Vietnamese sappers prepare for a special Tet in Abyei
WVR - In the Abyei region, spring peach blossoms bloom from coloured paper through the skillful hands of soldiers, while green banh chung cakes are wrapped perfectly in African jungle banana leaves instead of traditional dong leaves. On newly cleared roads, the joy of spring follows each step of peace.
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| The dance of peace on the "reborn" Banton bridge. (Photo: Hai Yen) |
"Rescuing" the lifeline of the fiery land
The primary mission of Vietnam's Engineering Unit No. 4 upon arrival was the large-scale "rescue" of infrastructure. Not only did they quickly reinforce and repair the Banton bridge — the area's "traffic throat", but they also focused all efforts on completing repairs of essential civilian roads just before the New Year.
Each meter of road laid and compacted strictly adhered to the United Nations' rigorous technical standards, ensuring reconnection of divided regions and paving the way for a peaceful life to return to local residents during these spring days.
Witnessing the transformation, Colonel Alexander De Lima, Chief of Staff of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Abyei (UNISFA), emotionally shared: “You are not just engineers opening roads and building bridges, but also ambassadors of compassion and professionalism. Your extraordinary efforts have transformed the mission's landscape daily, providing better living conditions for the peacekeeping force.”
Few know that behind such praise are days of our soldiers working under the scorching 44°C sun, with thick red dust covering their sunburned faces.
Quick meals in the shade of a roller have become a familiar image, where stories of home or innovations like using jungle banana leaves to wrap the flavors of Vietnamese Tet are shared to ease fatigue.
"Corridor of hope" and rebirth space
In a land where clean water is more precious than gold, clearing roads serves not only security but also brings life to the locals.
Seeing paths that were once pothole-filled trails now upgraded to corridors for spring water trucks, Lieutenant Colonel Trinh Van Cuong, Commander of Engineering Unit No. 4, couldn't help but feel emotional.
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| Spring sparkles in the eyes of Abyei's children. (Photo: Hai Yen) |
For him, the most meaningful Tet gift lies in the cheers of "Vietnam! Vietnam!" from children holding plastic cans running along the new road. “Seeing spring reborn in the smiles of locals when water trucks arrive, we understand that our mission has truly touched their hearts. That is the greatest happiness for a blue-beret soldier on the eve of the New Year,” Lieutenant Colonel Cuong shared.
The footprints of these soldier-workers are still evident at Abyei's secondary school. Taking advantage of breaks between major campaigns, the unit deployed machinery to level and renovate the playground and classroom entrances.
The image of giant rollers, usually used for strategic road construction, now meticulously and gently flattening each meter of earth under the classroom eaves so students no longer have to wade through dust or trip is a symbol of humanity.
Minister of Infrastructure and Public Services, Mr. Kon Maneit Matiok, expressed gratitude: “You have brought not only security but also a future. The school renovation is a priceless gift, a testament to the noble spirit of Vietnamese soldiers.”
Connecting harmonious souls
For young soldiers like Lieutenant Nguyen Trung Kien, Logistics - Assurance Division, experiencing Tet away from the homeland for the first time, this spring becomes even more special as he and his comrades take on the task of decorating, bringing the Tet atmosphere to the entire unit.
Standing under Abyei's scorching sun, Kien sometimes feels nostalgic: “I miss my mother's pickled onions, the unique cold of my northern homeland.”
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| Lieutenant Nguyen Trung Kien meticulously crafts paper peach blossoms, bringing the spring colors of his homeland to the fiery land of Africa. (Photo: Hai Yen) |
Yet, setting aside personal nostalgia, he pours all his heart into the mission of "breathing life" into the base's spring. Kien is the one who meticulously crafted each branch of peach blossoms from colored paper, transforming dry materials into vibrant peach trees reminiscent of home.
With the sharing of 45 "veteran" officers, the warmth of camaraderie fills all gaps, so beside the paper peach blossoms gradually showing their colors, young soldiers like Kien find themselves growing with each brushstroke, each flower blooming on challenging lands.
In the bustling atmosphere of preparing for spring, the "banh chung diplomacy" plan promises to bring delightful surprises to international friends joining the unit's celebrations.
The bánh chưng cakes wrapped in jungle banana leaves, though lighter in colour than traditional dong leaves, retain their chewy texture and rich flavour. This rustic taste will serve as an ambassador, spreading the friendly image of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" closer to international friends on the same mission here.
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| Banh chung wrapped by soldiers using jungle banana leaves. (Photo: Hai Yen) |
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Steadfast in arms to maintain a peaceful Spring
Even as the spring atmosphere becomes lively, duty always comes first. Rollers and bulldozers are cleaned as if to "dress up" for Tet with the soldiers.
Even when gathered around the year-end meal, weapons remain at hand. The unit maintains a 100% combat readiness, ensuring the safety of the base and supporting civilians in a complex security environment.
This is how Vietnamese blue-beret soldiers protect spring with iron discipline and a heart always oriented towards peace.
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