The Bambari Task Force members pose for a commemorative photo after a tense briefing session.

For Major Nguyen Van Hien, an officer at the MINUSCA mission (Central African Republic), as well as his colleagues, the sincere support and sharing from international friends have given him the motivation to overcome the difficulties and hardships of working in one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the world , and to strive to successfully fulfill the tasks entrusted to him by the Party, the State, and the Army.

When assigned to operate completely independently, despite thorough mental preparation, upon arriving in Bambari, the capital of Ouaka province in the Central African Republic, he was taken aback by the harshness of the natural environment. There was only red soil, rocks, and cramped thatched houses, where dozens of people from a single family lived. Traveling along the roads in the most central area of ​​Ouaka province, Major Nguyen Van Hien could hardly find any sign of healthcare, education , electricity, or running water. Everything was far beyond the imagination of the Vietnamese soldier in the green beret.

Major Nguyen Van Hien with local residents during a survey trip to assess the local situation.

Difficulties piled upon difficulties during the first two months of the mission. Food, supplies, and essential goods transported by air from Vietnam could not reach the Central African Republic due to the complex security situation. Meanwhile, local food supplies were extremely scarce. The MINUSCA mission restricted almost all movement outside the camp except for mission purposes, as insurgent forces in the area frequently infiltrated and disguised themselves as local civilians, posing a safety risk. But it was precisely during these difficult times that Major Nguyen Van Hien felt more strongly the warmth and international solidarity from his fellow blue beret colleagues.

Major Nguyen Van Hien's colleagues from various countries enthusiastically shared what they had during the nearly two months he hadn't received food supplies from Vietnam. Regularly at lunchtime, his colleagues from Serbia, Pakistan, Nepal, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Cambodia, Russia, and other countries prepared more food than usual to share with him at the office. Everyone felt happy to share with their Vietnamese colleague and to have the opportunity to introduce the cuisine of their respective countries. The loaves of bread, canned food, instant noodles, and basic necessities from his colleagues helped Major Nguyen Van Hien "hold on" until he received shipments from Vietnam. This sincere help made him, a son far from home, feel like he was living in a real family.

To express his gratitude and reciprocate the kindness of his international colleagues, Major Nguyen Van Hien, without much effort, gave them fresh vegetables that he had grown himself. After each workday, he would dedicate some time to tending his vegetable plots to improve their produce. The rows of water spinach, pumpkin leaves, amaranth, jute mallow, etc., were always lush and green under the care and cultivation of this experienced military major with 23 years of service. These typical Vietnamese vegetables became a familiar part of the meals for the green beret officers in the Bambari Task Force.

Captain Ljubisav Vicentijevic, a peacekeeping officer of the Republic of Serbia, harvests green vegetables from a garden cultivated by Vietnamese officers .

Major Nguyen Van Hien has now received the goods from Vietnam. To show his gratitude and strengthen his bond with his colleagues, he cooks Vietnamese dishes on his days off and invites everyone to enjoy them. He shared: "This is also an opportunity for me to introduce to them the unique Vietnamese cuisine that is loved around the world. People of all nationalities, religions, and cultures really enjoy the food I make, including those who are Muslim."

International peacekeeping officers become closer and more familiar with each other through sports and cultural exchange activities outside of working hours. Regularly every evening, the Vietnamese Major and his colleagues enjoy cups of tea and coffee together, sharing stories about family life, culture, and the people of different countries around the world. These conversations and exchanges become a bridge that helps the United Nations peacekeeping soldiers get closer and understand each other better. Without realizing it, they come to see each other as family, sharing joys and sorrows, and encouraging each other to strive to perform their assigned duties well.

Major Nguyen Van Hien participated in an exchange and gift-giving activity on International Women's Day, March 8th, at the Bambari Operations Group.

Not only in his personal life, Major Nguyen Van Hien also received enthusiastic support from his colleagues in his professional work. Having just arrived to take up his duties, working in an international, multinational, multilingual, and multicultural environment, he inevitably experienced some initial difficulties. However, after a short time, with the support of his colleagues and his own efforts, through self-study and learning, the Vietnamese officer in the Bambari Task Force became more confident in performing his duties, earning high praise from his superiors and international colleagues.

Half of his term has passed, and the initial difficulties and hardships are over. Now, what remains in Major Nguyen Van Hien's mind is the pure affection and international solidarity of his colleagues from all over the world, and of the simple, honest local people, who, though poor, are rich in warmth and kindness. The more difficult times he has experienced, the more he cherishes these feelings and grows to love this land and its people. It is these simple things that motivate him and his colleagues to work harder and dedicate themselves to the noble mission of maintaining peace.

HUY TRUONG (from the Central African Republic)