 Shortly afterwards General Cao Văn Viên received a message from President Thiệu which advised Lieutenant General Dư Quốc Đống not to make discretionary decisions, and to try to maintain the morale of the South Vietnamese soldiers at Phước Long.While Lieutenant General Dư Quốc Đống was desperate to find additional reinforcements, the North Vietnamese were making their way towards Phước Long and Phước Bình between December 27 and December 30, 1974.On the afternoon of December 30, PAVN units took up their positions in the following order