The closing ceremony of VINBAX 2025 was held on November 27 at the National Military Training Center No.4 under the chair of Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Deputy Head of the Intersectoral Working Group, and Deputy Head of the Ministry of National Defense (MND)’s Steering Committee for Vietnam’s Participation in U.N. Peacekeeping Operations.
Themed “Engineering units coordinating with relevant components in mission implementation at U.N. peacekeeping missions,” and taking place from November 11-27, the exercise aimed to enhance professional competence, coordination capability, interoperability, and field training proficiency for engineering, medical, and search and rescue forces preparing for deployment to U.N. peacekeeping operations.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Phung Si Tan encouraging participating forces |
Addressing the closing ceremony, Gen. Tan affirmed the exercise’s success and its significant and practical results. He highly praised participating forces from both countries for their serious, pro-active, and full engagement in all training modules as planned, meeting the set goals and requirements with high professional quality, well-organized training, and absolutely safe execution.
According to Gen. Tan, VINBAX is the Vietnam People’s Army’s only bilateral exercise with a foreign partner in the field of U.N. peacekeeping. In recent years, the successful alternation between Vietnam and India in hosting this exercise has demonstrated a high level of political trust and substantive, effective bilateral defense ties, while also reflecting the two militaries’ commitment to contributing to U.N. peacekeeping mission, and to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world.
The Vietnamese general believed that the success of VINBAX 2025 would be a strong foundation for future bilateral exercises, further strengthening the two militaries’ defense cooperation, particularly in U.N. peacekeeping, in a more practical, effective, and diversified manner.
For his part, Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Tshering W. Sherpa expressed appreciation for Vietnam’s thoughtful organization and hospitality toward the Indian delegation. The diplomat noted that VINBAX had made remarkable progress, enabling military personnel from both sides to exchange experience, refine operational procedures, and strengthen coordination in realistic scenarios. This year’s exercise stood out for its effective integration of modern technologies, enhancing situational awareness, interoperability, and overall training quality.
“VINBAX is an ideal platform to strengthen Vietnam - India cooperation in U.N. peacekeeping. The advancements achieved by both sides further reinforce confidence that this cooperation will continue to grow stronger through each edition,” he affirmed.
Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations Maj. Gen. Pham Manh Thang said that VINBAX 2025 marked an expansion, upgrade, and development in terms of participating components, training scope, and the complexity of professional modules. He added that the exercise contents and simulation environments were meticulously designed to reflect mission realities. Scenario-based training closely matched planning intent, scripting requirements, and actual mission conditions. The combination of theoretical instruction, practical skill training, and scenario-based exercises ensured tight cohesion. The integrated field exercise involving engineering, medical, and other forces was conducted dynamically and effectively.
For participating forces, VINBAX 2025 was truly an invaluable opportunity to learn, acquire more knowledge and hone skills ahead of deployment to U.N. peacekeeping missions. Senior Captain Do Van Vien from Regiment 916 of Division 317 under the Air Defense - Air Force Service shared that the most important skill he gained from VINBAX was learning to listen, show respect, and work effectively in a multinational environment.
Meanwhile, Captain Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tram from the Vietnamese military contingent, said that the hands-on sessions during the exercise were especially valuable, helping participants strengthen their problem-solving mindset under complex, difficult, stressful conditions and heavy workload. Through these practical exercises, trainees like Tram felt braver and more confident being equipped with essential U.N. standards, procedures, and response methods in line with international law.
Apart from professional activities, VINBAX 2025 also offered an opportunity for participating forces from both sides to explore Vietnam’s history and culture, and to participate in sports exchanges, thereby strengthening their understanding, solidarity, friendship, and bonds.
Translated by Mai Huong