(kontumtv.vn) – FormerPresident of the Lao PDR Souphanuvong once said, “The Laos-Vietnam solidarity is higher than mountains, longer than rivers, wider than oceans, more beautiful than the full moon, and more fragrant than any flower .” That beautiful friendship was nurtured by a pure international spirit , including the special contributions of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in Laos during the years of resistance against the common enemy.

Nearly 50 years after the country's reunification, the cadres who were former Vietnamese volunteers and experts fighting in Laos are now getting old. They are always proud of having contributed to the noble international spirit, helping the Lao people and revolution gain national independence. For veteran Lan Quoc Hoi , 71 years old this year, currently living in Dak Kdem village, Dak Ngok commune, Dak Ha district, the 2 years of duty in Laos are very proud. In the dry season of 1972, the enemy attacked fiercely, and the supply of food and provisions from the North was very difficult. At that time, his unit, Division 320, was preparing for major battles, including the Dak To - Tan Canh campaign. The people of Attapeu province voluntarily helped the Vietnamese army with everything they had. Mr. Lan Quoc Hoi said: “ At that time, salt was the most difficult thing, there was no salt to transport from the North, so we had to rely on Laotian salt mines. Laotian people were having difficulty with salt so they never sold it, but we, the people's mobilisation workers, still helped Vietnamese soldiers with salt to eat. In general, Laotian people are wonderful.”

Mr. Nguyen Khac Vi and Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hong The currently live at 478 Hung Vuong Street, Dak Ha Town, Dak Ha District. They have in common that they both performed international missions in Laos. At that time, veteran Nguyen Khac Vi was assigned to E2, H82, Air Defense - Air Force, fighting in Laos from 1968 to 1972; Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hong The was a frontline laborer who participated in the Laos battlefield in 1972-1973. The years of volunteering in Laos, especially the affection between Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and Lao people, were always shared by the couple with their comrades and children. Veteran Nguyen Khac Vi said: “ The Vietnamese army and the Lao army cooperated very closely to protect the liberated areas as well as to destroy bandits and pursue the remnants of Vang Pao. The cooperation between the two sides was very close. The Lao people were very excited, they said that the Vietnamese and Lao army were Samakhi.”

At the age of 72, her health is not good anymore, but veteran Nguyen Thi Hong The still wishes to have the opportunity to return to Laos to visit her comrades and the Lao people where she has been attached for more than 2 years. “I am wishing to go to Laos one last time to meet my sisters and Lao friends in my place to have fun and unite with them. If possible, I am ready to go!”, Ms. Hong expressed.

With the spirit of helping a friend is helping yourself, on October 30, 1949, the Party and Uncle Ho decided to organize a specialized force of volunteer soldiers and Vietnamese experts to help the Lao revolution. This policy has a particularly important and strategic significance for the revolutions of the two countries in the struggle for national liberation and against the common enemy. To achieve this common victory, thousands of Vietnamese experts and volunteer soldiers lost and sacrificed their lives in the neighboring country. Talking about his feelings for Vietnamese experts and volunteer soldiers, Mr. Bua Hom- Phon Ma San, Chairman of the Lao Front for National Construction in Attapeu province, Lao PDR said: “ We are grateful to the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who came to help the Lao ethnic people in the resistance war against the common enemy. We propagate so that people understand and promote solidarity and friendship. We try our best to coordinate the search, recovery and repatriation of Vietnamese martyrs and volunteer soldiers. The solidarity between Attapeu- Kon Tum and Laos-Vietnam will always be good. ”

The stories, feats and memories of the Vietnamese volunteer army and experts during the months of helping Laos are always stories full of affection and solidarity. They have contributed to writing heroic and glorious pages of history about the international spirit and the solidarity and friendship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos. This is a valuable heritage for generations of veterans to educate the young generation about tradition today. Mr. Vu Van Duan, Chairman of the Dak Ha District Veterans Association added: " On the occasion of historical events of the country, of the nation and the friendly relations between the two peoples, we always integrate education about tradition, education about the spirit of solidarity between the people, the two peoples and between the armies of the two countries."

75 years have passed since the first volunteer soldiers and experts set foot on Lao soil to carry out their noble international mission, but the significance of this noble act remains intact. The noble gesture and lofty international spirit of the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts during the years of resistance against the common enemy have further enhanced the solidarity and friendship between the Vietnamese and Lao peoples; contributing to strengthening the special relationship between the two Parties and the two countries that President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane have cared for and cultivated./.

Van Hien - Pham Ha