A warm spring at the Center for the Care of Wounded Soldiers
For the Nghe An War Invalids Rehabilitation Center, the Lunar New Year of 2026 marks the first Spring after the unit underwent a significant transformation, merging two rehabilitation facilities with a tradition of over 40 years. In the atmosphere of preparing for the Spring Festival, the stories of veterans and the dedication of the staff here continue to write heartwarming chapters of compassion and solidarity in peacetime.
A shared roof on the eve of Tet (Lunar New Year).
In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), the Nghe An War Invalids Rehabilitation Center is busier than usual. The nursing wards are swept clean; pots of yellow chrysanthemums and peach blossoms are neatly arranged on the porch. In the communal kitchen, the scent of freshly cooked sticky rice and banana leaves wafts in the breeze. The atmosphere of Tet preparations is quiet but warm – just like how the soldiers of yesteryear silently cared for each other amidst hardship.
Located in Vinh Loc ward, the center currently cares for and nurtures 110 people, including 54 war invalids, 33 sick soldiers, 9 children of martyrs, 9 children of resistance fighters exposed to chemical toxins, and 5 retirees and people with disabilities. The majority of war invalids have high disability rates; many require almost complete support in their daily lives. Under this shared roof, Tet (Lunar New Year) holds a very special meaning – a blend of the joy of reunion and moments of quiet reflection.
Mr. Nguyen Thieu Lam – Director of the Center shared: “On normal days, we all gather together happily and warmly. But in the days leading up to Tet, when about half of the wounded and sick soldiers are healthy enough to be taken home by their families to celebrate the New Year, we understand that those who remain will feel a sense of emptiness that is difficult to fill.”
Among the 52 people who stayed this year, each had a touching life story. Mr. Nguyen Dang Chung, a disabled veteran of category 1/4, is a man who no longer has a wife, children, or close relatives. For him, the Center is not just a place of rehabilitation but truly a second home. "Here, I have my comrades and the staff to take care of me; that's enough. Where else would I go when I've spent my whole life here?" he said simply.
Mr. Dao Xuan Tinh (born in 1952), a disabled veteran with a 96% disability rating, also chose to stay. Leaving the battlefield with impaired vision and a missing arm, he and his late wife, Ms. Cao Thi Hai (who passed away in 2023 and was also visually impaired), lived in the old dormitory complex of the Center for several decades. His voice softened as Mr. Tinh shared: “My wife and I were both visually impaired, relying on each other to raise our three children right here. Now that my wife is gone, our children want to take me home to make things complete, but I know every path, every corner of this place by feel. Here, I feel the warmth of my wife and my fellow soldiers.”
While Mr. Tinh stayed because of memories and attachment, Mr. Tran Quoc Te (born in 1951), former Deputy Battalion Commander of the 341st Reconnaissance Division, wounded in the Cambodian battlefield in 1978, chose to stay because of camaraderie. His two children are successful and eagerly await their father's return for Tet (Lunar New Year). But he confided: "Filial children are a blessing. But many of my comrades here are in poor health, and some have impaired memories. I'm staying to celebrate the New Year with them. Having each other is enough to make me happy!"
The story of Mr. Ngo Xuan Kien (born in 1947, Vinh Phu ward) takes on a different nuance. In previous years, although his family often took him home, he only stayed for one or two days before returning to the Center. This year, his wife suffered a stroke, and his children have to take turns caring for her. Not wanting to become a burden, he decided to stay permanently. "Here, I have my relatives and the staff taking good care of me. My children can rest assured and take care of their mother, and that makes me happy," Mr. Kien said.
Taking care of Tet with all our hearts.
Although the number of wounded and sick soldiers remaining to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) is not large compared to the total number being cared for, the atmosphere of Tet preparations at the Nghe An Rehabilitation Center for Wounded Soldiers is no less bustling. On the contrary, every step and every task is meticulously planned, with the hope of filling the void in the hearts of the wounded and sick soldiers as the season of reunion approaches.
Mr. Nguyen Thieu Lam, Director of the Center, said that preparations for the Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse) were carried out systematically from very early on. The unit proactively allocated funds and completed the payment of two months' allowances in advance (an average of about 10 million VND per person), creating conditions for the elderly to proactively spend, buy things, and give New Year's gifts to their children and grandchildren when they visit. Simultaneously, the spirit of "mutual support and compassion" continued to spread as 100% of staff and employees voluntarily donated one day's salary to support the province's "Tet for the Poor" program – a small but meaningful act of sharing.
What impressed us most was how the Center preserved the "soldierly" spirit through countless Spring Festivals. Mr. Nguyen Thieu Lam shared with pride: "Before the merger, every New Year's Eve, the halls of both the Center for the Rehabilitation of Wounded Soldiers and the Center for the Rehabilitation of Mentally Ill Wounded Soldiers were brightly decorated with flags and flowers. Despite their declining health, many of them confined to wheelchairs, they still gathered together to listen to the President's New Year's greetings on a large screen. Afterwards, everyone stood at attention – to the best of their ability – and sang the national anthem with the same undiminished pride as before. Watching them sing revolutionary songs, we felt as if we were reliving the atmosphere of the days marching to battle. That is an unshakeable spiritual strength."
Understanding this spiritual value, in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), staff at the Center take turns visiting each room to chat with the wounded and sick soldiers, helping them alleviate their loneliness. The "Delicious Family Meal" model – an initiative for 2025 – continues to be maintained, with a Tet menu complete with sticky rice cakes, pork sausage, pickled onions, etc., so that each meal is not only delicious but also full of the spirit of togetherness.