The war demonstrated the highest level of patriotism.

Talking about the battle to protect the northern border of the Fatherland in 1979, Professor Vu Minh Giang - Chairman of the Council of Science and Training, Hanoi National University, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Historical Science Association said that it is necessary to have a scientific perspective and presentation as it is, because historical events are objective.

“Vietnam's righteousness was evident from the beginning”

According to Professor Vu Minh Giang, Vietnam's righteousness in the fight to protect the northern border showed that China was causing difficulties and had the intention of military attack before. Vietnam restrained itself and maintained peace but in the end had to fight back when an army of 600,000 troops stormed across the entire northern border of our country on February 17.

“When the army entered our country, the Vietnamese people took up arms to fight back. Vietnam’s justice was clearly shown right from the first minute of the battle, completely defending the Fatherland’s borders,” said Mr. Vu Minh Giang.

Professor Vu Minh Giang: Vietnam's justice in the fight to protect the northern border of the Fatherland is very clear.

This Professor also raised the question, why did China send troops to Vietnam, only supported by the Khmer Rouge group, while many countries strongly opposed it, demanding China withdraw its troops, expressing their disagreement, creating international public opinion? That shows the injustice of the foreign army and of course the justice belongs to those who oppose that army.

“The fight to protect the northern border of the Fatherland received the support and sympathy of the entire Vietnamese people, so if it was not just, how could it have happened? Students wrote letters with their blood asking to go to the front; many artists showed their strong will; people volunteered to take up arms even when there was no General Mobilization Order. The justice is extremely clear” – Professor Vu Minh Giang affirmed.

The Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association emphasized that the battle to protect the northern border in 1979 once again demonstrated that this was a victory of the people. The first battles when the border was violated that year were initiated by local troops and militia while the regular army and regular armed forces were still on duty in other areas.

Positioning the war to build a bridge of friendship

From a scientist's perspective, Professor Vu Minh Giang emphasized that for Vietnam, history is not only about building the country but also about always being ready to take up arms against foreign invaders to preserve national independence and protect territorial integrity. That is ingrained in the blood of Vietnam, is part of its strength, and even becomes Vietnamese culture.

Patriotism is considered an extremely precious spiritual value of the nation, the source of Vietnam's strength. That patriotism is pushed to the highest level when other forces touch the most sacred value of national independence and territorial integrity. The 1979 war demonstrated the highly concentrated power of patriotism.

According to Professor Vu Minh Giang, looking back and defining the nature of the war is not to deepen hatred, expand or incite anti-China sentiment, but as a way to remind that in the relationship between the two countries there are scars and gaps that need to be bridged with friendship to overcome, so that it will not happen again in the future.

Making correct judgments about the war is to continue tradition, foster the spirit of the Vietnamese people, nurture the inner strength of the Vietnamese people, and build a strong country and a strong army to protect the country.

For Vietnam, history is not only about building the country but also about always being ready to take up arms against foreign invaders to preserve national independence and protect territorial integrity. Photo courtesy

Correctly evaluate the war and teach and propagate in a positive way to have historical lessons. Forms of education demonstrate the peace-loving spirit of Vietnam, forever extinguishing war but ready to stand up and take up arms when the invaders come.

In the current situation, the Document of the 12th Party Congress emphasizes that the interests of the nation and people are paramount. That national consciousness and patriotism are expressed in many areas, but the most concentrated is still security and national defense, therefore, every soldier must always be closely attached to the people.

“The word “People’s Army” that Uncle Ho gave it is not a beautiful noun but the nature of our army, so the two words “People” must be engraved. As Hung Dao Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan said: “If the top and bottom are of one mind, brothers are in harmony, the whole country joins forces, then no matter how powerful the invading army is, it will fail” – Professor Vu Minh Giang emphasized./.