“The numbers speak for themselves”
With the spirit of resilience, Vietnam’s peacekeeping force has continuously developed and obtained impressive results, making substantial contribution to global peace.
According to Senior Colonel Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, over the past ten years, the Vietnam People’s Army has deployed over 800 peacekeepers to the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and the U.N. headquarters. From just two military officers in the first place, after 10 years, the number of individual officers of Vietnam taking on duties at U.N. missions and U.N. agencies has been on the rise, reaching a total of 114 officers deployed. Notably, three military officers of Vietnam have passed rigorous qualification rounds to work at U.N. headquarters in New York. The number is impressive because to be qualified for positions at the U.N. headquarters, officers must pass difficult qualification rounds and fight a stiff competition with representatives from many countries joining U.N. peacekeeping operations.
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Members of the Engineering Company Rotation 1 in Abyei |
In the form of unit, Vietnam has deployed its 63-strong level-two field hospitals and 184-strong engineering companies. In September, the third rotation of the engineering company and the sixth rotation of the level-two field hospital will be deployed to Abyei and South Sudan. Vietnam now has the high number of personnel regularly deployed to U.N. peacekeeping missions, reaching 274, including 36 females.
In addition, Vietnam has been praised and highly appreciated by the U.N. for the efforts in promoting gender equality since the rate of Vietnamese female peacekeepers is high, currently standing at 16,6%, exceeding the U.N.’s expectation.
Despite numerous difficulties and hardships, the Vietnamese units and individuals have successfully fulfilled duties, assigned by U.N. missions and the U.N. Many individuals were awarded with certificates of merits and letters of praise from the U.N. for their task accomplishment. It is worth mentioning that all the deployed Vietnamese peacekeepers were presented with the U.N. medal for their contribution to the peacekeeping cause and other noble rewards from the host countries. Notably, the Level-2 Field Hospital Rotations 1 and 2 and their members were awarded with certificates of merits of the UNMISS Force Commander in recognition of their great contribution and performance.
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Vietnam is highly appreciated for sending a large number of female officers to U.N. peacekeeping missions. |
According to statistics, the number of Vietnamese officers who have excellently completed their missions is much higher than the average of other participating countries. Their professionalism and efforts in carrying out assignments, creativeness, and strict discipline observance have been highly appreciated by U.N. leaders and missions’ commanders and left deep impression on international friends and colleagues.
During visits to Vietnam’s units, U.N. leaders and missions’ commanders consistently spoke highly of the Vietnamese blue berets for their professional expertise, command of foreign languages, courage, self-reliance, resilience in overcoming difficulties, and particularly their high adaptability to harsh and challenging environments. The Vietnamese officers have demonstrated their flexibility, creativeness, and ability to address disagreements through soft power. U.N. leaders and missions’ commanders have evaluated that the Vietnamese peacekeepers have transformed the overall image of U.N. missions.
Evaluating the task performance of the Vietnamese peacekeepers, Hiroko Hirahara, Head of the Bentiu Field Office for the UNMISS, said that the deployment of Vietnam’s level-2 field hospital is like a “redemption” for the forces in the area. She thanked the Vietnamese Government and the Vietnam People’s Army for deploying wonderful people to the mission and South Sudan in this difficult time.
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Vietnamese peacekeepers and their foreign peers |
U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix sent a thank-you letter to the Vietnamese Government for the contribution of the Vietnamese military medical personnel. He once praised that the Vietnamese peacekeeping force has a new, creative, and active approach to task performance, helping create good images of U.N. peacekeepers in general and those from the Vietnam People’s Army in particular. In Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations’ book, he wrote, “We highly appreciate the contribution of brave Vietnamese peacekeepers.”
Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr, Acting Head cum Force Commander of UNISFA, said that he was deeply impressed by the Vietnamese engineering force and what they have done. Projects completed with high quality demonstrated their professional competence, sense of responsibility, and high disciplinary spirit.
Precious “medal” conferred by local people
The medals, commendations, and letters of praise from U.N. leaders, missions’ commanders, and local authorities are a source of pride for every soldier participating in U.N. peacekeeping missions. However, for the Vietnamese blue berets, what makes them happier and prouder is the affection and love from the local people, which represent the precious "medal" that not everyone can earn.
As the people of Vietnam, the country that went through wars, the Vietnamese blue berets understand, better than anyone else, the value of peace and aspire to make practical contribution to improving the living standards of local people. Uncle Ho’s soldiers are constantly concerned about how they can they do to help locals change their lives.
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A Vietnamese peacekeepers provide seedlings and instruct locals on how to plant vegetables. |
Apart from carrying out assigned missions, the Vietnamese peacekeepers have been over the past ten years active in holding a series of practical activities to assist people of the host countries to have a better future. Images of the Vietnamese blue berets wholeheartedly taking care of patients, teaching local children, sewing face masks to present to locals during pandemic time, instructing locals to plant vegetables and crops as well as actively protecting local environment are worth a thousand words.
Based on knowledge and skills acquired before being deployed, the Vietnamese blue berets have transformed the barren land into thriving vegetable gardens and taught the local families how to grow their own vegetables. Lieutenant Colonel (now Colonel) Nguyen Thi Lien, Civil-Military Coordination Assistant of the Engineering Company Rotation 1, who was deployed to MINUSCA as a staff officer from June, 2019 to December, 2020, recalled that within a month, most local households had their own vegetable gardens. A large-scale campaign to grow corn and beans was then initiated. Dry, barren land were shortly covered with Vietnamese corn and green beans. She and her colleagues also instructed residents on how to make cake from harvested corn and beans. Locals people then called Lien a cute nickname, "Lien Agri Co Ve" (Green Beans Lien).
In Abyei, muddy roads are replaced by dry, level ones running through the residential areas. Local people, especially children are no longer worried when rainy season comes. They are also happy since their schools are upgraded or repaired. They have new classrooms with new desks, tables, studying equipment, and computers. Especially, they could not hold their excitement at the presence of the Vietnamese troops as English teachers.
Promoting the tradition, “Di dan nho, o dan thuong” (literally means that troops will be missed by locals when they complete assigned missions and go, and cherished when they stay with locals), the Vietnamese blue berets have been close to and sincere with the people, have not shied away from hardships, and been ready to help them with their all hearts. Those simple deeds, sincerity, and commitment have helped earn Uncle’s Ho soldiers a special place in the hearts of the host people. Their presence on roads and in remote villages, as locals said, has long been a great source of encouragement for the children and people in the impoverished communities.
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Engineering Company Rotation 1 receiving students of Abyei High School to the barracks |
The Vietnamese peacekeepers’ new, humane, and humanitarian approach to the U.N. peacekeeping operations has been recognized by missions’ commanders and the U.N. leadership. It has been credited as a "breath of fresh air" in U.N. peacekeeping operations. In the "Book of Fame" of the Engineering Company, Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr highly appreciated the Vietnamese Engineering Company's new approach, demonstrating the "for the people" tradition of the Vietnam People’s Army. He added that these community-centered approach is a very meaningful activity that all participating countries should emulate.
The Vietnamese peacekeepers' above-mentioned simple deeds have touched locals’ heart and earned their trust and love. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Quang Tuyen, Political Commissar of the Engineering Company Rotation 1, recalled that in spite of food shortage, locals did not hesitate to bring water and food for the Vietnamese troops. Looking at the road newly built by Uncle Ho’s soldiers, the Mayor of the Abyei Administrative Area Aach Deng Biong said that he wished the Vietnamese troops to stay there for a long time to provide further assistance to the people of Abyei. The local official personally sent a letter of praise, acknowledging the dedicated efforts and support of the Vietnamese troops, to the UNISFA’s Commander.
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The medical staff of the Level-One Field Hospital under the Engineering Company Rotation 1 of Vietnam providing free check-up and medicines for people in Abyei. |
Head of UNMISS's Field Office Jane Kony was surprised to witness positive changes in South Sudan, which has faced many difficulties due to conflict and poverty, since the presence of the Vietnamese peacekeepers. She said that civilians in UNMISS area pleaded with the Vietnamese soldiers not to leave, and if they had to go, please come back. The official of UNMISS acknowledged that what Uncle Ho’s soldiers have done is because they have the hearts. She wanted the Vietnamese blue berets to know that the South Sudanese treasure and always remember their assistance and medical support.
Despite language barrier, people of the host countries always call "Viet Nam" with affection and love. The radiant smiles, tight hugs, and even the words "I love Vietnam" are perhaps more meaningful "medals" to Vietnamese peacekeepers. This recognition serves as a great encouragement for the Vietnamese blue berets to continue dedicating themselves to world peace.
Although 10 years is not a long period of time, what Vietnam has obtained since its participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations is the dream of any participating peacekeeping forces. Those achievements and results obtained have laid a strong foundation and motivation for the Vietnamese peacekeepers to continue successfully fulfilling the missions entrusted by the Party, State, and military, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development worldwide.
Written by Tran Hoai – Minh Anh – Quynh Oanh