The taste of Vietnamese Tet in the 'cauldron' of Abyei.

TP - Amidst the swirling red dust of the disputed Abyei region, located on the border between Sudan and South Sudan, where the dry season temperatures can melt even the will, the soldiers of Engineering Team No. 4 are preparing to celebrate a truly special Tet (Lunar New Year) thousands of kilometers away from their homeland, spreading the image of a compassionate and peace-loving Vietnam and its people through their actions.

Creating momentum for a peaceful way of life.

At the end of September 2025, shortly after assuming their duties at the United Nations peacekeeping mission (UNISFA) in the Abyei region, the 4th Engineering Team successfully completed the task of reinforcing and repairing the Banton Bridge – a vital transportation artery in the area.

Sticky rice cakes wrapped in wild banana leaves are the " culinary ambassadors" connecting Vietnamese Green Berets with international friends at the UNISFA mission.

These days, upholding the "Opening the Way to Victory" tradition of the Engineering Corps, Vietnamese soldiers in green berets are focusing all their efforts on completing repairs to key civilian roads just before the New Year.

Every meter of road paved and compacted strictly adheres to the rigorous technical procedures of the United Nations, ensuring the reconnection of isolated areas while paving the way for the return of peaceful life to the local people in the coming spring.

Lieutenant Nguyen Trung Kien (Logistics and Support Detachment, 4th Engineering Battalion) meticulously weaves paper peach blossoms, bringing the colors of spring from his homeland to the "land of fire" in Africa.

Witnessing the remarkable transformation in this region, Colonel Alexander De Lima, Chief of Staff of the UNISFA military forces, emotionally shared: “You are not only road and bridge builders, but also ambassadors of compassion and professionalism. Your extraordinary efforts have changed the face of the Mission day by day, creating better living conditions for peacekeeping forces.”

Few people know that behind those praises were days when our soldiers worked under the scorching 44°C sun, their faces tanned by thick red dust. Hasty meals under the shade of road rollers became a familiar sight, where stories of home or ingenious ideas for using wild banana leaves to wrap the flavors of Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year) were shared to dispel fatigue.

There, peach blossoms burst forth from colorful paper through the skillful hands of soldier-craftsmen; green sticky rice cakes are wrapped perfectly in African wild banana leaves instead of the traditional dong leaves of our homeland. On the newly cleared roads, the joy of the new spring is arriving with each bridge of peace.

The footprints of Vietnamese soldiers and workers in their UN peacekeeping uniforms are still clearly visible at Abyei Secondary School. Taking advantage of breaks between major operations, the unit deployed machinery to level and renovate the playground and classroom entrances.

The image of giant road rollers, originally used to build strategic roads, now meticulously and gently leveling every meter of earth under the school's eaves so that the children no longer have to trudge through dust or stumble, is a deeply humane symbol.

Deeply moved by the humane gesture of the Vietnamese soldiers, Mr. Kon Maneit Matiok, Minister of Infrastructure and Public Services in the Abyei region, emotionally said: “You not only bring security, but also a future. The renovation of the school is a priceless gift, a testament to the noble spirit of the Vietnamese soldiers.”

Connecting kindred spirits

In a land where "clean water is more precious than gold," clearing waterways not only serves security purposes but also brings life to the indigenous people of the Abyei region.

Looking at the roads that were once narrow, pothole-filled paths now upgraded into corridors for "springtime deliveries" of clean water, Lieutenant Colonel Trinh Van Cuong, Commander of Engineering Team No. 4, couldn't help but be moved. For him, the most meaningful Tet gift was the shouts of "Vietnam! Vietnam!" from the children running along the new road with plastic containers.

"Seeing spring revived in the smiles of the local people as the trucks carrying clean water arrived, we understood that our mission had truly touched their hearts. That is the greatest happiness for us soldiers in the blue berets on the eve of the new year," Lieutenant Colonel Cuong shared.

For young soldiers like Lieutenant Nguyen Trung Kien (Logistics and Support Detachment, Engineering Team No. 4), who are celebrating Tet away from their homeland for the first time, this spring is even more special as he and his comrades are directly responsible for decorating and bringing the Tet spirit to the entire unit.

Amidst the scorching sun of Abyei, Lieutenant Kien sometimes felt a pang of nostalgia, remembering the pickled onions his mother had made, and the characteristic biting cold of his hometown in the North. However, putting aside his personal longing, he poured all his heart into the task of "breathing life" of spring into the base, meticulously crafting peach blossom branches from colored paper, transforming these dry materials into vibrant red peach blossoms that resembled his homeland.

"Although far from home, the warmth of camaraderie has filled the void, and beside the blossoming bougainvillea, young soldiers like me feel ourselves growing stronger with each brushstroke, each flower sown on this challenging land," Lieutenant Kien confided.

According to the commander of Engineering Team No. 4, although the spring atmosphere is already bustling, the mission always comes first. The road rollers and bulldozers are being cleaned thoroughly, as if to join the soldiers in celebrating Tet.

Even while gathered around the New Year's Eve dinner table, their weapons remain in hand. The unit maintains 100% combat readiness, ensuring the safety of the base and supporting the people in a complex security environment. That is how the Vietnamese green beret soldiers protect the spring with iron discipline and a heart always yearning for peace.

According to the 4th Engineering Battalion, amidst the bustling preparations for the Lunar New Year in Abyei, the "rice dumpling diplomacy" plan promises to bring a pleasant surprise to international friends who come to celebrate with the unit.

These sticky rice cakes, wrapped in wild banana leaves, have a lighter green color than those made with traditional dong leaves, but they retain their chewy texture and rich flavor. This simple, rustic taste will serve as a messenger, spreading the friendly image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" closer to friends from other countries who are also carrying out this noble mission here.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/vi-tet-viet-noi-chao-lua-abyei-post1820018.tpo