[5] A Chinese regiment clashed with a Vietnamese platoon, taking heavy casualties to seize the strategic peak which was later recaptured by reinforcements.

[8] Expecting an attack, the small Vietnamese platoon assigned to defend Cao Ba Lanh had placed mines and booby traps along the most likely venues of approach, before spreading itself out to maximize its field of fire.

[2] The high losses were the result of well-equipped, entrenched defenders as well as poor tactics, with human wave assaults having been repeatedly used against the PAVN[2] The battle exposed inadequacies in the PLA's military abilities, with a regiment having been held up by a platoon.

The Vietnamese claimed to have inflicted 750 casualties on the Chinese during the battle of Cao Ba Lanh and nearby Hill 781.

[11] Casualties for the entrenched Vietnamese defenders were unclear, although Nguyen Duc Hop said he witnessed two men killed before he himself was wounded and passed out.