Photo book on northern border defence war releases

As informed, the author of the photo book is photographer Tran Manh Thuong. The  work features 125 documentary photos in black and white on the defence war in the northern province of Cao Bang in February 1979, demonstrating the solidarity, indomitability and victory of the Vietnamese army and people.

Sharing the point of view about the photo book, poet Nguyen Quang Thieu, President of the Vietnam Writers Association underscored, the photos in this book are the most convincing evidence of the war's truth and Tran Mang Thuong is one of the witnesses to Vietnam’s war to defend its northern border in 1979. Each photo reflects the eternal will of national sovereignty. 

On February 17, 1979, China launched a large-scale attack on Vietnam’s territory along the northern borderline between the two countries from Phong Tho (Lai Chau province) to Mong Cai (Quang Ninh province). Thuong was the sole photojournalist present in Cao Bang on the day.

Exercising their legitimate right to defence, Vietnam’s army and people fought back with great fortitude. Suffering heavy losses without achieving the initial goal of the attack while being condemned by the world’s opinions, China withdrew all its military forces on March 18, 1979.