Ho Minh Duc, a young Vietnamese living and working far from home, has become an indispensable bridge of support for Vietnamese working contingents at the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
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Ho Minh Duc has long been an essential bridge of connection for Vietnamese working contingents in the Central African Republic. |
Beloved “Terminal D”
Among Vietnamese peacekeepers, Duc’s house is jokingly called “Terminal D,” the first stop for many military and police officers arriving in or rotating out of MINUSCA. Unlike other missions, peacekeepers here must rent houses and manage daily life independently in a country facing shortages and instability. In that context, someone fluent in French and familiar with local customs like Duc is a vital source of support.
Born in 2002 in Can Loc, Ha Tinh, Duc has spent over five years in Africa working as a photographer. Coming from a poor farming family with four siblings, he chose to work abroad to support his parents and younger siblings.
By chance, he rented accommodation near the Vietnamese task contingent and gradually became their informal interpreter and helper. He assisted Vietnamese peacekeepers with shopping, phone SIM cards, currency exchange, and household repairs. Starting with no French, he painstakingly taught himself the language, writing down every new word he heard each day.
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Family photos sent from home for the New Year are lovingly arranged by Duc, featuring his 85-year-old grandmother, parents, siblings, and himself (bottom left). |
Cheerful but modest, Duc says he simply works and returns home each day. Since the Vietnamese contingents arrived, he feels less homesick and helps with whatever he can.
Many officers first connected with Duc before arriving in Bangui. He assisted with housing, logistics, and local updates, creating a sense of reassurance even before they met him in person. To the working contingents, Duc is like an honorary team member, always present whenever needed.
Reliable support
Life in Bangui was not easy. Duc has faced robbery and a severe bout of malaria, recovering thanks to the care of Vietnamese officers. Still, he treasures the companionship of his compatriots, especially Tet celebrations together, making banh chung (square glutinous rice cake) and calling home through the night.
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Duc (fourth from left) celebrates Tet with the Vietnamese working contingent in the Central African Republic. |
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Duc marks his 24th birthday by the Ubangui River. |
Senior Captain Nguyen Anh Tuan, an intelligence officer at MINUSCA, shared that Duc consistently provided updates on security conditions and arranged essential supplies from Bangui. That steady support, he said, helped him remain confident and complete his mission successfully.
For Captain Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tram, a training staff officer at MINUSCA, meeting Duc in Africa was like meeting a fellow Ha Tinh native far from home. His understanding of local culture and daily life helped her quickly adapt to work in the Central African Republic.
After five years abroad, Duc has become a dependable pillar for Vietnamese contingents, an example of resilience and determination among young Vietnamese living far from their homeland.
In distant Central Africa, Vietnamese people, regardless of their roles, continue to find home in shared kindness and solidarity.
By Lt. Col. Dang Thu Ha, Military Public Information Officer at MINUSCA
Translated by Mai Huong