"Vietnam’s Lunar New Year celebrated at UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan"

VOV.VN - Vietnamese peacekeepers at the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) celebrate Lunar New Year (Tet) in Bentiu, South Sudan, balancing security duties with cultural traditions.

International friends congratulate Vietnamese peacekeepers on the traditional Lunar New Year 2026
International friends congratulate Vietnamese peacekeepers on the traditional Lunar New Year 2026

As families across Vietnam gather to celebrate Lunar New Year, Vietnamese peacekeepers stationed in Bentiu, continue their duties far from home.

Personnel from Vietnam’s Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 7 are currently serving under the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), operating in a region where security conditions remain fragile and unpredictable.

The image of traditional calligraphy masters offering handwritten characters at the start of the Lunar New Year has been recreated
The image of traditional calligraphy masters offering handwritten characters at the start of the Lunar New Year has been recreated

While streets in Vietnam glow with festive lights and fireworks, the atmosphere in Bentiu is markedly different. Tensions in surrounding areas have required peacekeeping forces to maintain heightened readiness, conduct rapid-response patrols and convene emergency coordination meetings, all while ensuring uninterrupted medical services for UN personnel and local communities.

Despite the demanding environment, Vietnamese peacekeepers have sought to recreate elements of Tet, Vietnam’s most important holiday, within the mission compound.

Vietnamese peacekeepers make the traditional Lunar New Year cakes
Vietnamese peacekeepers make the traditional Lunar New Year cakes

Modest peach and apricot blossom decorations, a small “Spring Fair” corner and shared greetings among multinational colleagues help bring a sense of warmth to an otherwise austere setting.

Traditional rice cakes, including bánh chưng and bánh tét, were prepared using ingredients sent from Vietnam alongside locally sourced supplies. For medical personnel more accustomed to surgical tools and emergency equipment, the careful wrapping of the square and cylindrical rice cakes offers a symbolic connection to home.

Peach blossoms in full bloom in Bentiu, South Sudan
Peach blossoms in full bloom in Bentiu, South Sudan

For the Vietnamese contingent, celebrating Tet abroad is not merely a festive gesture. It reflects resilience, cultural continuity and a commitment to preserving national identity within a multinational environment thousands of kilometers from home.

Vietnam has steadily expanded its participation in UN peacekeeping operations in recent years, deploying medical units and engineering personnel to missions in Africa. The presence of the Level-2 Field Hospital in South Sudan underscores the country’s broader contribution to international peace and stability.

Happiness Train rolls through Lunar New Year’s Eve, carrying reunion hopes

VOV.VN - As families across the country eagerly prepared to welcome the Lunar New Year, the North-South express train SE3 from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City quietly began to roll, carrying with it not only passengers, but also joy, anticipation and emotions that accompany the long-awaited journey home for reunion.
Tags:
lunar New Year/
lunar New Year/
Tet/
Vietnam/
UN Peacekeeping Mission/
South Sudan/
security duties/
cultural traditions/

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