While most youngsters celebrate Tet, or the Lunar New Year holiday with their families, newly recruited Vietnamese soldiers near the border with China must spend their first holiday away from home in order to safeguard the country.

Tet is considered the most important occasion of the year, when spending time with family is of the utmost importance.

The 2019 Lunar New Year holiday lasted from January 25 to February 10. During the break, young soldiers ages 18 to 20, who have never before been away from their villages but were spending the most important celebration of the year in mountainous area of Lao Cai Province, near Vietnam – China borders.

Most of the soldiers in these units are from different ethnic groups, such as HMong, Ha Nhi, and Dao.

During Tet, on Y Ty Mountain, these men were guarding the borders of Vietnam so that others could enjoy their holidays in peace.

Multi-ethnical celebrations

Having spent most holidays with their families, this was the first year most soldiers spent the holiday with members of other minority groups, an opportunity to be exposed to other cultures.

“I do not yet know how it is to be spending Tet as a soldier so I was very nervous,” Ma A Nha, a 20-year-old soldier who had rarely spent time outside of his village before signing up for the military.

Being of the Mong ethnic group, Ma A Nha voluntarily enlisted to guard the borders of Vietnam in Bat Xat District when he was 19 years old.

Dao Tan Lao Ta, 19, another soldier at Y Ty border post in Y Ty village, has only served for the past six months and is also filled with mixed emotions as he was about to spend his first Tet celebration away from the family.

Being the second child with his sister already married, Lao Ta was well-aware how upset his old parents would be without his presence during the important holiday.

Young soldiers like him would always say the same thing to their parents, “Mom and dad please do not be sad when you are home and take care of your health when celebrating Tet,” before they left for duty in the border area.

After one year of serving, Hang A Phung, 19-year-old soldier originating from Mong community, misses not only his parents but also his wife.

The young man chose to save his Tet bonus to send home to his parents and wife to shop for new clothes for the occasion, another common practice enjoyed as Tet nears.

Second family

According to Lieutenant Tran Manh Ha, vice head of the Y Ty border post, the unit has always made significant efforts to hold festive Tet celebrations so young soldiers won’t feel lonely and homesick during the holiday.

“Most of the new soldiers are from ethnic minorities such as Mong, Ha Nhi, and Dao,” the Lieutenant explained.

“The unit usually holds many activities so that the soldiers can celebrate Tet with villagers and locals to cheer everyone up.”

Besides being unable to celebrate Tet with their family, the young border soldiers are also faced with challenges posed by weather during this time of the year, according to Lieutenant Manh Ha.

While the area where border soldiers go on patrol is geographically challenging with numerous slopes, streams, and mountains, the cold weather and harsh climate during the winter does not spare the soldiers either.

“The climate is very harsh.  There is fog, strong winds, and low temperatures,” Lieutenant Manh Ha said.

On some years, the soldiers were even forced to trudge on foot through snow for seven to eight hours, the lieutenant added

However, the difficulties shaped the soldiers into mature men, and they always have their fellow soldiers as ‘family’.

Soldiers consider high-rank officers their ‘fathers,’ and fellows of their age are their ‘siblings’. With that in mind, it is easier for all to overcome the homesickness, especially during festive seasons like Tet.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!