New Year in Central Africa

Standing in the middle of the Ucatex courtyard – MINUSCA Mission, Central African Republic, gazing at the proud red flag with a yellow star fluttering against the clear blue African sky, my heart suddenly sank. Over ten thousand kilometers of flight, across oceans and continents, now seemed to shrink into a single memory called "Tet" (Vietnamese New Year).

At this time of year, my friends and I would usually be strolling through the Nhật Tân or Hàng Lược flower markets, enjoying the spring festivities and shopping for Tet. Closing my eyes, I imagine the time portal of the robot cat Doraemon taking me home, where the fragrant incense my mother used to light on the afternoon of the 30th of Tet lingers in the breeze, the pungent scent of fragrant herbs cleanses the air on the last night of the year, and the bustling atmosphere of the familiar street corner at the beginning of Phan Đình Phùng where I used to sit and have coffee with colleagues from the People's Army Newspaper. I remember New Year's Eve, jostling amidst the crowds by Ngọc Khánh Lake near my house, gazing up at the dazzling fireworks and the warm handshakes of family reunion.

For the first time in my life, those images only exist in my memory or in tiny frames on my phone screen. But it is also in this distant place, amidst my UN peacekeeping mission, that I understand that Tet is not just a date, but a journey home for the heart, a place where, no matter how far away, the taste of home remains strong in every breath.

Assigned as a Communications Officer, and departing with only a month left until Tet (Lunar New Year), I still vividly remember the lively atmosphere when the entire MINUSCA task force discussed what to bring for my first Tet away from home. The meticulous instructions from Lieutenant Colonel Bui Thi Minh Nguyet, my predecessor whom I had never met but felt as close as a sister, were invaluable. She gave instructions on everything from packing spices to keeping items from my previous assignment. That baggage was a "miniature Vietnam" with red couplets, a picture of Uncle Ho, traditional cakes and candies, dried mushrooms, and more...

On the day of departure for my assignment, my luggage also included mementos from family and friends. From the New Year's envelope my sister slipped into my hand at the airport, which I told her to only open on New Year's Eve, to letters from friends clearly marked as to which to open on Tet (Vietnamese New Year) and which on my birthday, a wooden clown figurine, a photo taken with colleagues from the People's Army Newspaper… Especially noteworthy was the national flag with a golden star embroidered on thread, a gift from a colleague. It was one of the flags from the "Proud of the National Flag" program of the Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper. We used the flag for the first time on a very special occasion – the flag-raising ceremony leading up to the 14th National Congress of the Party. It was a great honor that the image of that flag-raising ceremony from Central Africa appeared in the special news broadcast on VTV1 during the opening ceremony of the Congress. This was a huge source of encouragement and motivation for Party members carrying out international duties far from home.

This spring, Major Le Van Chien, an intelligence staff officer, is preparing to return home after an outstanding term. But in his memory, last year's "unique" Tet holiday remains as vivid as if it were just yesterday.

Chiến recalled the moment he held the plane ticket in his hand, knowing he would be taking off just one day before Tet (Lunar New Year). While the flower markets in his hometown were bustling, he stood in the scorching sun of Bangui, gazing up at the United Nations patrol helicopters against the bright blue sky. “That was the moment I understood that I would be celebrating Tet differently – far from my family, but closer than ever to the mission entrusted to me by my country,” Chiến recalled.

The mixed feelings of nostalgia, pride, and excitement were instantly soothed the moment he stepped into "the Vietnamese home." There, his eldest sister, Bui Thi Minh Nguyet, was meticulously preparing the New Year's Eve dinner. The rich aroma of Vietnamese spices permeated the small kitchen, dispelling the exhaustion of the long flight and making Chien feel lighthearted, as if he were returning home.

On New Year's Eve in the unstable land of Central Africa, where the sound of gunfire sometimes still echoes in the distance, we understood even more deeply the value of the word "peace," something we sometimes forget to be grateful for during the peaceful springs back home," Chien shared.

Chiến's feelings at that time were exactly the same as those of Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tram, a training staff officer who had just arrived in Bangui. Carefully unpacking each item from her DHL shipment, Tram couldn't hide her excitement that her New Year's couplets and decorations were still intact after the long journey. For Tram, celebrating Tet away from home was a symphony of emotions, encompassing the joy of a child eagerly awaiting New Year's Eve, but also a touch of wistfulness, a little "envy" for those who were enjoying the vibrant, warm atmosphere of Tet back home.

Tram shared that in the remote African region, amidst harsh living conditions and climate very different from Vietnam, celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) according to traditional customs becomes even more meaningful. At the MINUSCA mission, everything is scarce; there are no readily available materials for Tet decorations or cooking familiar traditional dishes. To create a complete Tet atmosphere, the team members had to proactively pack and prepare every small item brought from Vietnam. All of these items are filled with deep affection and longing for home. Sticking branches of peach and apricot blossoms on the walls—these seemingly simple images—evokes memories of family, homeland, and joyful Tet gatherings.

"Seeing the national flag flying in the heart of Africa moved me deeply. It felt like I had never been far from home, because my country is always in my heart, present in every corner of my workplace, enveloping me and giving me the motivation to successfully complete my assigned tasks," Tram confided.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of our work, we personally created our own Tet (Lunar New Year) atmosphere. Without fresh flowers, we meticulously cut and pasted, using colored paper to shape each plum and peach blossom petal. Our hands, accustomed to holding pens and typing on keyboards, now moved with extraordinary skill, illuminating the vibrant red and yellow hues. We decorated our homes and arranged the five-fruit platter with local produce, but our hearts yearned for the New Year's Eve dinner back home, with its elaborate bamboo shoot soup and meticulously prepared spring rolls.

Knowing we were preparing for Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), Major Gimba, our international colleague from Nigeria, couldn't hide his excitement. His praise of Vietnamese cuisine as "close to nature" made us even more proud. This Tet, we are not only celebrating for ourselves, but also having the opportunity to "show off" to friends from all over the world a Vietnam rich in identity, humanity, and love for peace.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Chuyen-dong-van-hoa/tet-o-trung-phi-i795699/