After the capture of Cao Bâng on 25 February, Chinese forces still had to fight for days to weeks to gain control over other areas in the province against outnumbered Vietnamese defenders. Contrary to the Chinese intention to battle against and defeat some major regular units of the VPA, the PLA found themselves encountering mostly small units of Vietnamese border guards and militia. After the capture of Cao BÔng on 25 February, Chinese forces took Dúc Long, a town on Highway 4 on 3 March and connecting the Chinese areas of operations in Cao Bâng and Lång So'n. They then shortly declared that they had attained the goals set for them in the 17-day border war and withdrew troops from Vietnam on 5 March 1979.