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An altar to President Ho Chi Minh set up |
Despite the harsh heat and barren landscape, the Vietnamese blue berets in South Sudan have overcome the challenging conditions to bring a joyful and cozy Tet to soldiers who are performing duties far from home.
The vibrant colors of paper-made peach and apricot flowers, the fragrant smell of banh chung (traditional square sticky rice cake) wrapped in dry dong leaves and banana leaves, and the taste of traditional Vietnamese dishes in the air created a sense of Tet back home for troops.
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A paper-made apricot flower branch |
Over the past few days, the members of the hospital have made the most of free time to decorate their accommodations and set up an altar to President Ho Chi Minh. Thanks to their creativity and skills, and most of all, their deep love for their Fatherland, the Vietnamese blue berets have managed to create a simple yet cozy Vietnamese Tet atmosphere at the Bentiu base, which has drawn the attention of international colleagues.
During the lunar New Year festival, Level-2 Field Hospital has become a cultural space, a bridge of friendship, where international friends have gathered to celebrate Tet and enjoy traditional Vietnamese dishes. Many international colleagues have been eager to take photos to capture the beautiful, culturally-rich Vietnamese Tet scene, decorated with the heartfelt efforts of soldiers far from home.
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Decorating the unit to welcome lunar New Year |
Additionally, international friends have participated in making Banh chung, learning about Vietnamese Tet customs, and engaging in stories about the significance of Banh chung and Banh tet (traditional cylindrical sticky rice cakes), as well as the values of Tet. Through these Tet celebrations in South Sudan, a Vietnam rich in cultural identity has been etched deeply into the hearts of international friends, leaving a lasting positive impression.
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Guiding international friends to make Banh chung |
For Vietnamese blue berets performing international missions, Tet is not only a time for reunion but also a moment to reflect on their love for their Fatherland. Songs about spring resonate in the African landscape, thousands of kilometers from Vietnam, uplifting the spirits of the soldiers and motivating them to successfully complete their peacekeeping mission. The activities are also seen as a gift of spring to the country from the Vietnamese blue berets committed to their peacekeeping journey.
Translated by Tran Hoai