The class fosters friendship.

(Baonghean) - Meeting with student Thao Kham after she had just finished a Vietnamese language course organized by the Thong Thu Border Guard Post (Nghe An Border Guard Command) in Nam Tay village, Vieng Phan cluster, Sam To district, Hua Phan province (Laos), she excitedly spoke fluent Vietnamese: “I really enjoyed participating in the Vietnamese language course. Being proficient in Vietnamese is a valuable asset that will help me communicate easily with the Vietnamese people and officials.”

The Vietnamese language class is a concrete implementation of the fraternal agreement signed between Nam Tay village and Muong Phu village, Thong Thu commune, Que Phong district (Nghe An); and between Border Guard Company 216, Hua Phan (Laos) and Thong Thu Border Guard Post (Nghe An Border Guard Command). The class facilitates cooperation, trade, and family visits between residents on both sides of the border.

The people of Nam Tay village (Laos) and Muong Phu village (Vietnam) have long-standing kinship and ethnic ties, frequently visiting each other, exchanging goods, and engaging in trade. Economic life remains difficult, educational levels are uneven, and awareness of national borders and laws among the people on both sides of the border is limited. Furthermore, language barriers make disseminating legal information to the people on both sides of the border challenging. Based on this situation and the need for communication between residents of both sides, Thong Thu Border Guard Post developed a plan to teach Vietnamese to students in Nam Tay village. The plan was approved by the Provincial Border Guard Command. On May 15, 2015, the unit coordinated with the Education and Training Department of Sam To District, Hua Phan Province (Laos), and the principals of schools in Nam Tay village to inaugurate the Vietnamese language class for students in the village.

Vietnamese language class in Nam Tay village, Sam To district, Hua Phan province (Laos).

Following the opening ceremony, every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Lieutenant Nguyen Van Trinh, a Lao language interpreter at the Thong Thu Border Guard Post (Nghe An Border Guard Command), directly teaches Vietnamese to 35 students in Nam Tay village. Mr. Xay Va Tho, the head of Nam Tay village, shared: "The Vietnamese Border Guard opened Vietnamese language classes right in the village for the students, which is very convenient for the children in the village to attend. Through classes like these, our villagers will have more convenience in communicating with our Vietnamese neighbors." "We hope that the Vietnam Border Guard will continue to open classes to help our villagers become proficient in Vietnamese, strengthening exchanges with the Vietnamese people along the border." Lieutenant Nguyen Van Trinh said: "Because I've only recently taken on the role of class teacher, I don't have much experience in teaching, my pedagogical skills are still limited, and the facilities for teaching and learning are still challenging. However, both teachers and students are determined to overcome difficulties to study well. At the end of the course, there was an exam to classify the students' quality, with 8 excellent students (22.8%); 16 good students (45.7%); and 11 average students (31.5%). Most students after the course can communicate and speak Vietnamese well. Based on the results of this first class, in the coming time, Thong Thu Border Guard Station proposes that the Provincial Border Guard Command allow the unit to continue to expand the model of teaching Vietnamese to students and people in Nam Tay village and the cluster of villages." Vieng Phan, Sam To district, Hua Phan province (Laos).

Captain Ngo Van Thien, Deputy Political Officer of Thong Thu Border Guard Station, affirmed: "The results of teaching Vietnamese to students in Nam Tay village over the past period have made a significant contribution to improving the effectiveness of border guard diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy. Through these lessons, we have integrated content promoting strict adherence to the agreements and treaties signed by the two states, while also introducing young Lao people to Vietnam and its people, as well as the special solidarity and friendship between the two Parties and states of Vietnam and Laos. Teaching Vietnamese has contributed to visually and vividly disseminating information to the Lao people about border crossing regulations. At the same time, the unit has been able to promptly obtain valuable information from the people, effectively serving in organizing activities to combat crime and protect border peace."

Hung Phong