Spring sprouts amidst the rocks and stones.
At Highway Base – the headquarters of the 4th Engineering Battalion of Vietnam in Abyei – life in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year) remains tied to the dry season road construction campaign, which is entering its final stages. The unit is racing against time to complete the workload before the rainy season arrives, but this does not mean that the spirit of Spring is forgotten.
The pace of construction was proactively adjusted, creating time for officers and soldiers to gather and celebrate the New Year. In the sweltering heat of the equatorial region, the unit's New Year's celebration room was resplendent with colorful peach and apricot blossom branches made from colored paper sent from home. Few would imagine that these flowers were created by hands accustomed to operating heavy machinery, filling potholes, and building bridges across rivers.
Lieutenant Nguyen Trung Kien, from the Logistics and Support Detachment, shared: "As combat engineers, our hands are used to mud, dirt, and grease, even cutting and pasting paper flowers feels clumsy. This area is arid and lacks real flowers, but making them ourselves feels vibrant and creates a festive atmosphere, helping us ease our homesickness."
The quietness of jet lag and the taste of home.
The first day of the Lunar New Year in Abyei arrives five hours later than in Vietnam. While the air is still filled with New Year's greetings back home, the sun is just rising here. This moment of "time zone difference" is when soldiers' emotions are most easily stirred, especially for young soldiers celebrating the Lunar New Year away from home for the first time.
Through the phone screen, the image of mothers arranging the five-fruit offering, wives and children in new clothes brought tears to many people's eyes. But the tears of homesickness were quickly replaced by smiles and encouraging pats on the shoulder from comrades.
In a simple, traditional room, a solemn altar to the Fatherland is set up. On the New Year's feast table in the remote African land, the green glutinous rice cakes hold special significance. To obtain the ingredients for wrapping the cakes, comrades from their homeland traveled thousands of kilometers, carrying bundles of banana leaves and bamboo strips. Amidst the sun and wind of Abyei, each cake is wrapped with utmost care and attention, preserving the fragrant stickiness of the glutinous rice and the rich flavor of the mung beans.
These sticky rice cakes not only warm the hearts of soldiers far from home but also become a cultural highlight. International guests enjoy savoring this traditional dish and listening to stories about Vietnamese Tet – a time for family reunions and new beginnings.
Tet is about service, a mission for peace.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Highway Base had the honor of welcoming a high-ranking delegation from the UNISFA Mission, led by Major General Ganesh Kumar Shrestha, Military Commander and Acting Head of the UNISFA Mission, along with Deputy Commanders, Chiefs of Staff, Police Commanders, and unit commanders from India, Ghana, Nigeria, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
Beside a feast of traditional Vietnamese spring dishes, the Vietnamese soldiers in their green berets proudly introduced the nation's tradition of loving peace, President Ho Chi Minh , and the aspiration for peace that each Vietnamese soldier carries with them in their international mission.
Major General Ganesh Kumar Shrestha, Military Commander and Acting Head of UNISFA Mission, expressed: “We see in you not only talented engineers, but also messengers of peace. Vietnam has given Abyei a new look and new hope.”
Lieutenant Colonel Trinh Van Cuong, Commander of Engineering Team No. 4, affirmed that the unit always prioritizes ensuring a warm and joyful Tet holiday for its officers and soldiers as a condition for them to focus on their work, but the spirit of "Enjoying the Spring Festival without forgetting our duties" is strictly adhered to. The unit maintains combat readiness, ensuring absolute safety for the base and is ready to mobilize as required by the Mission.
Amidst the joyful atmosphere of the New Year, outside the base perimeter, the duty shifts remain steadfast, holding their weapons firmly. For the Vietnamese blue beret soldiers at Abyei, Tet (Lunar New Year) is not only about family reunions but also about service – maintaining peace for their comrades, fulfilling international missions, so that from that harsh land, the image of a resilient, intelligent, and peace-loving Vietnam continues to shine.
Source: https://cand.com.vn/doi-song/giu-binh-yen-mua-xuan-noi-vung-dat-lua-abyei-i797292/
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