Education paves the way for integration.

GD&TĐ - Implementing Resolution 71 of the Politburo, Nghe An is promoting training linkages and attracting Lao students, thereby affirming its role as a center of education and a bridge for international cooperation.

Education - a bridge for international cooperation

The Executive Committee of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee has just issued Action Program No. 13-CTr/TU to implement Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW of the Politburo , marking an important shift in the local thinking on educational development. Through this, education is considered a top national priority and a decisive driving force for the province's future.

Within that overall picture, international cooperation is identified as a crucial pillar. The province advocates for promoting joint training programs, exchanging lecturers and students, and improving foreign language skills, with a particular focus on teaching the Lao language in border areas. This is not only a professional solution but also a strategy with profound political and diplomatic significance.

Training Lao students is considered a highlight in Nghe An's integration strategy. Beyond simply receiving and teaching, the province aims to expand training facilities in Laos, thereby enhancing its influence and affirming its position within the regional education network.

Ms. Ho Thi Chau Loan, Deputy Director of the Nghe An Department of Education and Training, stated that the locality considers expanding international cooperation in education not only a professional task but also an important political responsibility, contributing to strengthening friendly relations between Vietnam and other countries, especially Laos.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, Nghe An province will continue to allocate quotas to key training institutions such as Nghe An University, Vinh University, Vinh Medical University, and Nghe An Ethnic Boarding High School No. 2 to receive nearly 300 Lao students.

According to Ms. Loan, the training programs are designed to be diverse, ranging from Vietnamese language learning, secondary school, university to postgraduate levels, ensuring strict compliance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training on managing foreigners studying in Vietnam.

These figures not only reflect the scale but also demonstrate Nghe An's strong commitment to making education a "bridge" between the two countries. In the context of globalization, this is a sustainable approach that both improves the quality of human resources and contributes to strengthening the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

Lao students in a class at the No. 2 Ethnic Boarding High School in Nghe An.

A journey of overcoming difficulties and growing stronger.

Soununtha Vannisa, a student from Vientiane, Laos, still remembers the bewildering feeling of her first day in Nghe An. “At that time, I was both scared and lonely. Everything was unfamiliar, from the food and the language to the weather. On my first night in the dormitory, I cried because I missed home,” she recounted.

Soununtha's story reflects the shared sentiment of over 90 Lao students studying at the No. 2 Ethnic Boarding High School in Nghe An. These students come from various provinces and cities in Laos, carrying dreams but also facing the biggest barrier: language.

Meanwhile, Soukthida Keosynuan, a student from Savannakhet province, shared: “Initially, learning Vietnamese was very difficult, and there were times when I felt discouraged. But the teachers patiently guided me, and my Vietnamese classmates were also enthusiastic in helping. Now, I can understand and communicate in Vietnamese.”

To help students overcome the language barrier, the school has developed a one-year preparatory program in Vietnamese. However, according to Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong Quynh, a chemistry teacher at the school, teaching the language is not limited to textbooks.

"We create a holistic communication environment. In addition to regular classes, evening tutoring sessions and extracurricular activities such as singing and storytelling in Vietnamese are regularly organized to help children become familiar with and use the language naturally," Ms. Quynh said.

In their second year, students can study cultural subjects in Vietnamese. However, this poses a significant challenge for teachers. “Teaching Lao students requires much more patience and creativity. We have to speak slowly, use visual aids, explain thoroughly, and frequently check to see if they truly understand the lesson,” Ms. Quynh further shared.

More than just a place of study, Nghe An No. 2 Ethnic Boarding High School is also considered a second home for international students. Mr. Lo Thanh Binh, the school's Vice Principal, said: “In the 2025-2026 school year, Nghe An No. 2 Ethnic Boarding High School will welcome an additional 30 Lao students from six provinces. We are committed not only to teaching them academics but also to caring for and supporting them so they feel safe and secure, as if they were at home.”

According to Mr. Binh, from the very beginning, the school meticulously prepared everything from dormitories and personal belongings to meal menus. "Some students weren't used to Vietnamese food, so the teachers had to find ways to prepare it to suit their tastes. These seemingly small things are very important for the students' psychological well-being," he said.

Mr. Binh has unforgettable memories from his time caring for students: "One student had a high fever in the middle of the night, and we had to take him to the emergency room. At that time, everyone was worried as if he were their own child. Only when he recovered did we feel at ease."

In addition, regularly organized cultural exchange activities have contributed to creating a humane learning environment. During the Lunar New Year, the students get to make banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) and receive lucky money; and the Lao Bunpimay festival is also celebrated right at the school with full traditional rituals.

"These activities help the children understand each other's cultures and become more connected. They no longer feel like strangers, but truly consider this their second home," Mr. Binh shared.

Teachers guide Lao high school students in their studies.

Affirming its position as an international training center.

From small classrooms to everyday stories, Nghe An is gradually realizing its grand goal: transforming education into a sustainable bridge of friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

According to Ms. Ho Thi Chau Loan, training Lao students is an important part of implementing the Project "Improving the quality and effectiveness of Vietnam-Lao cooperation in the field of education and human resource development in the period 2021 - 2030".

"We believe that these programs will make a practical contribution to training high-quality human resources for Laos, while strengthening the special relationship between the two countries," Ms. Loan affirmed.

The 2025-2026 academic year marks the 23rd anniversary of Nghe An University's international cooperation with Laos. However, this is the first time that international students will study at the Center for Vietnamese Language Training for Foreigners, with a program built according to the standard competency framework of the Ministry of Education and Training.

The course not only provides language knowledge but also opens the door to exploring Vietnamese culture, history, and people. This is a crucial foundation for students to continue their studies at higher levels or integrate into the workforce later on.

More importantly, after graduation, these international students will become special "ambassadors," bringing back to their homelands their knowledge and affection for Vietnam. They are a living bridge, contributing to the cultivation and development of the traditional friendship between the two countries.

With a long-term vision, Nghe An aims not only to receive training but also to build an international education ecosystem. Expanding collaborative programs, improving teaching quality, investing in facilities, and developing the teaching staff are strategic steps to affirm its position as a regional international training center.

From Vietnamese language classes to dormitory meals, from intense study sessions to vibrant cultural festivals, everything is contributing to a unique educational model – where knowledge is intertwined with human connection, and education becomes a strong bond between the two nations.

As a province with a rich tradition of academic excellence, Nghe An is gradually asserting its role as a regional center for international education. In the journey to realize Resolution 71 of the Politburo, education is not only the key to development, but also a bridge connecting and fostering a strong friendship between the Vietnamese and Lao peoples – a relationship that will remain ever green and enduring for generations to come.

From 2021 to the present, 1,243 Lao officials, students, and trainees have studied from high school to postgraduate level in Nghe An province. Notably, from the 2023-2024 academic year to the present, 90 Lao students have been studying at the No. 2 Ethnic Boarding High School in Nghe An province – the first and only province to date with a mechanism for providing high school education for Lao students.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/giao-duc-mo-loi-hoi-nhap-post774051.html