People from Nghe An make a living in Noong Het.

(Baonghean.vn) - The struggle for survival has brought people from Nghe An to the Noong Het region (Xieng Khouang province, Laos). And this peaceful land has "kept" those who came from the eastern side of the Truong Son mountain range, with many considering Noong Het their second home.

Today, Noọng Hét town resembles a modern urban center nestled amidst the mountainous border region.

The shortest route from Nghe An to Nong Het town (Laos) is through the Nam Can international border gate. In recent years, this border gate has become a bustling trading hub, fostering solidarity and friendship between the people on both sides of the border.

Crossing the majestic Truong Son mountain range, through primeval forests and villages hidden in the mist, we arrived in Noong Het town at midday. Gone was the dilapidated, low-lying town of yesteryear; now, Noong Het stands tall with modern buildings and architecture. Here, it's easy to find restaurants, shops, and hotels owned by Vietnamese people. Even while traveling in Laos, we could still feel the spirit of Nghe An province in the local dialect and way of life.

Nguyen Chinh Loi's motorbike repair shop in Noong Het town, owned by a resident of Nghia Dan district, is always busy.

Located right next to the main road of Noọng Hét town, the household goods store of Mr. Nguyễn Văn Trung, 48 years old, from Diễn Kỷ commune, Diễn Châu district, is spacious and filled with countless goods. From machinery and equipment for production and daily life to wooden beds and wardrobes, furniture, and many other household items...

Trung shared: “Many people from Nghe An have been living here for 20-30 years, and they've even acquired Lao citizenship. Initially, I was a bit confused by the language barrier, but luckily there are quite a lot of Vietnamese people here, so I gradually learned. And now I'm quite fluent in Lao.”

People from Nghe An are making the border town of Noong Het bustling and vibrant.

In a conversation among those far from home, Trung shared that no one wants to leave their family, but they have to venture abroad for a living. Opening a shop on a main road in his hometown costs 2-3 billion VND, and with limited capital, he couldn't compete with others, so he decided to come here to do business. However, things are tough, and making a living in Laos is more difficult than before, so earning 10 million VND a month is no longer easy.

Next to Mr. Trung's shop is the motorcycle repair shop of Mr. Nguyen Chinh Loi, from Nghia Dan district. Mr. Loi has been doing business in Noong Het for 3 years. Business is going well, so he invited his younger brother to join him. He returns to his hometown a few times a month to get spare parts to serve his customers. Mr. Loi says that doing business here is easier than in his hometown. However, Mr. Loi also believes that the peaceful life of this area is the main reason that keeps him and many other people from his hometown attached to Noong Het.

Ms. Vi Thi Huong's grocery store in Noong Het town.

In the small town of Noọng Hét, there are about 100 people from Nghệ An province living and working.

Currently, the town of Noọng Hét has about 100 people from Nghe An province living and working there. Some have been in Laos for several decades, while others have just arrived, seeking a livelihood. The majority of them choose business and trade as their means of earning a living.

Ms. Vi Thi Huong, a Thai ethnic woman from Ky Son, married and settled in Noong Het more than 15 years ago. She shared: “My husband is Laotian. I met him and married him, and after that, I followed him to the afterlife. Initially, I faced many difficulties due to cultural differences and currency disparities. However, there are many Vietnamese people living here, mostly from Nghe An, so I gradually got used to it. I decided to open a general store here, and now it has become a reliable place for Vietnamese people who come here and need advice and assistance.”

Noọng Hét, a female student, on her way to school.

Ms. Huong also added that not everyone who comes here has it as easy as she did, because many women from Nghe An who marry Laotian men are mostly from ethnic minority groups. They marry in remote villages far from the center, and do not have the financial means to obtain Laotian citizenship (which costs around 100 million VND), so their lives are quite difficult and challenging.

Some people from Nghe An work seasonally in Noong Het, while others settle permanently. Their average age ranges from 18 to 50. Their lives are quite precarious, with ups and downs, hardships and prosperity. Despite this, they have always preserved their cultural traditions and national identity, maintaining close ties with their homeland, Vietnam. Perhaps this is why the friendship between Vietnam and Laos continues to grow stronger.

Lan Thai - Vuong Van