The event was attended by troops and staff of the Engineering Company Rotation 3, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security Working Groups, United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) leaders, representatives of Abyei Administrative Area and from various agencies, and representatives of countries performing U.N. peacekeeping missions at UNISFA.
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Brigadier General Ameer Muhammad Umrani speaks at the event. |
This is not only an opportunity for Vietnam’s blue berets in Abyei to look back on a year of implementing peacekeeping mission but also a chance for cultural and culinary exchange, strengthening friendships with international partners. On the occasion, participants enjoyed the flavors of Tet, honored traditional cultural values, and fostered solidarity among countries performing U.N. peacekeeping missions.
The New Year’s Eve celebration began with a solemn moment as attendees listened to the Tet greetings from the Vietnamese President and the New Year letter from the Defense Minister, the Political Commissar of the Engineering Corps and Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
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Leaders of the Engineering Company Rotation 3 and international friends in a joint photo |
A highlight of the event was the cultural exchange between Vietnamese peacekeepers and international friends. Traditional Vietnamese Tet songs, along with familiar melodies like Happy New Year, created a vibrant atmosphere, bringing everyone together. International friends not only cheered enthusiastically for the Vietnamese performances, but also participated in the exchange.
The event featured many traditional Vietnamese Tet dishes, including banh chung (square sticky rice cakes), spring roll, to name but a few, offering international friends a delightful taste of Vietnam’s festive traditions. The event brought a lively and joyful atmosphere, with everyone exchanging best wishes for a peaceful and successful New Year.
Brigadier General Ameer Muhammad Umrani, Deputy Force Commander of UNISFA, shared, “When I received the invitation from the Vietnamese Engineering Company’s leader to celebrate Tet, I took time to learn about your traditional New Year festival. However, experiencing it firsthand was truly special. I was delighted to join the celebration. It was touching and inspiring to see how you preserve and uphold such long-standing traditions despite being far from home.”
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International friends enjoy Vietnamese traditional food during Tet holiday. |
Non-commissioned Captain Nguyen Thi Nguyet Ha from the Engineering Company Rotation 3 held, “Celebrating Tet away from home, especially on the New Year’s Eve, makes us miss our families. My husband and I called home before Tet to send wishes. The moments made us feel better despite being far from home.” Notably, she and her husband, Senior Captain Hoang Huu Cong Thanh, are both serving at the U.N. peacekeeping mission.
Translated by Minh Anh