From early morning, the program unfolded in a lively atmosphere with a “Banh chung” (square glutinous rice cake) making competition, featuring seven teams composed of officers, defense workers, employees of Defense-Economic Unit 78, and ethnic people living in the area.
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Senior Colonel Nguyen Truong Vinh, Commanding Officer of Unit 78, presents flowers to representatives of the teams participating in the banh chung making competition. |
Y Mao, a Ro Mam woman from Le village, joined Unit 78 personnel in a festive competition. “Each year, Le village residents and neighbors participate in banh chung contests, folk games, and cultural exchanges with the soldiers,” she said. “Celebrating Tet together allows us to fully enjoy the warm, joyful atmosphere and traditional flavors of spring.”
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Troops and people join hands in making banh chung. |
Village elder A Ren of Le village noted that while the Ro Mam and other ethnic groups previously did not observe the Lunar New Year like the Kinh. The arrival of Defense-Economic Unit 78 changed this. Officers have since guided locals in making banh chung and preparing traditional feasts. These efforts preserve Tet customs while strengthening military-civilian bonds. The unit also organized free medical care, folk games, cultural performances, and traditional bonfire ceremonies.
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Commander of Corps 15 Major General Hoang Van Sy presents gifts to local resident. |
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Major General Hoang Van Sy and leaders of Military Region 5 agencies and Unit 78 inspect the unit’s agricultural products. |
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Tet greetings extended and gifts presented to a worker’s family |
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Medical staff of Unit 78 provide free medicine to local residents. |
Corps 15 presented more than 5,000 gifts to policy beneficiary families, poor households, ethnic people, and workers across Quang Ngai province, with a total value exceeding VND 3 billion. Specifically, Unit 78 alone delivered over 2,500 gifts worth more than VND 1 billion, helping to share difficulties and encourage local people to welcome spring and celebrate Tet.
On the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2026, Senior Lieutenant General Vo Minh Luong, Deputy Minister of National Defense, presented 10 tons of rice and 1,000 cartons of instant noodles to workers and residents in the areas where Corps 15 is stationed.
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Officers and staff of Unit 78 prepare banh chung to present to workers and local people for Tet. |
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Tet goods prepared by Unit 78 for workers and local residents |
In addition, leaders of Corps 15 and Unit 78 visited, extended Tet greetings, and presented gifts to policy beneficiary families, national contributors, village elders, village heads, and households in especially difficult circumstances.
Earlier, leaders of the units laid flowers and offered incense at the Martyrs’ Memorial of Mo Rai commune.
Translated by Trung Thanh