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Altar solemnly arranged with national flag, portrait of President Ho Chi Minh, red parallel couplets bearing New Year wishes |
While Tet festivities fill streets and villages across Vietnam, thousands of miles away in the Central African Republic, officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People’s Army performing U.N. peacekeeping operations welcome a very different spring. Bangui, the capital, has no pink peach blossoms or kumquat trees, only layers of equatorial red dust covering trees and armored vehicles.
Amidst lingering instability, where distant gunfire can sometimes be heard, the blue berets create their own “miniature Vietnam.” It is a warm Tet space built with skillful hands and hearts always turned toward the Fatherland.
Despite limited living conditions and demanding professional responsibilities, the officers and soldiers seize every spare moment to prepare for Tet. Special “Tet markets” are organized, vehicle trips weaving through red dust and across two or three local markets to gather ingredients for the holiday meal. Pork is the hardest item to find, available only in the Chinese quarter. Each cut is carefully selected, with fat and skin trimmed away and lean portions reserved for the year-end feast in a foreign land.
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The Tet meal becomes a rare moment for everyone to gather and share stories of family and homeland. |
Life in Bangui moves at a slower pace. Shops typically open around 10 a.m., so by the time the blue berets return to base with their supplies, it is already past midday. Without rest, each person lends a hand. They decorate the altar dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh, rearrange the common living space, and create a corner infused with the spirit of Tet back home. Soon, the team’s room in the heart of Bangui feels lively and warm, like a small street in Vietnam.
At the center stands the national flag, its golden star embroidered with shimmering thread, a gift from the “Pride of the National Flag” program organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper before departure. Beneath it is a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh, flanked by bright red couplets bearing New Year wishes.
The five-fruit tray may not include pomelo or Buddha’s hand fruit, but it remains vibrant with yellow bananas, papaya, green pineapple, oranges, and red apples, local fruits arranged to reflect the Vietnamese tradition of reunion. Though conditions remain challenging, preparing Tet together eases homesickness and longing for family.
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At every duty post, Vietnamese blue berets continue their tasks, allowing the spring of Vietnam to be present in a simple yet enduring way in Central Africa. |
Hardships stem not only from material shortages, but also from harsh living conditions. Electricity and water are unreliable, yet the soldiers adapt, cooking by flashlight under sweltering heat and swarms of flies and mosquitoes. The Tet meal in Central Africa is simple but heartfelt. Familiar Vietnamese holiday dishes are prepared by the officers and soldiers themselves, some preserving traditional flavors, others adapted to local realities. Amidst equatorial heat and modest quarters, the Tet meal becomes a rare moment for everyone to gather, sharing stories of family, homeland, and experiences from their mission.
Senior Captain Nguyen Thanh Hai, Advisory and Training Coordination Officer with the EUTM RCA Mission, said, “Tet here is not as complete as at home, but it is very memorable. Sitting together at the Tet meal, talking about family and our homeland, brings us closer and gives us motivation to continue our work in the coming time.”
For many officers and soldiers, this is their first Tet away from home. Longing for family and loved ones lingers, especially during quiet moments of reflection. Yet in those circumstances, the bond among comrades becomes even stronger through daily acts of care and simple words of encouragement, helping each person remain focused on their duties.
Among the delegation is Captain Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tram, Training Staff Officer at MINUSCA, the youngest member of the group. Skillful and meticulous, she eagerly takes on decoration duties. Peach and apricot blossoms are carefully cut from colored paper and neatly placed on the walls, bringing warmth and a festive atmosphere to the shared room. As she works, laughter mingles with brief quiet pauses, moments when homesickness gently surfaces.
After finishing her tasks, she said, “I clearly feel the comradeship in every dish. For me, that meal is not just about eating, but about connection and sharing. From the familiar flavors of home to stories and work experience at the mission, everything brings a sense of peace, as if I were close to my family in distant Africa.”
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Vietnamese Tet introduced to students in the Central African Republic |
Tet in the Central African Republic has no fireworks and no large family gatherings as in Vietnam, yet it carries its own distinct meaning. During the holiday, officers and soldiers maintain their regular duty shifts, ensuring safety for their unit and the mission. The rhythm of Tet is intertwined with responsibility, unfolding quietly amid the sun and red dust of Africa.
This spring, far from home, Vietnamese blue berets celebrate Tet within their familiar duty rotations. At every post, they continue their tasks, allowing the spirit of Vietnamese spring to be present in a simple yet enduring way in Central Africa.
Lieutenant Colonel Dang Thu Ha, Information Officer, Head of the Vietnamese Working Group at MINUSCA
Translated by Tran Hoai