The Ministry of National Defence held a departure ceremony at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on September 22 to send off Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 7 and Engineering Unit Rotation 4 to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

On behalf of the State President, Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien Hoang Xuan Chien presents the decision to Vietnamese units assigned to UN peacekeeping missions and hands over the national flag to them.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, head of the ministry's steering committee for the participation in UN peacekeeping operations, said that over the past 11 years, Vietnam has dispatched more than 1,300 officers and service members from the People’s Army and Public Security forces to UN peacekeeping operations, earning international recognition and appreciation.

The dedication, professionalism, and close rapport with local communities demonstrated by Vietnam’s “blue berets” have helped promote the image of the country and its people worldwide, he noted.

Chien stressed that the Level-2 field hospital and engineering unit must continue upholding solidarity and international spirit, successfully fulfil the noble tasks entrusted by the Party, State, army and people, and meet the increasingly high requirements of the UN.

Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said this deployment involves 63 personnel of Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 7 and 184 others of Engineering Unit Rotation 4.

All of them have completed preparations in terms of expertise and technical readiness, and are well-versed in UN and mission regulations, host country laws, Vietnamese law, and military discipline, ensuring they are fully ready to accomplish their assigned duties.

ASEAN remains a beacon of peace amid growing global uncertainties

ASEAN plays a role as a "beacon of peace" and a model regional organisation for dialogue, cooperation, and the peaceful settlement of differences, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son stated at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat within the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-58) in Malaysia on July 9.

 

Grand prayer for national peace, prosperity marks nation’s sacred historic moment

Marking this sacred historic moment and celebrating the country's entry into a new era of national advancement, at exactly midnight on July 1, nearly 1,000 monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers from the Vietnam Buddhist University (VBU) in Hanoi solemnly held a grand prayer ceremony for national peace and prosperity.

 

Nearly 18,500 pagodas nationwide to ring bells to pray for national peace, prosperity

A ceremonial ringing of bells and drums will be conducted on July 1 that marks the official start of operations of newly-established localities following mergersand the implementation of a two-tier local government model across the country. It is to pray for national peace, solidarity, and prosperity.

 

ASEAN reaffirms commitment to peace, stability, and cooperation

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a high-level Vietnamese delegation continued their official visit to Malaysia and attended the 46th ASEAN Summit and related high-level meetings on May 28.

More public security officers to join UN peacekeeping mission

Since 2022, the Central Public Security Party Committee and the ministry’s leaders have sent four working groups to the UNMISS and UN Interim Security Force for Abyei, and one officer to work at the UN Police Division.