International friends in Africa are captivated by the sticky rice cakes and peach blossoms offered by the blue beret soldiers.

The festive atmosphere of Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) permeates the Level 2 Field Hospital No. 7 in South Sudan. Despite being far from their homeland, the soldiers in blue berets still cherish the spirit of Tet amidst the harsh African landscape.

While back home, the Tet holiday is in full swing with fireworks and joyful family reunions, in Bentiu (South Sudan), where Vietnam's Level 2 Field Hospital No. 7 is serving in the United Nations peacekeeping mission, the security situation remains complex and fraught with potential instability.

Given the escalating local tensions in Bentiu, peacekeeping forces are maintaining a high state of readiness.

Rapid response shifts, emergency meetings, timely activation of safety measures, and a more intense workload are all part of the ongoing and uninterrupted maintenance of medical professional duties.

Amidst those extraordinary and harsh conditions, the officers and staff of Field Hospital Level 2 No. 7 – the Vietnamese "blue beret" soldiers – still managed to create a Spring season deeply rooted in national identity.

More than anyone else, Vietnamese people living far from home always wish to create a warm and joyful Tet atmosphere, to alleviate some of their homesickness; and at the same time, to spread the beautiful cultural values ​​of the Vietnamese nation within the international community at the mission.

Despite being far from their homeland, the officers and staff of Vietnam's Level 2 Field Hospital No. 7 in Bentiu, South Sudan, made every effort to have a warm, fulfilling, and complete Lunar New Year celebration away from home.

There are no fresh peach blossoms from the North or yellow apricot blossoms from the South, but along the walkways in the hospital grounds or in the common rooms, meticulously decorated branches of "African-style" peach and apricot blossoms are beautifully arranged.

Simple decorations of apricot and peach blossoms, small stalls at the "Spring Fair," wishes for peace and sharing among comrades and international friends... all blended together to create a "Vietnamese Tet atmosphere" in a land still fraught with instability.

From the lush green banana leaves and pristine white sticky rice sent from distant homelands to the food supplies from the unit's own farming, under the skillful hands of medical staff – those who are daily involved with surgical instruments, stretchers, and IV tubes – the traditional Vietnamese Tet cakes (banh chung and banh tet) are still wrapped with the full flavor of Vietnamese Tet.

Soldiers and doctors at the field hospital invited international friends to join them in making traditional Vietnamese New Year cakes and learn about Vietnamese Tet customs.

It's not just the flavor of Tet (Vietnamese New Year), but also a symbol of the resilience, optimism, determination to overcome difficulties, and aspiration to preserve the national identity of Vietnamese people in a multinational, multicultural environment, thousands of kilometers away from their homeland.

This is not only a holiday for Vietnamese officers, soldiers, and doctors in blue berets, but also a cultural event for their international colleagues at the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Along with celebrating the Lunar New Year, Field Hospital Level 2 No. 7 remains busy with its daily work routine.

Over the years, Vietnam's field hospitals have consistently been highly regarded by the United Nations for their capabilities and professionalism, particularly for their friendly image towards international partners.

Local residents and international colleagues celebrated Tet (Lunar New Year) together with the officers and staff of Field Hospital Level 2 No. 7.

The spring fair organizers included many stalls to create a joyful, traditional Tet atmosphere, rich in national identity, and to promote the spirit of unity and creativity among the hospital's staff.

The fair also showcases Vietnamese culture, cuisine , and regional characteristics to international friends.

In addition, the unit also organizes many sports exchange activities and traditional games to create a cheerful and lively atmosphere throughout the unit and sub-division.

The unit's barracks became a cultural hub, where international friends could enjoy Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year) dishes and take photos against the backdrop of springtime scenery.

On the 27th day of the Lunar New Year, Field Hospital Level 2 No. 7 successfully performed emergency surgery on a patient with acute appendicitis.

The surgery is complete, the patient is conscious, vital signs are stable, and has been transferred to the post-operative monitoring area according to standard procedures.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, and homesickness lingers in the remote front lines, the Vietnamese blue beret soldiers silently continue their noble mission for peace.

Field Hospital Level 2 No. 7 consists of 70 officers, all of whom are outstanding military personnel selected from military units nationwide, with the core being the medical staff of Military Hospital 175.

In September 2025, the Field Hospital and the 4th Engineering Battalion departed to carry out United Nations peacekeeping missions in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the Abyei region (UNISFA).

A Level 2 field hospital is a temporary hospital model capable of rapid deployment in areas with urgent medical care needs. To date, Vietnam has deployed 7 Level 2 field hospitals.

UNMISS was established in 2011 under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1996 with the mission of ensuring peace, building political stability and long-term economic development for South Sudan, as well as supporting the government in limiting conflict and protecting civilians.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/ban-be-quoc-te-o-chau-phi-say-me-banh-chung-canh-dao-cua-chien-si-mu-noi-xanh-2491120.html