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Challenging reporting route due to poor infrastructure and road conditions |
Those who know her describe a quiet but remarkable determination behind her modest demeanor. For many, seeing a journalist from the People’s Army Newspaper wearing the blue beret and serving on an international peacekeeping mission is a significant milestone. For Ha, however, it was simply the fulfillment of a dream she had nurtured throughout years in journalism.
When asked whether she felt pressure as the first journalist from the newspaper to take on such a role, Ha says the challenge was never about being the first. Instead, it was about living up to the reputation of one of Vietnam’s leading political and military newspapers, a publication closely associated with the country’s struggle for national independence.
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A house in a poor village in the Central African Republic through the lens of Lt. Col. Dang Thu Ha |
Her dream of working in an international environment, such as the Central African Republic was built on that sense of purpose. She did not seek recognition or personal achievement. Rather, she wanted to test her own limits and dedicate herself fully to a meaningful goal.
That dream came at a cost. During pre-deployment training, Ha faced unfamiliar knowledge and professional requirements, but the greatest challenge was physical endurance. After exercises involving vehicle recovery and carrying heavy equipment, she often returned exhausted. Yet each morning, she was back on the training ground, ready to continue.
Senior Captain Pham Viet Anh, an officer from the Vietnam Department for Peacekeeping Operations, who trained alongside her, recalled that she never once considered giving up. “When others began thinking about their limits, she was already looking for ways to push beyond them,” he said.
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A photograph taken by Lt. Col. Dang Thu Ha at a ceremony awarding the “For U.N. Peacekeeping Cause” medal to a Rwandan contingent |
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Lt. Col. Dang Thu Ha speaks with local journalists in Bangui. |
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Ha enjoys traveling to capture vivid and authentic images of the people and landscapes of the Central African Republic. |
That determination proved invaluable when she arrived in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. Life there was far more difficult than she had imagined. Electricity and water outages were frequent. Her room was often dark and stifling in the equatorial heat. Meals were sometimes reduced to a few crackers because there was no power or hot water. Concerns about malaria, disease, and homesickness were constant realities in a country nearly half a world away from Vietnam.
At MINUSCA’s Communications and Public Information Office, Ha adapted through a willingness to learn and a commitment to professional growth. Working alongside colleagues from many countries, she found that cultural and language differences could be as challenging as the job itself. Her approach was simple: listen, observe, and learn.
Lieutenant Colonel Gimba, one of her colleagues at MINUSCA, remembers being impressed by her professionalism, intelligence, and sense of responsibility. He said she quickly earned the trust of both colleagues and supervisors while bringing valuable experience from the Vietnam People’s Army to the mission.
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Lt. Col. Dang Thu Ha beside a sign highlighting the importance of protecting peace in the Central African Republic |
Ha is also well known within MINUSCA for her photography and compelling social media content. She believes timely and transparent communication can help ease public fears and counter harmful rumors, turning uncertainty into confidence in the mission’s work.
“It was then that I truly understood the role of a public information officer,” she said. “Our job is not only to document events but also to use information to help maintain stability on the ground.”
Her photographs have become widely recognized across the mission. Colleagues often joke that whenever there is an important event, the first task is to find Ha. Her images capture far more than peacekeeping activities. They reveal everyday life in a conflict-affected nation, the smiles of children, the anxiety of civilians, and the quiet hope for peace that exists amid hardship.
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Ha interviewing the head of the Bhutanese contingent during a civil-military cooperation medical outreach program for residents and students in Bangui |
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A joyful moment with children in the Central African Republic |
Many of her photographs have been featured on MINUSCA’s official communications platforms. Following a ceremony marking the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, Valentine Rugwabiza, the Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General and Head of MINUSCA, conveyed her appreciation for Ha’s work through her staff.
Vietnamese peacekeepers serving in the mission know another side of Ha. Major Su Tan Phi Long, who worked with her in the Central African Republic, recalled that as head of the Ministry of National Defense Working Group at MINUSCA, she regularly checked on the health and well-being of Vietnamese personnel serving in remote locations.
“No matter how small the issue, she made sure it was included in reports sent back to headquarters,” Long said. “As a result, we always received timely support and attention from our superiors.”
During the final months of his deployment, Long also witnessed her dedication outside of work. After long days carrying out mission duties, she still made time to prepare meals for colleagues despite limited resources and challenging living conditions.
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Covering an event at the Portuguese Quick Reaction Force unit |
“She naturally combines the discipline of a soldier with the compassion of a woman,” Long said. “Her articles and photographs help us better understand the hardships faced by local people and remind us of the importance of the mission we are carrying out.”
A major source of inspiration for Ha comes from her family, particularly her late father, Senior Colonel and journalist Dang Van Nhung, former Editor-in-Chief of the People’s Army Newspaper. Whenever she passes the newspaper’s Hall-of-Fame, where photographs of her father and generations of soldier-journalists are displayed, she often pauses to reflect.
She says her motivation is not the pressure of following in her father’s footsteps but a deep sense of pride and gratitude. “The most important thing is not becoming someone extraordinary,” she said. “It is living in a way that is worthy of the values you believe in.”
For Ha, journalism in Vietnam means telling stories that contribute to development and spread positive values. In Central Africa, communications work serves a different but equally important purpose: preserving trust and fostering hope for peace in a region still affected by instability.
Through her work as both a peacekeeper and a journalist, Ha helps promote the image of Vietnam, its people, and the Vietnam People’s Army to the international community.
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Covering the handover ceremony of a MINUSCA camp to the Government of the Central African Republic in Mbaiki, Lobaye Prefecture, more than 100 kilometers from Bangui |
Looking at photographs of Ha and her colleagues with the image of Vietnam’s national flag on their chests at the MINUSCA mission headquarters, it is easy to understand why her family, friends, and fellow peacekeepers take pride in her achievements. What she has brought to Central Africa is not only professional expertise, but also the dedication of a Vietnamese officer and a journalist who believes that, wherever people are in the world, positive change can begin with commitment and compassion.
Together with her Vietnamese and international colleagues, she continues to help nurture hope for peace in a nation struggling with poverty and conflict.
Translated by Tran Hoai