This event also served as a source of pride for generations of soldier-journalists, as it was the first time in the 75-year history of the People’s Army Newspaper (PAN) that a journalist has officially become a member of the U.N. blue beret force.
To do so, the petite female journalist underwent six months of hard training at the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VNDPKO). By day, she spent time mastering professional knowledge of peacekeeping, international law, humanitarian law, and the culture of the host country, alongside crucial topics such as gender equality, protection of civilians, and prevention of sexual exploitation. By night, she diligently honed her English proficiency to operate effectively in a multinational environment.
    |
 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel Dang Thu Ha (left) receives the President’s decision for officers to take on U.N. peacekeeping duties. |
Thanks to her agility and strong language skills, during her training, Thu Ha was selected to present about the role of female military personnel in Cambodia and to attend a media skills workshop in Indonesia under the guidance of Canadian experts. Meanwhile, she had the opportunity to work directly with U.N. experts and nearly 40 international trainees.
The training courses, ranging from theory to practice, prioritized combat readiness, requiring trainees to flexibly apply their knowledge to handle situations in complex and dangerous conflict environments. Skills, such as driving field utility vehicles and Level 1 Tactical Combat Casualty Care, which are significant challenges even for many male soldiers, were persistently mastered by Thu Ha. She recognized that at the mission, driving is not only for transportation, but also a vital survival skill for every blue beret soldier.
Inheriting the “writing gene” from her father, a military officer, writer, and journalist, Thu Ha chose to work for the People’s Army Newspaper in 2003. She has always been eager to venture to remote areas and isolated villages to gather information. Her work “Three teachers on Lung Cung peak,” which won the first prize in the 9th “Simple but noble examples” writing contest in 2018, was the fruit of an arduous journey to Lung Cung peak (Nam Co commune, Lao Cai province) at an altitude of nearly 3,000 meters. This stands as a testament to the bravery, resilience, and dedication of the female soldier-journalist.
In this deployment, Thu Ha will replace Senior Captain Nguyen Huyen Anh as the Military Public Information Officer (MPIO) at the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). An MPIO’s duty is not only to record events, but also to act as a “bridge” between the peacekeeping force, international community, and local people, contributing to a stable and peaceful environment through the power of official information.
Before departing for MINUSCA on January 6, 2026, Thu Ha could not hide her emotion and pride.
She expressed that she always appreciate and be grateful to the leadership and colleagues at the PAN for creating favorable conditions for her to undertake this new task. Upholding her family’s tradition and that of the newspaper receiving the title “Hero of the People’s Armed Forces” twice, she vows to strive to fully fulfill her role as a media officer at MINUSCA.
For a Vietnamese officer, an MPIO also carries the mission of cultural diplomacy, affirming the noble virtues of Uncle Ho’s soldiers in the current context and promoting the image of a peace-loving, friendly, and responsible Vietnam to the international community. Thu Ha underlined that she would be pro-active and ready to apply her journalistic experience and the peacekeeping skills she has acquired in reality.
Translated by Minh Anh