A cozy Tet in South Sudan

PANO - With homemade green “banh chung,” spring rolls, jams of all kinds, the Vietnamese peacekeepers in South Sudan are eagerly preparing to welcome the lunar New Year (Tet) festival away from home.

A herad of peace in South Sudan

Vietnamese engineering company ready to undertake missions at UNISFA

Vietnamese female blue berets in South Sudan

Well-shaped “banh chung” (square cake made from glutinous rice, pork and green bean)

The Level-two Field Hospital Rotation 3 making “banh chung”

To make “banh chung,” phrynium leaves are often used. However, the leaves cannot be found in South Sudan; therefore, banana leaves are used in stead.

Meanwhile, banana flower is used to make sweet and sour salad.

Paper peach blossoms to decorate the hospital

“Banh chung” and “banh tet” (round cake made from glutinous rice, pork and green bean) are wrapped meticulously.

“Banh chung” and “banh tet” are cooked.

Ginger jam brings the hospital’s staff special flavors from Vietnam.

“Neu” pole (New Year decorated pole) is erected in the campus of the hospital capturing the attention of a lot of people.

Kites with the national flag of Vietnam and other patterns bearing the message of peace floating in the sky

New Year meal with traditional dishes of Vietnam

The hospital’s staff also make lucky money envelops themselves.

Prior to the moment when the lunar New Year comes, Lieutenant Colonel Trinh My Hoa, Director of the Level-two Field Hospital Rotation 3, emotionally shares, “This is a great opportunity to experience Tet together in a place nearly 10,000 km away from the Fatherland - an unforgettable memory in our military life.”

Translated by Huu Duong