The Vietnam-Laos Family Association organizes a Bunpimay New Year celebration.
On the morning of April 11th, the Vietnam-Laos Family Association, together with Lao students at universities in Nghe An province, organized a celebration of the traditional Bunpimay New Year.
Participating in the Bunpimay traditional New Year celebration were former military volunteers and military experts from Nghe An province who served in Laos, along with nearly 50 Lao students currently studying at educational institutions in Nghe An province.
The Vietnam-Laos Family Association, established by volunteer soldiers and military experts from Nghe An province in Laos, acts as a "mentoring parent" guiding Lao students studying at educational institutions in Nghe An province.
The Vietnam-Laos Family model has been established for over 15 years by former military volunteers and military experts from Nghe An province in Laos. This is not just about providing material support; more importantly, it creates a strong "spiritual anchor" for students far from home. In host families in Vinh or neighboring communes, Lao students are welcomed as if they were their own children.
The Bunpimay New Year celebration aims to strengthen the close relationship between Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military experts and generations of Lao students. The event is organized as a testament to the enduring friendship between the two nations, where veterans act as "godparents," guiding the younger generation in a unique Vietnamese-Lao family model.
Mali, a Laotian student sponsored by the family of veteran Bui Huy Vinh, emotionally shared her feelings during the Bunpimay New Year celebration in 2026. For Mali, Nghe An is no longer a strange land but has become a familiar second home.
"Participating in the traditional wrist-tying ceremony and receiving blessings made us feel right back in our homeland, surrounded by loved ones. The warm bowls of soup and the kind words of our parents helped us dispel the loneliness of being in a foreign land. We are fortunate to have another family, a homeland to lean on and grow up in."
The model of sponsoring Lao students by former military volunteers and military experts from Nghe An in Laos has developed and spread strongly, receiving close cooperation from universities in the area.
Through the adoption and foster parent-child model of former volunteer soldiers and military experts from Nghe An in Laos, Over 700 students have been adopted and supported over the years. Over 120 families who participated in exchange programs and sponsored students from the early days have affirmed the unwavering friendship between the two countries.
