379-day journey of the “blue beret" female soldier

In December 2021, female soldier Vu Nhat Huong received the decision on a mission at the MINUSCA and be responsible for the communications officer position. It is a new position exclusively for female soldiers in order to meet gender equality policy and increase the number of female soldiers participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Therefore, in 2021, the United Nations invited Vietnam to participate.

Turning challenges into opportunities

Captain Huong recalls: “Before setting out, I set myself a lot of expectations and desires. Above all, I would live up to my family’s expectations, institution's beliefs and expectations and well complete my mission, leave good impressions on the hearts of international friends, colleagues and local people about a peaceful and compassionate Vietnam.

In the first days of taking on her mission as a photojournalist, Huong’s works were relatively dynamic - including making photo news, documenting events, conferences, charity programs; participating in business trips with the Commander, Deputy Commander of the MINUSCA Armed Forces, and visiting and working with institutions of other countries' forces stationed in the subdivisions.

Working at sites

Later, due to the job requirements, she became a multitasking reporter who can undertake many different jobs not only writing newspapers, taking photos but also coordinating with s stationed at MINUSCA such as Engineers, Air Force in road and house construction, demining, etc.

In her first days in Central Africa, there were many difficulties and they all seemed to be doubled especially for women. Instead of spending time getting used to her fears and vagueness, Captain Huong has set herself a “turning challenges into opportunities” motto.

The first challenge that Captain Huong has faced was working in a multilingual and multi-national environment. There were even countries that she had never heard of before.

A field reporter's work requires them to continuously travel to many places, mainly working outdoors by helicopter or in specialized United Nations aircraft. Each blue beret soldier must have durable health and a lot of energy to be able to complete their assignments including rehearsals, survey sessions, demining, etc.

This is the first time Captain Huong had an opportunity to experience life in a new continent where the locals and the blue berets can get to know each other better by body language and smiles.

Going to Boali with the Indonesian Peacekeeping Engineers delegation Central Division after receiving information about the discovery of two explosives in a residential area.

This was the first time she has felt the lack of comfortable living conditions. Electricity and water were cut off continuously all week. Water is still contaminated by limescale and oil scum even though it has passed through individual core filters. Additionally, the political and security situation in the area is unstable and facing many potential risks.

This was the first time she has felt the harshness of the weather. In the dry season, the temperature fluctuates from 40 to 42 degrees Celsius with intense sunshine. In the wet season, there are heavy and unexpected rains that always occur - flooding, accompanied by a lot of mud, soil, and garbage spills into residential areas, causing a lot of damage, especially for electronic equipment.

And it was also the first time she has felt epidemic types such as Ebola, Covid-19, malaria, etc. Not only is it a dangerous threat to the people of Central Africa, but also to all UN staff and blue berets. But, for Africans, all those deprivations and difficulties seem almost normal.

Coming to Central Africa, she seemed to be stepping into slow-motion documentaries in the 80s, with images that were both real and strange. Most children and people go barefoot. Water is stored in plastic bags instead of bottles and dirt covers everything.

At the “Female People’s Public Security Officers participating in UN peacekeeping operations - opportunities and challenges” international conference organized by the Security Academy in collaboration with the UN Women and held on May 30, in Vietnam, Captain Vu Nhat Huong shared: “People often ask about the difficulties, but I often think about experiences and useful skills I gained during the assignment.”

She said: “I have confidently coordinated with international friends and learnt a lot from them. There, I was recognized and appreciated by international friends not only for my efforts at work but also for my achievements shown on the Mission's media portal.”

Unfading memories

For Captain Vu Nhat Huong, each field trip left an unforgettable impression. The most profound, however, was probably the combined militia and civil service journeys to help children and indigenous peoples.

These were journeys to schools in order to share experiences on sex education for girls, give clothes, books and other necessities to children in orphanages, schools, and provide medical devices for hospitals and clinics.

Captain Huong is just one of 70 female soldiers in more than 500 Vietnamese officers under the Ministry of Defence who have been deployed in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission.

The attendance of Vietnamese blue beret soldiers in Central Africa seems to become more meaningful as they have brought our unique homeland culture to Africa.

Huong said, those unfading memories also include the atmosphere of the Lunar New Year, the taste of banh chung made from simple ingredients, the dim light from the flashlight, the faint air of the mosquito coils, etc. Those Chung Cakes were placed on the altar of President Ho Chi Minh. The rest were for international friends.

Giving sweets to children on a charity trip.

Huong and her teammates also actively introduced Vietnamese culture through costumes and traditional dishes at Tet.

During a volunteer trip at an orphanage village, which accepts children left behind after conflicts or other social causes, Vietnamese soldier chefs cooked rice noodles with chicken received by the children with delight and joy.

Some other memories that also stay with Huong and her colleagues are the scenes of Central African children enjoying playing with star lanterns made by Vietnamese blue beret soldiers; engrossed in painting pictures from the fairy tale of The man and the moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival.

With Central African children holding the Vietnamese national flag.

From there, the image of Uncle Ho's soldier is always loved by the local people whenever it appears in residential areas and schools. The two words "Vietnam" are also recalled with respect and much affection, Huong said.

Currently, Captain Huong has returned to work at the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department as an assistant in the International Cooperation Department.

With practical experience, she continues to share her experiences and inspire her teammates who are preparing to set off to fulfill their noble international duty.

Although her term has ended, the exploration horizons of the young enthusiastic girl who has just passed the age of 30 have only just started. Certainly, with her perseverance, Captain Vu Nhat Huong will continue to set foot in distant lands, where the seeds of peace have not yet had a chance to sprout and continue writing these dreams of peace worldwide.