Hi guys.
By chance, I just read a thread about Sino-Vietnam war in 1979 ended with nuclear attack. I think I want to give you guys a view of Vietnamese too. This story was told by my father, he was once in army and all his friends are high ranking officials in VPA, some are even working in Ministry of Defence. Therefore, I think this is a reliable view. This story also include Cambodia accident.
At the end of the war with US, we were having some problems with Chinese. Vietnam choose to follow Stalin communist's way. China's ally, Cambodia kept attacking the border and even massacre a whole town named Ba Truc. Honestly, just my personal thinking, there's nothing wrong for the Vietnamese to destroy this horrible government.
Vietnam vs Cambodia:
After Cambodia launched its first massive attack, Vietnam launched another 1 to pay back. But in reality, 1 army division was secretly stay back in border between. After Cambodia launched the second massive attack, Vietnam moved 4 out of 6 army division which were stationed in the south. When Vietnam launched the invasion, VPA easily circled Cambodia army and destroy it. But they( my father's friend) told me, it was not an easy victory. One of them was working as radio man, for the first few days of the war, the more platoon VPA sent in, the more they "disappeared" or in term "lost contract". Platoon after platoon was sent in after every 5 minutes. Cambodia Artillery was not good if without Chinese advisor. He said, when they used their BMP-21 or their artillery, they must move right away to another location. Because just 5 minutes later, Cambodia artillery's shells will fall at that place right way.
Vietnam vs Sino:
My father participated in this war. He was in support divison at that time. This war was very well prepared by Chinese leader. In the morning of the invasion, town people around border saw many VPA troops walking around. In fact they are PLA troops disguised as VPA troops. Before the main army came in, they already controlled the military base there. The PLA was very fast advanced, my father digged the trech in morning, but must retreat back in afternoon. He said, there weren't any regular army divisions in this war, except for his support divison which was newly formed when this war started. Some sources say PLA fought with regular army, however PLAN actually mostly fought millitia or police. My father still has a bullet wound-marked in his leg today. Everyday, he saw trains carried wounded troops back to Hanoi and many millitia personel stayed on top of it ( guard it, I think).
Oh, about the Russian, he said transportation plane of Russian flew almost twice a day. They were just hovering above Chinese position, and both sides never did anythings except looking at each other. However, in the last few days before China announced its retreat. There was a rumor on Vietnam side that the Russian was setting up Bio-weapons in the last line of defence. My father said if the chinese was to cross this river, the russian shall fire at them. Everything has its own limit point, the russian could not stand still anymore. But he did see some strange equipment which was set up by russian, but he didn't know what it was. Rumor is just rumor after all. Well, both side claimed victory after this. Personally, I don't see any Victors or Losers in this war, both sides lost a lot of their people, China did teach Vietnam a lesson, but Vietnam still won in Cambodia. China leader realize a needs for modernization in their army.
By chance, I just read a thread about Sino-Vietnam war in 1979 ended with nuclear attack. I think I want to give you guys a view of Vietnamese too. This story was told by my father, he was once in army and all his friends are high ranking officials in VPA, some are even working in Ministry of Defence. Therefore, I think this is a reliable view. This story also include Cambodia accident.
At the end of the war with US, we were having some problems with Chinese. Vietnam choose to follow Stalin communist's way. China's ally, Cambodia kept attacking the border and even massacre a whole town named Ba Truc. Honestly, just my personal thinking, there's nothing wrong for the Vietnamese to destroy this horrible government.
Vietnam vs Cambodia:
After Cambodia launched its first massive attack, Vietnam launched another 1 to pay back. But in reality, 1 army division was secretly stay back in border between. After Cambodia launched the second massive attack, Vietnam moved 4 out of 6 army division which were stationed in the south. When Vietnam launched the invasion, VPA easily circled Cambodia army and destroy it. But they( my father's friend) told me, it was not an easy victory. One of them was working as radio man, for the first few days of the war, the more platoon VPA sent in, the more they "disappeared" or in term "lost contract". Platoon after platoon was sent in after every 5 minutes. Cambodia Artillery was not good if without Chinese advisor. He said, when they used their BMP-21 or their artillery, they must move right away to another location. Because just 5 minutes later, Cambodia artillery's shells will fall at that place right way.
Vietnam vs Sino:
My father participated in this war. He was in support divison at that time. This war was very well prepared by Chinese leader. In the morning of the invasion, town people around border saw many VPA troops walking around. In fact they are PLA troops disguised as VPA troops. Before the main army came in, they already controlled the military base there. The PLA was very fast advanced, my father digged the trech in morning, but must retreat back in afternoon. He said, there weren't any regular army divisions in this war, except for his support divison which was newly formed when this war started. Some sources say PLA fought with regular army, however PLAN actually mostly fought millitia or police. My father still has a bullet wound-marked in his leg today. Everyday, he saw trains carried wounded troops back to Hanoi and many millitia personel stayed on top of it ( guard it, I think).
Oh, about the Russian, he said transportation plane of Russian flew almost twice a day. They were just hovering above Chinese position, and both sides never did anythings except looking at each other. However, in the last few days before China announced its retreat. There was a rumor on Vietnam side that the Russian was setting up Bio-weapons in the last line of defence. My father said if the chinese was to cross this river, the russian shall fire at them. Everything has its own limit point, the russian could not stand still anymore. But he did see some strange equipment which was set up by russian, but he didn't know what it was. Rumor is just rumor after all. Well, both side claimed victory after this. Personally, I don't see any Victors or Losers in this war, both sides lost a lot of their people, China did teach Vietnam a lesson, but Vietnam still won in Cambodia. China leader realize a needs for modernization in their army.