It was not easily to defeat the waves of massive 600,000 troops attacked suddendly in all 6 border provinces of Vietnam at the early morning 17 Feb 1979. At that time, the defensive forces of Vietnam of around 150,000 people were local border troops and militias while most of regular divisions of Vietnam were in Cambodia.
At the begining, we were surprised and most of border troops on shift was sacrified. All used to the last bullets before dead. All telegrams were remitted from them to the back bases and commanders saying "we have no more bullets, please send our goodbye to all comrads and families, goodbye" and all died by then at frontlines.
After 1–2 first days of surprise of the war, what Vietnamese did? We organized and grouped together to defend and fight. There were not only local border troops, militias but also civilians participating to fight against China. When China attacked us, it seems they forgot we just left out from the wars of 30 years (against France and America), many civilians were ex-soldiers and possessed high skills of fighting in conventional battles as well guerilla attacks. In 2,000 years, this was not a first time to fight with China, it should be the 30th war or more and in 20th century, it was not a first day we fought with the bigger enemy, it should be the 30th year plus one day. So Vietnamese did what they usually did.
On the other hand, in 20th century, China did not fight with whom, except for the short term battle assisting North Korea in 1950 and that's all. Their tactics were massive population waves used since 1950 as usual, and still blowing trumpet for attacking, for soldier gathering, for calling to have meals, showing everything were very behind the year 1979. Vietnamese in fact was a bit surprised to observe that kind of technique.
With triple population, in 20 days up to 5 Mar 1979, Chinese just moved to inland total only 15–20 km from border while lost and injured around 60,000 which higher than what American lost in 20 years. Certainly, Vietnamese also lost heavy casuality when facing to the massive attack tactics, as well a lot children and woman were massacred also. But as usual, in the hardship, Vietnamese was more determined, turning any pain become self-motivation. Right before the war, China stated that they will have breakfast in Hanoi and dinner in Hochiminh city in one day! But they could not move further than 20 km in 20 days!
On 5 Mar 1979, Vietnam mobilized some key regular divisions from Cambodia to the border provinces as well launched the national mobilization but China hurrily declared the victory and requested withdrawal of its troops in 6 Mar 1979. That quick actions helped them to avoid the direct severe fight with regular forces of Vietnam, who just liberated Phnom Penh out from the Khmer Rough in 7th Jan 1979 after seven days attack in the conventional battles.
China declared the victory with the below "achievements":
- China attacked Vietnam in order to rescue the Khmer Rough. However, at the end of war with China, Vietnam had not withdrawn its troops from Cambodia and then still defeated Khmer Rough out of Cambodia sucessfully and entirely.
- If the purpose of the war is to teach Vietnam a lesson as China declared, the price for the lesson is very expensive with 60K of troops dead and injured within 20 days for nothing. It it not sure that is a lesson China wanted innitially to teach Vietnam.
In addition, I would like repost the interesting answer with more comprehensive information from the independent author who is not Vietnamese or Chinese to analyze who defeat whom in his eyes:
Then there are international articles for your references about this topic also:
China Says Its Losses in Vietnam Were 20,000 Killed and Wounded (Published 1979)
China tries to forget, but its war with Vietnam ended with a US victory
The Last Time China Got Into a Fight With Vietnam, It Was a Disaster
Enjoy your reading!
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