Bridge promoting Vietnam-Laos solidarity

Lao students are studying at the Faculty of Automotive Engineering Technology, Vinh University of Technical Education.

In addition to full scholarships, Nghe An also issues many support policies for Lao students studying abroad.

Expanding training subjects

From the first 34 students from Vientiane, Xieng Khouang and Champasak provinces, after more than 20 years, Vinh University has trained thousands of Lao students. This is one of the educational institutions with the largest number of Lao students in the country. Currently, many Lao students studying here are children of those who studied at Vinh University and other universities and colleges in Nghe An.

Meanwhile, with its strength in training technical majors, in recent years, Vinh University of Technical Education has attracted many Lao students to study under agreements, Nghe An province scholarships and the school's scholarships.

Deputy Head of Student Affairs Pham Thi Ngoc Lan said that the school currently trains students from 11 provinces of Laos. Training content includes: Professional training for teachers and lecturers of vocational schools; technical fields such as automotive engineering technology, electricity-electronics, mechanics... and economic fields such as business administration, human resource management, accounting. The school organizes training at many levels: college, university, associate and master.

Starting to enroll Laotian students in the 2013-2014 school year, the school has had nearly 400 graduates and 78 students currently studying. Each year, the school accepts 15-25 students with scholarships from Nghe An province and sends a working group to Laos to promote and recruit students for the new school year.

Sixiong Xay, a fourth-year student of the Faculty of Automotive Engineering Technology, shared: “My parents are farmers, we have a large family, so life is very difficult. My older siblings all study in the country, so to be able to come to Vietnam, I had to make a lot of effort in studying and feel very proud. Over the years, I have always received attention from teachers. Automotive Engineering Technology is a field with many job opportunities, after graduation I will return to Laos to work.” Angoun Xamonti, a student of the Faculty of Information Technology, also said that after graduating, he will apply for a job at a bank in Vientiane, where his family lives.

Implementing the policy of expanding training for high school students, from the 2023-2024 school year, Nghe An is the first province in the country to organize the reception of 31 Lao students from six neighboring provinces (Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang, Bo Ly Kham Xay, Vientiane, Kham Muon, Savannakhet) to study Vietnamese language preparatory courses and supplement secondary school knowledge before studying the 2018 general education program at high school level.

Ho Quoc Viet, Principal of Nghe An Ethnic Boarding High School No. 2, said: Studying high school in Nghe An helps Lao students develop their Vietnamese language skills, qualities and skills to meet the requirements of international integration, while also experiencing the Vietnamese cultural environment early. This is also the foundation for improving the quality of study at university, vocational and postgraduate levels in Vietnam. They are arranged to live with Vietnamese students and follow the school's routine. For new students, the school organizes a volunteer support team. The advantage is that they are the same age; in addition, some Nghe An students living in the border area can communicate in Lao, making the living and studying of international students more convenient.

Soukthida Keosynuan, the deputy class leader of the first batch of international students from Sa Van Na Khet province, shared her joy when the school organized a trip to visit Uncle Ho's hometown and Dong Loc Junction. During her studies, she and the Lao international students always received enthusiastic support from friends and seniors. Soukthida dreams of becoming a student at Hanoi Medical University after graduating from high school. "To make this dream come true, I know I have to work very hard," she said.

Raise support level

Every year, based on the cooperation agreement between Nghe An province and the border provinces of Laos (Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay) and the request documents of the provinces with traditional cooperative relations (Vientiane, Khammouane, Savannakhet, Xay Som Bun), the Department of Foreign Affairs presides over and coordinates with the Department of Education and Training to synthesize, report and submit to the Provincial People's Committee for consideration and decision. On that basis, the provinces of Laos conduct enrollment, send cadres, students and pupils to study in Nghe An.

Each year, Nghe An offers about 200 full scholarships to children from Lao provinces. To date, universities and colleges in the area have trained thousands of Lao students. From 2021 to August 2025 alone, 1,243 officials, students and pupils from seven provinces of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, Bolikhamxay, Vientiane, Khammouane, Savannakhet and Xay Som Bun came to Nghe An to study under scholarships. The province has also spent more than 137 billion VND from the budget to support human resource training for Laos, including education and training costs, teaching, personal equipment and living expenses.

At the end of 2023, Nghe An province issued Resolution No. 22/QD-HDND dated December 7, 2023 on policies to support training of Lao students studying under the education-training cooperation agreement between the province and Lao provinces. According to the resolution, Lao students studying the 2018 General Education Program at intermediate, college, university, associate, master's and doctoral levels will receive a living allowance of VND 3,696 million/person/month. For students participating in the Vietnamese language preparatory program according to the Vietnamese language proficiency framework for foreigners or professional knowledge improvement courses, the support level is VND 3 million/person/month.

Laotian students studying at intermediate, college, university, master's, and doctoral levels (including college-to-university transfer) are supported with living expenses for 12 months for each academic year. For students studying the 2018 General Education Program, the Vietnamese language preparatory program according to the Vietnamese language proficiency framework for foreigners, or advanced professional training courses with a training period of less than 12 months, the support level is calculated based on the actual study time each year.

Mr. Viet said that the province's new policy will contribute to improving the quality of human resource training support for Lao provinces. In addition to international students, educational institutions at all levels and related organizations and individuals in the area will also receive financial support for teaching, studying, document translation and interpretation, repair of facilities and equipment, and annual health check-ups.

Director of Nghe An Province’s Department of Foreign Affairs Tran Khanh Thuc said that the work of supporting human resource training for Lao provinces in recent times has achieved positive results in both quantity and quality. Lao students studying in Nghe An are comprehensively equipped with Vietnamese language, expertise, working skills and life skills, and are highly appreciated by employers; many have held important positions in agencies, organizations and businesses in Laos.

According to the leaders of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Education and Training of Nghe An province, to improve the effectiveness of training cooperation with Lao provinces, schools need to build focused programs and diversify cooperation forms. The current major obstacle is the limitation of Vietnamese language, so international students need to practice their language skills well before going to study. The neighboring provinces also need to select students with good academic performance and real aspirations, and at the same time shorten the procedures to ensure admission on schedule.

Article and photos: TRAN TRUNG HIEU

Source: https://nhandan.vn/cau-noi-thuc-day-tinh-doan-ket-viet-nam-lao-post909282.html