The shifts ensuring a peaceful Tet holiday.

As the colors of spring spread through every street, and laughter and the joy of family reunion fill every home, in another corner, the shifts on duty continue silently. No fireworks, no lavish feasts; their Tet begins with duty and ends with the peace and security of the people. The soldiers on duty, ready to fight; the firefighters; the doctors and nurses in their white coats… they are the ones who silently safeguard the spring season.

Heartwarming moments of camaraderie between soldiers and civilians during Tet at the 210th Air Defense Brigade.

Spring arrives in the barracks.

In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, the barracks of the 210th Air Defense Brigade were bustling with activity. For the first time, the "Spring of Unity - Warmth of Military-Civilian Relations" festival was organized with many activities imbued with the atmosphere of traditional Tet such as making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), tug-of-war, stick pushing, and sculpting mascot statues…

Besides bringing joy to the officers and soldiers during the Lunar New Year, the program also contributes to strengthening the close relationship between the combat-ready unit and the local people.

Amidst the festive atmosphere, Sergeant Nguyen The Thao, a young soldier celebrating Tet away from home for the first time, shared: "This is the first Tet I've spent without my family. But in the barracks, I feel very strongly the warmth of camaraderie. As a squad leader, besides the joy of welcoming the New Year, I am always clearly aware of my responsibility in the duty of being on combat readiness, firmly protecting the skies, so that the people can celebrate Tet safely and happily."

According to Lieutenant Colonel Duong Van Hung, Deputy Chief of Staff of the 210th Air Defense Brigade, Tet activities are only a part of the unit's spring atmosphere; the most important task remains combat readiness, the core and overarching mission throughout the Lunar New Year holiday.

Following the directives of the Commander of Military Region 1, the Brigade has developed comprehensive combat readiness plans at all levels and organized briefings for every officer and soldier. Simultaneously, they have practiced various contingency plans thoroughly. Nearly 200 officers and soldiers have been assigned to duty during the Tet holiday, ready to handle situations on-site and mobilize when ordered, ensuring the firm protection of the northeastern airspace of the Fatherland.

"For us, the greatest wish during Tet is for the people to celebrate the New Year in peace," Lieutenant Colonel Duong Van Hung shared.

Tet (Vietnamese New Year) for firefighters

Officers and soldiers of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Department of Thai Nguyen Provincial Police are ready to respond to any fire or explosion situation that may occur during the Tet holiday.

For many, Tet (Lunar New Year) is about preparing for family reunions, but for the fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue forces, Tet is a time of heightened readiness. Each shift is meticulously monitored, and every plan is thoroughly reviewed, because even a moment of carelessness could cost the safety of the community.

During this year's Lunar New Year holiday, the Thai Nguyen Provincial Police maintained a strict duty roster and organized many motivational activities to ensure that officers and soldiers could focus on their work.

Lieutenant Colonel Doan Dinh Tien, an officer of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of Thai Nguyen province, said: "While on duty during the Tet holiday, officers and soldiers always receive timely attention from the unit's leaders. For young soldiers who are away from home for the first time, we regularly encourage them to stay focused on their work, ready to fight fires, rescue, and provide assistance quickly and effectively, bringing a peaceful Tet holiday to the people."

Simultaneously, the fire prevention and rescue police force is intensifying fire safety inspections in residential areas and production and business establishments; maintaining a constant presence of personnel and equipment, ready to promptly handle any arising situations.

White blouse in the middle of spring.

Doctors and nurses at Hospital A in Thai Nguyen are on duty to ensure healthcare for the people during the Tet holiday.

At Hospital A in Thai Nguyen, the Lunar New Year approaches, but the pace of work remains undiminished. For nurse Duong Van Toan, over 15 years of service means 15 Lunar New Year celebrations at the hospital. For him, the joy of the New Year is sometimes simply seeing patients recover and a smile on their faces.

"Once we put on the white coat, we always put medical ethics first. Treating patients like family is the most important thing for medical professionals to fulfill their duties well," Toán shared.

As a patient receiving treatment during the Lunar New Year holiday, Mr. Nguyen Van Hien, a resident of Phan Dinh Phung Ward, said: "Although I couldn't reunite with my family because I had to stay in the hospital for treatment, I still felt the warm atmosphere of spring right here in the hospital thanks to the dedicated care of the medical staff."

As spring arrives, the unsung heroes continue to stand guard for that peace. Without fanfare, their shifts throughout the Tet holiday have contributed to a safe and warm spring – a spring of responsibility and sharing.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202602/nhung-ca-truc-giu-tet-binh-yen-3d12daa/