The Gold Star Order is presented to the Vietnamese experts who assisted Cambodia’s revolution from 1979 to 1989 at a ceremony in Hanoi on July 12, 2019 (Photo: VNA)

After the Khmer Rouge was rooted out by Vietnamese volunteers and Cambodian patriots, Cambodia faced numerous difficulties including strong opposition from Khmer Rouge remnants. At Cambodia’s request, Vietnam sent tens of thousands of experts to help the country’s national reconstruction and development.

Helping Cambodians escape poverty, diseases

From 1979 to 1989, nearly 35,000 Vietnamese experts were deployed to help the Cambodian People’s Revolutionary Party rebuild itself, organize two congresses, and train its members. Vietnam helped establish the Cambodian People’s Revolutionary Council whose job was to re-build social institutions damaged by the Khmer Rouge. Vu Mao, President of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association, was a young Vietnamese volunteer in Cambodia at that time. He said: “A Vietnam Youth Union delegation came to Cambodia to help reorganize the youth and pioneer forces. We gathered young Cambodian people in a group called ‘Cambodian National Salvation Youth Association’ and then selected the most elite to the Cambodian People’s Revolutionary Youth Union.”

Journalist Nguyen Van Khiem of VOVWorld was one of the VOV experts in Cambodia from 1980 to 1984. Khiem said: “In 1980, VOV leaders sent me to work in Cambodia to help them develop radio programs. At that time, Cambodia produced overseas service programs in English, French, Thai, and Laos but their infrastructure and facility were very poor. I worked for the French program.”

Unselfish assistance from the Vietnamese Party, State

In 10 years, Vietnamese experts helped Cambodia build administrations at all levels, organize the people to reconstruct the country, develop production, and prevent the return of the Khmer Rouge.

A newly-built political system from the central and grassroots level was a firm foundation for a sovereign Cambodia to grow, alongside independent and self-reliant cultural and social institutions.

Cambodian leaders have attributed their country’s growth to the prompt and effective assistance of the Vietnamese government and people, including Vietnamese experts and volunteers.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hunsen said Vietnamese voluntary soldiers helped the Cambodians escape the Khmer Rouge’s genocidal regime, while Vietnamese experts helped Cambodia escape the second genocide of poverty and diseases. After the Khmer Rouge was defeated, Vietnamese volunteers from a range of professions came back and continued their work in Vietnam.