In Abyei, spring peach blossoms "bloom" on handmade paper through the skillful hands of soldier-craftsmen; green rice cakes are wrapped in African wild banana leaves instead of the traditional dong leaves of their homeland. On the roads recently reopened after months of disruption, the joy of spring is quietly returning with each bridge of peace .
"Rescuing" the lifeline of the fiery land.
Upon arriving in the area, the primary mission of the 4th Engineering Team was to "rescue" the transportation infrastructure – the vital lifeline of Abyei. Not only did they urgently reinforce and repair the Banton Bridge – a crucial link in the region – but the unit also focused all its efforts on restoring key local roads before the New Year.
Every meter of road leveled and compacted strictly adheres to United Nations technical standards, ensuring both safety and reconnecting areas cut off by conflict. These new roads not only facilitate patrols and security but also allow for the gradual return of peaceful life to the local people as spring approaches.
Witnessing the remarkable transformation, Colonel Alexander De Lima, Chief of Staff of the UNISFA military force, emotionally shared: “You are not only bridge-building and road-building engineers, but also ambassadors of compassion and professionalism. These efforts have transformed the face of the mission day by day, creating better living conditions for peacekeeping forces.”
Few people know that behind those accolades lay days of hard labor in harsh conditions: scorching sun, thick red dust covering sun-tanned faces. Quick meals in the shade of the road roller, stories of home, or the ingenious idea of using wild banana leaves to wrap sticky rice cakes became a source of morale, helping the soldiers overcome fatigue on the construction site.
"A corridor of hope" amidst arid lands.
In a land where clean water is more precious than gold, every road that is opened not only signifies security but also represents a path to life. From muddy, pothole-filled paths, these roads have become "corridors of hope" for trucks carrying clean water to residential areas.
Watching the water trucks speeding along the newly completed road, Lieutenant Colonel Trinh Van Cuong, Commander of Engineering Team No. 4, couldn't hide his emotion. For him, the most meaningful Tet gift wasn't the New Year's Eve feast, but the joyful shouts of "Vietnam! Vietnam!" from the children running along the newly completed road, clutching plastic containers.
"Seeing spring revived in the smiles of the local people when the water truck arrived, we understood that our mission had truly touched their hearts. That is the greatest happiness for a soldier in a green beret on the eve of the new year," Lieutenant Colonel Trinh Van Cuong shared.
The footprints of the construction workers are still clearly visible at Abyei Junior High School. Taking advantage of breaks between major projects, the team mobilized machinery to level and renovate the playground and classroom entrances. The road rollers, originally used for building strategic roads, now slowly and meticulously flattened every meter of earth beneath the school's eaves, so that the children no longer had to trudge through dust or stumble on their way to class.
Expressing his gratitude, the Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Public Services of Abyei, Mr. Kon Maneit Matiok, said: “You not only bring security, but also bring the future. The renovation of the school is a priceless gift, demonstrating the noble heart of the Vietnamese soldiers.”
Connecting kindred spirits far from their homeland.
For young soldiers like Lieutenant Nguyen Trung Kien of the Logistics and Support Detachment, celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) away from home for the first time, spring in Abyei holds many special emotions. Amidst the scorching African sun, Kien and his comrades are directly responsible for decorating and bringing the spirit of spring to the unit.
“I miss my mother’s pickled onions, I miss the biting cold of my hometown in the North,” Lieutenant Nguyen Trung Kien confided. Putting aside his personal nostalgia, he poured his heart and soul into breathing spring into the base. Each paper peach blossom branch was meticulously crafted by Lieutenant Nguyen Trung Kien, transforming dry materials into vibrant red spring colors that evoke the image of his homeland.
Under the guidance and support of experienced officers, the warmth of camaraderie bridged the geographical distance. Beside the blossoming bougainvillea, young soldiers like Kien felt their own growth reflected in every brushstroke and every petal planted in this harsh land.
In the festive atmosphere of preparing for the Lunar New Year, the unit is also implementing a "rice cake diplomacy" plan, promising to bring interesting experiences to international friends. These rice cakes, wrapped in wild banana leaves, though lighter green than traditional dong leaves, still retain the chewy texture and rustic flavor of Vietnamese Tet. This very flavor will become a messenger connecting and spreading the friendly image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" to friends around the world.
Although spring has arrived in every corner of the base, duty remains paramount. The road rollers and bulldozers are meticulously cleaned, as if accompanying the soldiers in their preparations for Tet (Lunar New Year). Even while gathered around the New Year's Eve dinner table, the unit maintains 100% combat readiness, ensuring the base's safety and assisting civilians in a complex security environment.
That is how the Vietnamese soldiers in their blue berets preserve spring in distant lands with iron discipline, compassion, and hearts always yearning for peace.
Source: https://cand.com.vn/doi-song/tet-viet-noi-chao-lua-abyei-i796142/
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