Vietnam-Laos Relations: Can Only Be Described With Two Words 'Friendship'

On September 4, 1945, exactly two days after Uncle Ho read the Declaration of Independence giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Uncle Ho invited Prince Souphanouvong to discuss the two countries of Vietnam and Laos fighting together for national liberation and repelling foreign invaders. This can be said to be the first official meeting between the leaders of the two nations, laying the foundation for the special solidarity relationship between Vietnam and Laos, Laos and Vietnam. 60 years have passed since the two countries established diplomatic relations (September 5, 1962 - September 5, 2022), with many achievements and milestones achieved by the two countries. On this occasion, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Lao PDR, Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, talked about the friendship between Vietnam and Laos over the past 6 decades.

Former Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Manh Hung.

PV:Could you tell us your feelings when you took up the assignment as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to the Lao PDR?

Former DS Nguyen Manh Hung:I went to Laos to take up the position of Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos in December 2012, which was also the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Laos and was identified by the two Parties and the two States as the Year of Special Solidarity, 10 years ago. When I went to Laos during that time, my happiness was that as an Ambassador I inherited the tradition of friendship, the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation left by previous generations. I believe that this is a very valuable asset for me to be able to carry out and fulfill the important responsibility that the Party, the State and the people have entrusted to me as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Laos. I worked in Laos from December 2012 to December 2016.

During those 4 years, I traveled all over Laos, there was no province that I did not visit, at least twice, and many more that I could not count. When I traveled like that, what I felt most deeply was the very special affection that the Lao people had for Vietnam. When I talked to anyone, they all mentioned memories, the elderly talked about memories of the resistance war, memories of fighting with the Vietnamese army to repel foreign invaders, from repelling the French colonialists to the American imperialists. As for the middle-aged people, they talked about memories of their time studying in Vietnam, how they were taken care of by Vietnamese families and people.

Laos' cooperation with other countries is very broad, for example in economics, Vietnam's investment in Laos is only 3rd or 4th, not the top, but in the hearts of Lao people, Vietnam always ranks first, this is a very valuable asset that we must cherish and cultivate.

PV:During your term as Ambassador, you traveled through many regions and met many people. So who or what memory left the deepest impression on you?

Former DS Nguyen Manh Hung:One memory that I cannot help but mention today is the collection of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in Laos. The two sides established a special working group of the Government to carry out the collection work. At one point, we set a target of completing all this collection work by 2017. When informing the Lao side of this policy so that both sides could jointly carry out the collection and collection, Mr. Bunnhang Volachit, who was then the General Secretary and President of Laos, told me: “We understand the wishes of the Vietnamese people, the Vietnamese fathers and mothers, who want to bring the remains of their children back to their homeland, but we also really want to leave the remains of the heroes in Laos, we also have the same wish, so that they can continue to lie here with us to protect the country”.

Former Ambassador Nguyen Manh Hung talks with VOV reporter.

Or like when I visited Bokeo province, I had to take a ferry. That ferry terminal was no different from the ferry terminals in Vietnam during the war, there were also shabby shops. While waiting for the ferry, I went into a shop to drink water, I talked to the shop owner, a very ordinary vendor. She knew I was Vietnamese and said: “I used to live with Vietnamese soldiers, fought with Vietnamese soldiers, so I know Vietnamese. I really appreciate Vietnamese people, and today I met Vietnamese people here, and you are also an Ambassador, so I am even happier.” That is the feeling, imagine a very ordinary person, just a vendor at the pier, but knows Vietnamese and shows such precious feelings. I was really moved.

PV:According to you, what words can be used to describe the Vietnam - Laos relationship?

Former DS Nguyen Manh Hung:If I were to summarize it in one word, I would use the word “affection”. Because I have actually dealt with many of Vietnam’s relationships with other countries in the world, the Vietnam-Laos affection is unmatched. Therefore, hidden within the great friendship and special solidarity is affection. The affection that both sides have for each other. It is that word affection that helps us to be together in the most difficult times and to be together in the happiest times.

PV:Thank you very much./.