Thousands of kilometers from home, Vietnamese UN peacekeepers in Abyei marked National Day with music, history and culture, sharing a taste of Vietnam with international colleagues.
Vietnamese peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) marked the country’s 81st National Day thousands of kilometers from home, sharing Vietnamese history, culture and the spirit of peace with international colleagues.
International guests attend Vietnam’s National Day celebration at Highway Base. Photo: The Vung
On September 2, local time, Vietnam’s Engineering Unit Rotation 4, currently serving with UNISFA, held a ceremony at Highway Base to mark the 81st anniversary of National Day, September 2, 1945-2026.
The ceremony was not only an occasion to honor Vietnam’s proud history but also an opportunity to strengthen international friendship.
In the sun-scorched and windswept land of Abyei, thousands of kilometers from home, the atmosphere of Vietnam’s Independence Day was both warm and solemn.
Lieutenant Colonel Trinh Van Cuong, commander of Engineering Unit Rotation 4, said celebrating National Day while carrying out an international mission gave every officer and staff member an opportunity to remember their roots and deepen their national pride.
Cultural performances featuring Vietnamese traditions are presented by members of Engineering Unit Rotation 4. Photo: The Vung
It was also a chance, he said, to further promote the image of a friendly and peace-loving Vietnam while demonstrating the sense of responsibility of Vietnamese soldiers in international peacekeeping missions.
A cultural program choreographed and performed by members of the engineering unit brought a lively and joyful atmosphere to the celebration.
The sound of the Vietnamese bamboo flute blended with stirring revolutionary melodies, vividly evoking the country and people of Vietnam while touching the hearts and capturing the interest of international guests.
Following the musical performances, delegates and guests moved to an exhibition area showcasing Vietnamese culture, one of the event’s most memorable highlights.
Books introducing President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap became a focal point of the exhibition, offering international visitors a deeper understanding of Vietnam and its history.
Alongside the historical materials was a display of produce grown by the unit, highlighting the peacekeepers’ spirit of self-reliance and remarkable ability to adapt.
Despite Abyei’s harsh natural conditions, a thriving vegetable garden cultivated by members of Engineering Unit Rotation 4 helps provide food and improve their daily lives.
It also offers a vivid illustration of the determination of Vietnamese soldiers to overcome difficult circumstances.
UNISFA leaders and international guests visit an exhibition of Vietnamese historical materials and produce grown at the base. Photos: Hai Yen
After attending the ceremony, Brigadier General Adebowale Oladimeji Ajagbe, UNISFA Deputy Force Commander, said he was impressed by the stories of Vietnam’s history and the opportunity to learn directly from materials about President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap.
Seeing fresh produce cultivated in Abyei’s harsh conditions was also a major surprise, providing a clear demonstration of the initiative and self-reliance of Vietnam’s UN peacekeepers.
Engineering Unit Rotation 4 consists of 184 officers and personnel drawn from the Air Defense-Air Force Service, Navy, Military Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4, Army Corps 12, the Engineer Corps, Special Operations Forces, Signal Corps, Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations and several other agencies and units.
The unit departed for Abyei on September 26, 2025, replacing Engineering Unit Rotation 3.
Abyei is a disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan.
In 2011, the two countries signed an agreement committing to withdraw their forces from the demilitarized area in Abyei and establish a joint mechanism to address the issue. However, little substantive progress has been made since then.
UNISFA was established in 2011 under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1990, with a mandate to protect civilians and support the demilitarization of Abyei.
Vietnamnet.vn
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