On the morning of the third day of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Horse 2026, I visited the 3rd Battalion to "inaugurate" the new year. Beyond the solemn barracks gate, the soldiers divided into groups to play games like throwing a ball, hitting tin cans, walking on stilts, and blindfolded ball-hitting… Laughter echoed, blending with the New Year's cultural program in the Ho Chi Minh Room…

Officers and soldiers of Battalion 3, Air Defense Brigade 283 (Military Region 4) maintain strict combat readiness during the Lunar New Year holiday.

“Enjoying the spring festivities, but maintaining strict vigilance!” affirmed Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Toan, Battalion Commander of Battalion 3, and invited us to the combat position. The battlefield, in the spring, seemed to have donned a new outfit: vibrant yellow chrysanthemums and apricot blossoms, bright red peonies and ixora flowers, and shimmering butterfly-like blossoms interspersed with the radiant colors of freshly painted banners bearing messages of encouragement and motivation: “Enjoying the spring festivities, but not forgetting our duty,” and “Firmly protecting the skies of our beloved homeland, President Ho Chi Minh.”

Amidst the gentle spring rain, on the artillery platform, the eyes of the young soldiers are intently focused on the sky, searching for targets. The breath of spring here is not only in the budding apricot blossoms or the flowerbeds and young plants displaying their colors, but also in the "very soldierly" emotions of these eighteen- and twenty-year-old boys.

Officers and soldiers of Battalion 3, Air Defense Brigade 283 (Military Region 4) participate in folk games.

During their break, around the artillery emplacement, the soldiers excitedly shared memories of celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) at home and at their unit. Sergeant Ha Van Gi, Squad Leader of Squad 1, Platoon 1, Company 7, enthusiastically recounted: “Celebrating New Year's Eve by the artillery emplacement is the most sacred memory. When the moment of transition from the old year to the new year arrives, with a firm grip on the gun and eyes fixed on the sky, the feeling of pride is indescribable!”

After hearing the story from his squad leader, Corporal Ho Duc Dung confided: "This is the first year I've celebrated Tet away from home, but being able to stand guard with my comrades and protect the peaceful skies for the people, including my loved ones, makes me very happy and proud!"

Bidding farewell to the soldiers guarding the peaceful skies of President Ho Chi Minh's homeland, we now visit the officers and soldiers maintaining the "waves" of information at the 80th Signal Brigade. During the Lunar New Year holidays, seemingly detached from the hustle and bustle outside, the officers and soldiers of the Brigade's units diligently worked at the main stations, microwave stations, and transmission systems, ensuring uninterrupted communication...

In the communications room of Battalion 1, Major Nguyen Van Hoat, a communications officer in Company 7, is diligently recording messages. Having been in the profession for over 20 years, he understands that even a small communication malfunction can affect combat readiness, especially during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year).

Contacting Lieutenant Colonel Tran Anh Hung, Political Officer of the Combined Battalion on Mat Island, Van An Area Defense Command (Nghe An Provincial Military Command), he said: “On the island, the unit strictly maintains a 24/7 combat readiness duty. The sea is calm, the wind is gentle, but the combat plan is always reviewed and supplemented. During Tet (Lunar New Year), we organize making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) and cultural exchange activities right at the unit, but the personnel on duty are still fully present and in the correct positions.”

Officers and soldiers of the Mat Island Combined Battalion, Van An Area Defense Command ( Nghe An Provincial Military Command) organized a volleyball exchange at the beginning of the spring season.
Officers and soldiers of the Mat Island Combined Battalion, Van An Area Defense Command (Nghe An Provincial Military Command) participate in a karaoke singing competition.

Through the phone screen, behind Lieutenant Colonel Tran Anh Hung was the deep blue sky and sea, the patrolling footsteps of the soldiers imprinted evenly on the edge of the island. In that place at the forefront of the waves, spring may arrive late, but the mission never slows down.

In this remote border area, this is the first year that officers and staff of the Nhon Mai Commune Military Command, Nghe An Province, are on duty during Tet (Lunar New Year) at their new unit. Despite being newly established, the readiness for combat duty during Tet has been seriously implemented. Lieutenant Colonel Kha Van Dam, Commander of the Nhon Mai Commune Military Command, shared: “The commune's area is large, with over 28km of border shared with Laos. To ensure combat readiness, we mobilized additional militia platoons from the commune and closely coordinated with the police and border guards to organize serious patrols and guard duties, absolutely preventing any negative situations from occurring, ensuring peace for the people to enjoy the spring and celebrate Tet…”

From artillery positions and communications centers to remote borders and islands, one common thread is easily discernible: the soldiers not only enjoy the warmth of spring with their comrades but also maintain a constant state of vigilance, never letting their guard down, leaving no position unguarded, always ready to fight to the highest degree to protect the peace and security of the nation's spring.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/mua-xuan-nguoi-cam-sung-1026907