The fall of Phnom Penh in early January 1979 marked a pivotal moment in the Cambodian-Vietnamese War, which was part of the broader Third Indochina War. Vietnamese forces invaded Cambodia in late December 1978, intent on dismantling the brutal regime of Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge had imposed radical agrarian policies and committed severe human rights abuses, leading to the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians through executions, forced labor, and starvation. As the Vietnamese troops advanced, they faced little organized resistance due to the weakened state of the Khmer Rouge forces, which were engaged in retreat and chaos. The capture of Phnom Penh signaled the end of nearly four years of Khmer Rouge rule and the beginning of a new, albeit tumultuous, chapter in Cambodian history.Following the capture of the capital, the Vietnamese established a new government led by a pro-Vietnamese faction, marking a significant shift in regional power dynamics. Vietnam's intervention was partly motivated by the desire to secure its own borders and stem the tide of Khmer Rouge incursions into Vietnamese territory. The aftermath of the invasion led to a prolonged military presence in Cambodia, contributing to decade-long civil conflicts as various factions vied for power, with lasting impacts on Cambodian society, politics, and international relations.