The Vietnamese engineering soldiers in Abyei make chung cake, with materials brought from Vietnam. (Photo courtesy of the Vietnamese military engineering unit)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese engineering soldiers joining the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei have held various activities to celebrate the 94th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival. A banh chung (square glutinous rice cake) making contest was organised, with materials including dong leaves, white glutinous rice and pork brought from Vietnam.
Besides, the Vietnamese blue-beret soldiers had a friendly volleyball match with local residents, with several Nigerian servicemen being the referees. They then presented the foreign friends several gifts, and invited them to try traditional dishes of Vietnam.
In the coming days, the sappers will make Tet decorations at the yard of the military engineering unit, while organising several art performances and folk games such as tug-of-war, blind-man’s buff, and stick pushing with a view to popularising Vietnamese culture among foreigners.
According to Major Nguyen Mau Vu, political commissar of the engineering unit, along with preparing for a warm Tet, the soldiers have undergone training to ensure security and safety for the military base amidst the complicated and unprecedented developments in Abyei./.
VNA