyen Province, who were hit by shrapnel from artillery shells while playing - Photo: Hua Kiem/TTXVN

The Martyrs' Memorial at Hill 468 is located halfway up Nam Ngat Mountain, Thanh Thuy Commune, Vi Xuyen District, Ha Giang Province. The monument was built to commemorate thousands of officers and soldiers who sacrificed their lives at Hill 468 on the Vi Xuyen front during the battle to protect the northern border; it has become a historical and cultural site to remember and pay tribute to the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the cause of protecting the Fatherland. - Photo: Thanh Tung/TTXVN

Veteran Nguyen Van Kim and his comrades bring the remains of martyr Dinh Van Chung (who died on Hill 900, Vi Xuyen front, Ha Giang) back to Thanh Thuy commune cemetery - Photo: VNA

Memorial service and burial of the remains of martyrs at Vi Xuyen National Martyrs Cemetery, Ha Giang (July 11, 2017) - Photo: Minh Tam/TTXVN

Memorial service and burial of the remains of martyrs who bravely fought and sacrificed their lives in the battle to protect the northern border, at Vi Xuyen National Martyrs Cemetery (Ha Giang) - Photo: VNA

Leaders of the Ha Giang Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee, and various departments, agencies, and organizations performed the memorial service for the remains of martyrs at the Vi Xuyen National Martyrs' Cemetery - Photo: Nam Thai/TTXVN

Lieutenant General Do Can - Deputy Head of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army - lights incense to commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Battle to protect the Northern border, and whose remains were brought back for burial at the Vi Xuyen National Martyrs Cemetery (Ha Giang, November 26, 2022) - Photo: Minh Tam/TTXVN

A veteran who participated in the Battle to Defend the Northern Border at the Vi Xuyen front years ago returns to Vi Xuyen National Cemetery to light incense in remembrance of his fallen comrades - Photo: Thanh Tung/TTXVN

Relatives of martyrs who died in the Battle to Defend the Northern Border light incense at the Vi Xuyen National Martyrs Cemetery, Ha Giang (July 11, 2017) - Photo: Minh Tam/TTXVN

The Vi Xuyen National Martyrs' Cemetery is the resting place of thousands of martyrs, including many whose identities remain unknown - Photo: Nam Thai/TTXVN

The former Border Guard Post 209 – now the Pò Hèn Martyrs' Memorial – has become a provincial-level historical site, serving as one of the key locations for educating the younger generation of Quang Ninh province about the tradition of fighting and protecting the sovereignty of the Fatherland's borders. - Photo: Trung Nguyen/TTXVN

The stone plaque, inscribed with unforgettable stories and memories of a bygone era, stands at the memorial to the heroic martyrs at the 468-year-old hilltop of Nam Ngat mountain, Thanh Thuy commune, Vi Xuyen district, Ha Giang province - Photo: Thanh Tung/TTXVN

Recalling the historical truth about the Battle to Defend the Northern Border to affirm Vietnam's just cause, to honor and express gratitude to those who fell for the independence and freedom of the country, and to educate the younger generation about national pride and self-respect, and the determination to protect every inch of sacred land of the Fatherland - Photo: Nguyen Chien/TTXVN

Veteran border guards in Lai Chau city reminisce about their past battles to protect the northern border - Photo: Cong Tuyen/TTXVN

Lao Cai International Border Gate today - Photo: Quoc Khanh/TTXVN

Health check-up for people who rendered meritorious services to the revolution in Trang Dinh district, currently receiving care at the Center for the Care of People with Meritorious Services in Lang Son province - Photo: Anh Tuan/TTXVN

After the war, Cao Bang city underwent a dramatic transformation, becoming a civilized, modern urban center with a rich cultural identity, and one of the most beautiful cities in the northern mountainous provinces - Photo: VNA

After the war, Lao Cai became one of the most modern cities in the Northwest region of the country, with a completely new, more modern and vibrant appearance - Photo: Quoc Khanh/TTXVN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cuoc-chien-bao-ve-bien-gioi-phia-bac-suc-manh-cua-the-tran-quoc-phong-toan-dan-20260216100454111.htm#content-13