A heartwarming competition for wrapping green sticky rice cakes (Banh Chung) was held at the Naval Academy barracks.

On February 14th (the 27th day of the 12th lunar month), the Naval Academy organized a "Green Sticky Rice Cake Wrapping Competition".

This is one of the outstanding activities in the "Celebrating the Party, Celebrating the Spring" program series that the unit maintains annually, contributing to creating a joyful and warm atmosphere in the days leading up to Tet.

Amidst the bustling atmosphere of Tet holiday duty, the spirit of spring permeated the entire barracks. From the main hall to the student quarters, Party flags, national flags, banners, and slogans were brightly decorated. Branches of apricot and peach blossoms bloomed beside steaming pots of banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), evoking the atmosphere of a traditional Tet holiday rich in national identity.

Colonel Nguyen Dinh Giang, Deputy Director of the Naval Academy, encouraged the Office team in the competition.

This year's competition had 5 participating teams: the Office, the Practical Training and Ship Crew Training Center, System 1, Battalion 3 (second-year students), and Battalion 1. The competition included: fast rice cake wrapping (15 cakes had to be completed within 30 minutes), wrapping technique competition, and product decoration and presentation.

Staff and employees of System 1 neatly arrange the team's packaged banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes).

From early morning, the teams had prepared all the necessary ingredients: fragrant white glutinous rice, washed mung beans, diced pork fat, banana leaves, bamboo strips, and essential spices. With skillful hands, each cake was wrapped tightly, squarely, and proportionally. The atmosphere of the competition was lively and exciting; the enthusiastic cheers further fueled the teams' determination.

The Organizing Committee will judge the products of the competing teams.

The competition not only demanded speed but also required precise technique and high aesthetic sense. The finished cakes were neatly arranged and harmoniously decorated, showcasing creativity and teamwork. The competition attracted a large number of officers, cadets, and soldiers to cheer on the participants, thereby further strengthening solidarity and camaraderie throughout the Academy.

Sergeant Phan Tien Dung, a student in class KH43A, Battalion 3, shared: “Participating in the green sticky rice cake wrapping competition was a very meaningful experience for me. It was the first time I had wrapped each cake myself, and I felt both delighted and proud. Through the competition, we understood more clearly the meaning of the traditional Tet holiday, and we further appreciated the value of our national culture and the camaraderie among comrades.”

The staff and trainees were delighted with the products they had made with their own skillful hands.

According to Colonel Le Ngoc Son, Deputy Head of Logistics and Technical Services at the Naval Academy, the competition not only provides a useful playground but also serves as an opportunity to hone skills and improve the quality of logistics support and troop sustenance. Through this activity, the unit can assess the effectiveness of organization and training of agencies and units; at the same time, it contributes to better care for the material and spiritual lives of officers and soldiers during Tet, building a united and cohesive environment, and successfully completing assigned tasks.

The Organizing Committee presented awards to the participating teams.

At the end of the competition, the Organizing Committee awarded the first prize to Battalion 3; the second prize to System 1; the third prize to Battalion 1; and two consolation prizes to the Office and the Practical Training and Ship Crew Training Center.

The "Making Green Sticky Rice Cakes" competition not only brings a warm spring atmosphere to the barracks but also contributes to fostering love for the homeland and national pride in each officer, trainee, and soldier. In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), the image of the pot of sticky rice cakes simmering over the fire in the barracks further highlights the spirit of unity, responsibility, and determination of naval soldiers in the new era to readily accept and successfully complete all tasks.

PV

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/chinh-polit/202602/am-ap-hoi-thi-goi-banh-chung-xanh-trong-doanh-trai-hoc-vien-hai-quan-0fc162c/