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Officers and sailors of Ship 17 prepare to welcome Lunar New Year. |
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Troops make Banh chung aboard Ship 17. |
As the sacred moment of the Lunar New Year arrived, the mainland was alive with reunion and celebration. Yet in the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, officers and sailors of Ship 17 of Brigade 171 under Naval Region 2 remained steadfast in their duties while participating in the multilateral naval exercise MILAN 2026.
In the final days of the year, the spirit of Tet gradually spread throughout the ship. Amid rolling waves and ocean winds, each serviceman took on a task. Some decorated the ship with apricot blossoms and red couplets, others prepared food, and many gathered to make Banh chung. Dong leaves were carefully washed, glutinous rice, mung beans, and pork belly meticulously arranged. Each square cake was made with care, embodying the affection and longing of sailors serving far from home during the traditional holiday.
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Officers and sailors decorating apricot blossoms for New Year’s Eve on Ship 17 |
Though separated from their families, Ship 17 became a shared home for the entire working delegation. Troops carefully arranged decorations to create a warm, intimate atmosphere filled with comradeship. The bright yellow blossoms, the red couplets, and the fragrant steam rising from pots of Banh chung boiling through the night brought the warmth of home to the middle of the ocean, easing homesickness and strengthening solidarity.
For Non-Commissioned Lieutenant Junior grade Vo Cong Minh, a technical specialist aboard Ship 17, this was his first New Year’s Eve at sea. Although he could not celebrate with his family, preparing the holiday meal and wrapping cakes with his fellow sailors allowed him to feel the deep bond and shared care among comrades, creating a family-like Tet far from shore.
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New Year’s Eve celebration aboard Ship 17 in the Indian Ocean |
Even while performing duties overseas, the sailors preserved the Vietnamese tradition of always turning toward the Fatherland during the Lunar New Year. In that moment, Tet became more than a calendar milestone; it stood as a symbol of responsibility, unity, and enduring love for the Fatherland.
During the special New Year’s Eve ceremony at sea, every officer and sailor felt a heightened sense of duty entrusted by the military and the Navy. Participation in the international fleet review and Exercise MILAN 2026 not only strengthened cooperation among navies but also projected the image of the Vietnamese naval serviceman as steadfast, friendly, and professional, contributing to the prestige of the Vietnam People’s Army and enhancing the nation’s standing internationally.
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Senior Captain Le Dinh Nghi, Deputy Chief of Staff of Naval Region 2, extends New Year greetings to the officers and sailors. |
As midnight arrived, voices rang out across the deck in unison: “Happy New Year!” The commanding officer handed lucky money envelopes to each member of the delegation, adding warmth and joy to the celebration. In the boundless ocean, spring came not with fireworks, but with solidarity, faith, determination, and a shared sense of responsibility.
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Officers and sailors joyfully receive lucky money at the start of the New Year. |
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Members of Ship 17 say “Happy New Year!” in unison on the Indian Ocean. |
Tet on the Indian Ocean was not merely the welcoming of a new year. It was a continuation of tradition and a source of pride for Vietnamese servicemen standing watch at sea. Amidst wind and waves, they welcomed spring with courage, resolve, and an unwavering commitment to their mission.
Translated by Tran Hoai