[Vietnamization: China responds] Dozens of Vietnamese mark anniversary of border war with China

A man places incense while others pray in front of the statue of the 11th century founding father of Hanoi King Ly Thai To in central Hanoi, Vietnam. (AP Photo/Tran Van Minh)

Dozens of Vietnamese mark anniversary of border war with China

The participants laid flowers and lit incense Friday at the stature of King Ly Thai To.

The Indian Express | 17 February 2017

Several dozen people have gathered in Hanoi to commemorate Vietnam’s brief but bloody border war with China nearly 40 years ago. The participants laid flowers and lit incense Friday at the stature of King Ly Thai To, the founder of capital Hanoi in the 10th century amid a heavy police presence. The authorities used loudspeakers to urge the crowd to disperse.

There are no official government activities marking the event, but it was extensively covered in the state media this week.

China sent hundreds of thousands of troops into northern Vietnam 38 years ago, for what it said was to teach Vietnam a lesson for invading China-backed Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.

China withdrew its troops one month later with both sides claiming victory.