Meaningful experiences in the coastal town

(Baonghean) -After stops in Son La, Tuyen Quang, and Hanoi, on the afternoon of July 19, more than 50 delegates of the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union attending the program "Vietnam - Laos Youth Friendship Meeting" arrived in Cua Lo Town, starting days of exciting activities in Nghe An.

On the afternoon of July 19, a sudden thunderstorm hit the coastal town in the middle of summer, causing all the fatigue of the young people to suddenly disappear after a journey of more than 300 kilometers.

Welcoming the Lao delegation at Hon Ngu Hotel, in addition to the leaders of the Town and Cua Lo Town Youth Union, there were also 25 families from Nghi Huong and Nghi Thu wards.

Most of them are veterans, many of whom have spent many years working and fighting in the battlefields of Laos and Cambodia.

After a brief introduction, the initial meeting was truly impressive and emotional when the veterans came to receive their “children” from Laos. After this family reception ceremony, the youth union members of the Land of a Million Elephants will have two days to eat, stay, and experience the customs and practices with families in Nghi Hai and Nghi Thu wards.

Within the cooperation agreement for the period 2012-2017 between the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Vietnam and the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union, the program "Vietnam - Laos Youth Friendship Meeting" is an annual exchange activity and this year Nghe An is honored to be the destination of outstanding Lao youth. Letting Lao youth delegates live together with Vietnamese families is a completely new initiative in this year's program. Lao youth were very excited to experience for the first time a very ordinary life in a coastal family, which is very strange for a landlocked country like Laos.

On the side of Cua Lo Town Youth Union, Mr. Vo Minh Vy - Secretary of the Town Youth Union shared: "The preparation work has been carried out for a month now. The most favorable thing for us is to receive the agreement and response of many families, everyone is happy as if their children and grandchildren who have been away for a long time come to visit".

As the Chairman of the Nghi Huong Ward Veterans Association, Mr. Hoang Khac Vinh was the first person to register on the list. For him, mentioning Laos means mentioning Naxathong, a poor countryside not far from the capital Vientiane, where he fought and directly protected for two years during the Lao revolution. After nearly forty years away from the friendly country, today he has the opportunity to meet the Lao people again, Mr. Vinh cannot help but be happy.

Even happier, among the two children who came to live with the family, there was Mylivan, an official of the Lao Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, who was very good at Vietnamese. Milyvan lived in the capital Vientiane, was of Vietnamese origin and had studied at a Vietnamese school in Laos for 5 years, so after only a day of living with the family, the two of them became very close.



Members gardening with Ms. Hoang Thi Yen's family (Block 1, Nghi Huong Ward).

At Mr. Hoang Hai Dang's family, the atmosphere of welcoming the special guests from Laos has been bustling for nearly a week now. His wife, Ms. Hoang Thi Nieng, despite her advanced age, still volunteered to go to the market with her daughter. Knowing that Laos has no sea, the mother and daughter discussed the menu, which must include the specialties of Cua Lo, such as crab, squid, and shrimp paste to dip with eggplant.

Receiving that sincerity, Phitxanai, from the Xieng Khouang Province Art Troupe, was very touched. Although he did not know Vietnamese, Phitnaxai knew many Vietnamese songs such as: Trong com, Soi nho soi thuong, Truong Son Dong, Truong Son Tay. On the first night in Cua Lo, Mr. Dang's family enjoyed these very special performances. Mr. Hoang Khac Dan - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Nghi Thu Ward, also slaughtered a pig to entertain two young men from the Lao National Assembly Office, creating a bustling atmosphere from 4am.



Lao youth union members and Cua Lo youth take care of the landscape of the Nghi Huong Ward Martyrs' Cemetery Memorial.

Also within the series of activities in Cua Lo Town, on the morning of July 20, Nghi Huong Commune Youth Union, the Mobile Battalion of the General Department of Police and 50 youth union members participating in the program "Vietnam - Laos Youth Friendship Meeting" organized a general cleaning session at the Martyrs' Cemetery Memorial and Nghi Huong Commune Cultural House.

As the oldest delegate, Mr. Chittayohan (41 years old), also from the Lao Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism, was very moved because this small act would contribute to the beautification of the ward cemetery, especially when the War Invalids and Martyrs Day on July 27 was approaching. To him, although Vietnam and Laos are two countries, two different languages, the two peoples have many similarities in the process of protecting and building the Fatherland. Mr. Chittayohan also added: The Lao people will forever be grateful to the Vietnamese soldiers and people, who did not hesitate to shed their blood and sacrifice to fight for the Lao revolution, helping the Lao people have a peaceful and prosperous life like today.

On the same day, the delegation of the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union had a meeting and presented gifts to the Veterans Association of Nghi Huong and Nghi Thu wards, organized a campfire exchange, and drank rice wine. Participating in this special art program were professional artists from Laos. The Cua Lo Town Youth Union and the Veterans Association also prepared many special performances, focusing on the theme of Vietnam - Laos friendship, praising the homeland of President Ho. Through this meeting, international friends also had the opportunity to learn more about Cua Lo coastal town, a hospitable, friendly and emotional tourist town; an opportunity for Cua Lo people to promote the tourism potential of their locality.

Although it was only two short days, with many experiences and useful activities, Nghe An and Cua Lo coastal town really left many good impressions. Through that, once again, enhancing the exchange and mutual understanding between the Youth Union and the youth of Vietnam and Laos; contributing to educating the youth of the two countries about the special traditional friendship between Vietnam and Laos; affirming the determination, responsibility and promoting the pioneering role of the youth of the two countries in preserving, consolidating and further strengthening the traditional, loyal and pure relationship between the people of Vietnam and Laos.

Ly - Ha