Springtime at Vietnam’s L2FH

PANO - While the days leading up to the Lunar New Year (Tet) in Vietnam are filled with the colors of spring, fireworks, and joyful family reunions, the atmosphere in Bentiu, Republic of South Sudan, tells a different story. There, Vietnam’s Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 7 is carrying out its U.N. peacekeeping duties amidst a security situation marked by complex developments and potential instability.

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Tensions is happening not only in surrounding areas, but also in Bentiu itself, requiring peacekeeping forces to remain on constant high alert. Rapid response shifts, emergency meetings, and timely activation of safety plans have become routine. The workload has intensified, yet medical duties continue uninterrupted, ensuring healthcare services are maintained at all times.

Despite these demanding and harsh conditions, the officers and staff of the hospital, have made every effort to create a Tet celebration rich in national identity. Far from home, they seek to build a warm and meaningful holiday atmosphere to ease their homesickness while sharing Vietnam’s cultural traditions with colleagues from across the international mission.

Simple apricot and peach blossom decorations brighten the compound. A small “Spring Fair” corner and heartfelt New Year wishes exchanged among teammates and international friends help create a distinctly Vietnamese Tet space in a land still facing uncertainty.

With dong leaves and glutinous rice sent from home, along with the unit’s own food supplies, medical personnel, more accustomed to surgical instruments and IV lines, carefully prepare traditional Banh chung and Banh tet. These familiar flavors of Tet embody not only the spirit of the holiday but also resilience, optimism, and a steadfast commitment to preserving Vietnamese cultural identity thousands of miles from home.

Below are New Year atmosphere at Vietnam's L2FH in Bentiu.