A New Year's Eve filled with camaraderie at Battalion 178.

The spirit of the Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse 2026 has spread throughout the land. While families gather to celebrate Tet, officers and soldiers of Battalion 178 (Missile Regiment 282, Air Defense Division 375, Air Defense-Air Force Command) are still on duty day and night, guarding the skies for the country as Spring arrives.

Báo Quân đội Nhân dân•16/02/2026

On the night of February 16th, at Battalion 178, we were immersed in the New Year's Eve celebrations themed "Celebrating the Glorious Party - Celebrating the Year of the Horse," filled with the warm camaraderie of the soldiers guarding the skies of Central Vietnam. The unit's grounds were adorned with magnificent flags and flowers. Pots of apricot blossoms, chrysanthemums, roses... bloomed in profusion, signaling the arrival of a new spring.

Cultural performances during New Year's Eve at Battalion 178.

The New Year's Eve program began with spectacular artistic performances praising the glorious Party, the great President Ho Chi Minh, love for the homeland, and the heroic Air Defense-Air Force soldiers, presented by officers and soldiers of the unit. Following the artistic program, a captivating and engaging wall newspaper competition took place. To celebrate the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lunar New Year 2026, the youth of the 178th Battalion's Youth Union organized and produced outstanding wall newspapers with the theme "Reaching Out to Sea." With concise and insightful commentary, the youth branches highlighted the theme and ideological content of each newspaper.

The newspaper of the Youth Union of Company 1 was designed in the image of a sailboat with its sails unfurled, venturing out to the open sea. Corporal Ngo Thanh An, the operator, emphasized: “This is not only an artistic choice but also contains a profound ideological message. ‘Setting sail’ is the act of leaving the safe harbor to enter a larger space, where there are storms and challenges, but also opportunities and prospects. For the young people of the unit, it is a symbol of the aspiration to conquer, of the spirit of daring to think, daring to act, and daring to take on new tasks. A boat wanting to set sail must have a clear direction. The sails must be full of wind, and the helmsman must be steady. This implies that young people cannot act spontaneously but must place themselves under the leadership of the Party and the guidance of the Youth Union organization.”

The wall poster design competition.

Introducing the newspaper of the 2nd Company's Youth Union, Sergeant Tran Ngoc Tien, Squad Leader, stated: Prominently featured on the wall newspaper is the image of "The Red Flag Rising High"—a sacred symbol of revolutionary ideals. In the military environment, the flag is not merely decorative but symbolizes faith and absolute loyalty to the Party, the Fatherland, and the people. The soaring Victory Flag represents the unwavering will to overcome difficulties. For youth union work and youth movements, it serves as a reminder that all activities must be linked to the unit's central political mission. Young people should not engage in superficial activities but must be at the forefront of training, combat readiness, building a regular army, and cultivating discipline.

Officers and soldiers of Battalion 178 enthusiastically participated in the "Picking the Flower of Democracy" activity.

After each correct answer, the player receives a prize.

The association of the flag symbol with the message welcoming the 14th National Congress of the Party further clarifies the ideological orientation. Young people must demonstrate their faith in the Party's leadership through concrete actions: fulfilling their duties well, strictly adhering to discipline, and building a clean and strong unit environment. The high-flying flag also affirms the qualities of the Ho Chi Minh's soldiers in the new era: unwavering political resolve, impeccable morality, a high sense of responsibility, and readiness to undertake difficult tasks.

“The 95th anniversary of the founding of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (March 26, 1931 / March 26, 2026) is the central theme of the Battalion Headquarters Youth Union's newspaper,” shared Corporal Ho Nguyen Thanh Tung, Radar Operator. This is not only an opportunity to recall traditions but also to affirm the role of youth throughout the revolutionary periods. From the years of struggle for independence to the period of national construction and defense, youth have always been the vanguard force. The newspaper connects this tradition with the current task: Army youth as vanguards in the era of science , technology, and digital transformation. Today's Youth Union members need not only political fortitude but also knowledge, technological skills, and a spirit of creativity. Alongside this is the content of Army youth celebrating the 14th National Congress of the Party with practical actions. The spirit of the Congress must be concretized through emulation movements, improved training quality, strict discipline, and a united and cohesive unit environment.

Following the wall poster competition, the officers and soldiers of Battalion 178 enthusiastically participated in the "Democratic Flower Picking" activity. Questions about the traditional Vietnamese Lunar New Year, traditional Vietnamese culture, etc., were answered accurately by the soldiers. In addition, questions about the unit's history, the Army, and the Communist Party of Vietnam were also posed by the organizers to promote awareness and reinforce knowledge among the troops.

Corporal Tran Trong Dai, Artilleryman, Company 2 (from Cai Rang Ward, Can Tho City), shared: “This is the first time I've celebrated Tet away from my family, and I can't help but feel nostalgic remembering my beloved home and the warm New Year's Eve dinner with my parents. But I feel proud to wear the soldier's uniform and celebrate a truly special Tet – Tet in the military. The days of preparing and celebrating Tet at the unit helped me understand the meaning of the word 'comradeship' better. Making traditional cakes together, decorating the barracks, training, and being on duty ready for combat… All of this created a warm Tet filled with camaraderie, solidarity, and responsibility. The unit has truly become our second home. On the occasion of the New Year, I would like to wish my family good health and peace; and wish our unit to successfully complete all its tasks!”

Officers and soldiers of Battalion 178 are determined to "Enjoy the Lunar New Year but not forget our duty," always maintaining a high level of combat readiness.

Major Dau Van Cuong, Political Officer of Battalion 178, said: “To ensure that officers and soldiers enjoy a joyful, healthy, safe, and economical Lunar New Year while maintaining high combat readiness, the unit has thoroughly implemented directives and guidelines from superiors regarding the organization of the Tet holiday; educated troops to enhance their sense of responsibility and vigilance, avoiding being caught off guard in any situation. The unit ensures full provision of Tet provisions and allowances; and at the same time, prepares and organizes cultural, artistic, sports, and recreational activities to create a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere throughout the unit.”